This trail leads up to the summit of Mt. Elden & offers views of the city & surrounding area.
Mt. Elden Lookout Trail climbs straight out of Flagstaff to a working fire lookout tower on the summit, and it's one of the toughest day hikes in the area for the payoff it delivers. Starting around 6,900 feet of elevation, the route gains roughly 2,400 feet over about 3 miles one-way, much of it on switchbacks and stone-stair sections that keep the grade honest the whole way up.
Reviewers consistently call it a legitimate workout rather than a casual stroll — steep, rocky, and exposed to morning sun on the east-facing switchbacks, with wind picking up noticeably near the top. The reward is a fast climb through changing vegetation zones, from oak and pine into fir near the summit, and wide views over Flagstaff and the surrounding forest from the lookout. Most hikers plan on 4-5 hours round trip, and it's popular enough on weekends that you won't have the trail to yourself.
Sturdy footwear, sun protection, and extra water are worth planning around given the exposure and sustained climb. With a 4.8 rating from 155 reviews, it's earned its reputation as one of the best-value summit hikes right at Flagstaff's edge — a solid conditioning hike if you're training for canyon trails later in the trip.
159 reviews
a month ago
Very nice and somewhat challenging hike. We started in the morning to avoid the heat of the day. They are lots of spots to rest in the shade. It took my wife and I a little less than 4 hours round trip. On the way back down, the day breeze started up and the crows were enjoying themselves on the thermals above our heads. The vegetation was very interesting, but that maybe because I've lived in Alaska most of my life.
6 months ago
Great experience hiking to the Mt Elden lookout from the KOA. The journey up and back down was pretty challenging but totally doable. Make sure you bring plenty of water and expect windy conditions at the top. Beautiful views all the way up. Seemed like there was a decent amount of hikers there (on a Saturday).
a year ago
Challenging hike with rocky, steep trail that can be hard to follow at times. The scenery at the top and while accending is absolutley worth it though! Plenty of wildlife such as a horned lizard greeted us on our way down in the afternoon. I would not reccomend this hike for solo hiking due to potentially dangerous terrain and elevation gain, but a great group hike. Took us 5 hours to complete out and back.
3 years ago
Nice trail that heads to the Mt Elden summit. This is a trail with multiple paths which have not been properly documented in Google Maps yet and thus some may lead you back. The trails need better signaling and distance. We enjoyed the quietness, the trees and big rocks that are present as you start to climb. We saw a couple of homeless people as well but they weren't interested on us. This is a pleasant place to take a walk and make some good pictures
6 years ago
Great trail with amazing views a top at the lookout tower. Be prepared for approximately 2400 feet of elevation gain over a 3 mile one way hike to the top. This is a wonderful day hike which gets your heart pumping with every step. If you are training for the Grand Canyon, this would be a great trail to use with an starting elevation of 6900 feet in beautiful Flagstaff.