Home › Arizona › Flagstaff › Mt Elden Lookout Trail
Mt Elden Lookout Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 156 Google reviews · Running trail in Flagstaff, Arizona · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Mt Elden Lookout Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
This trail leads up to the summit of Mt. Elden & offers views of the city & surrounding area.
What runners say about Mt Elden Lookout Trail
“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.”
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.
3 miles one way and it wasn’t easy. The views along the way are spectacular and the range you can see is wide. We got rained on and then the rain turned to hail. We made it about 100 yards from the top and turned back as thunder right above us. One of the most defining moments was the wind which blew at around 50 mph.
Amazing Trail to hike during the day. The view at night is also amazing overlooking Flagstaff
Enjoyed the hike, but this is difficult. 3 miles of incline hiking to the lookout/towers and 6 miles round trip. Large and small rocks with lots of switchbacks. Scenic views and well shaded for most of hike. Would recommended good hiking shoes, poles, and maximum half gallon water to keep the weight off your shoulders.
Trail conditions & character
“This trail is located conveniently close to Flagstaff and has great views of the area, especially as you near the top.”
“The hike was not hard, bud did have some elevation changes, so if that is hard for you to do, keep that in mind.”
“However regardless if you turn around it all leads back to the Parking lot.”
Plan your run at Mt Elden Lookout Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitefs.usda.gov
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–10 PM |
Running trails near Flagstaff
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Fatmans Loop Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 681 reviews
Walking trail featuring scenic overlooks with city views, volcanic rock formations & more.
Picture Canyon Trailhead
4.4 ★★★★☆ 325 reviews
Easy trails to a waterfall in a canyon, plus petroglyphs and pictographs.
Sandy Seep Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 84 reviews
Natural area with forested hiking trails that are suitable for families and dogs.
Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 348 reviews
478-acre nature preserve featuring hiking, biking & horseback riding, plus wildlife & petroglyphs.
Buffalo Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,307 reviews
215-acre park offers a 2-mile hiking loop trail, picnicking space, wildlife & scenic mountain views.