Mt Elden Trail System Flagstaff: 5 Best Routes

Mt Elden: Flagstaff's Home Mountain

Mt Elden is the rocky volcanic peak visible from nearly every corner of downtown Flagstaff — a 9,301-foot mass of dark basalt and ponderosa pine that serves as the city's most-used outdoor gymnasium. On any weekday afternoon, Flagstaff residents are on these trails: schoolteachers doing Fatman's Loop before dinner, mountain bikers dropping into Pipeline, trail runners working the Sunset Trail. It's the mountain that belongs to the city in a way the San Francisco Peaks — taller but more remote — don't quite manage.

For visitors, Mt Elden offers a range of trail experiences that compress the best of Flagstaff's outdoor character into a 10-minute drive from downtown. Here are the five routes that matter most.

1. Elden Lookout Trail — Summit Route

Distance: ~3 miles one way (6 miles RT) from Mt Elden Lookout TH | Gain: 2,400 ft | Difficulty: Strenuous

The main summit trail begins at the Mt Elden Lookout Trailhead on US-89 and climbs directly to the 9,301-foot summit where a fire lookout tower stands. The route is rocky and sustained — expect continuous uphill with no real flat sections. The first mile is in forest cover; the upper section opens onto exposed volcanic rock with increasingly expansive views over the Flagstaff basin and, on clear days, to the Grand Canyon rim to the north.

The summit view is the payoff: Flagstaff city spread below to the west, the San Francisco Peaks rising to the north, the Painted Desert and Navajo Nation lands stretching east, and on clear winter days, the South Rim of the Grand Canyon visible 80 miles north. Allow 3–4 hours round trip. Start by 7 AM in summer to be off the exposed summit before afternoon storm development.

The lookout tower itself is staffed by Coconino National Forest volunteers during summer; if staff are present, visitors can sometimes climb to the cab for an even higher vantage point. No fee.

2. Fatman's Loop — Family Classic

Distance: 2.4 miles | Gain: ~300 ft | Difficulty: Easy–Moderate

Fatman's Loop is the trail Flagstaff residents recommend when friends visit and ask for something short and satisfying. The route circles the lower flank of Mt Elden through mixed ponderosa pine and juniper forest, with enough rocky character to feel like a real hike rather than a nature walk. The namesake feature — a narrow slot between two large boulders — appears about halfway through the loop. Most adults fit through easily; it's named with some historical humor rather than as a literal warning.

Access from the Mt Elden Lookout Trailhead. The loop takes 1–1.5 hours at a comfortable pace. Dogs are welcome on leash; the trail sees significant dog-walker traffic on weekday evenings. Good for kids 6 and up. No fee, free parking at the trailhead (lot fills on weekend mornings by 9 AM — arrive by 8 for a guaranteed spot).

3. Sunset Trail — Longer Loop Option

Distance: ~4 miles one way connector trail | Difficulty: Moderate

The Sunset Trail traverses the south-facing slope of Mt Elden from east to west, connecting multiple trailheads and making various loop combinations possible. The lower-angle approach is gentler than the Lookout Trail's direct ascent — it's the preferred route for hikers who want to reach the upper mountain without the full strenuous commitment of the direct line. Good views of Flagstaff and the plateau to the south throughout.

Sunset Trail is also popular with trail runners and works well as a return route from a summit hike (ascend via Lookout Trail, descend via Sunset) — this requires a short car shuttle or a mile of road walking to complete the loop back to the Lookout TH.

4. Pipeline Trail — Mountain Bike Flagship

Distance: ~5.5 miles | Difficulty: Intermediate (mountain bike)

Pipeline Trail is the jewel of Flagstaff's mountain bike network — a flowing singletrack that runs along the base of Mt Elden through varied terrain including rock gardens, technical switchbacks, and fast straight sections through open forest. It's a trail that rewards repeat visits as you build familiarity with the line choices. Absolute Bikes downtown rents full-suspension mountain bikes and can direct riders to the Pipeline TH.

Hikers share Pipeline Trail — expect mountain bike traffic and yield appropriately. The trail is less pleasant for hiking than the other Elden routes due to bike volume on weekends; Fatman's Loop or Sunset Trail are better choices if you're on foot. For bikers visiting Flagstaff, Pipeline should be your first morning — the trail conditions before the sun dries the dirt are exceptional.

5. Schultz Creek Trail — The Connector

Distance: ~5 miles one way | Difficulty: Moderate

Schultz Creek Trail runs north from the Schultz Tank Trailhead at the base of Mt Elden toward the San Francisco Peaks, making it a key connector in the broader Flagstaff trail network. The trail was heavily impacted by the 2010 Schultz Fire — the largest wildfire in Flagstaff's modern history — but the recovery over 15 years has been extensive. As of our April 2026 visit, the trail through the burn area shows healthy forest regeneration with younger ponderosa, Gambel oak regrowth, and a dramatically open feel where the mature forest once stood.

Schultz Creek is popular with mountain bikers and trail runners as a connection route. For hikers, it offers a different character than the other Elden trails — more remote feeling, better wildlife sighting opportunities (deer and elk are regularly seen in the burn recovery areas where browse is plentiful).

Lowdown Verdict: Mt Elden is the most accessible quality trail network in northern Arizona for visitors based in Flagstaff. Commit to the Lookout Trail summit if you want one serious hike. Do Fatman's Loop for an afternoon walk that impresses without exhausting. Bring a mountain bike if you have access to one — Pipeline Trail is legitimately world-class at the intermediate level.