the arboretum at flagstaff

Make sure you check their website for which months/days they are open. We were there mid-June.We were looking for something to do to enjoy the outdoors. This hit the spot. The admission was reasonable and right when we got there a tour was starting. I wasn’t expecting much but the docent was very informative. We learned so much that we never would have known if we had just walked through. If you are from someplace that is green and mountain-y then you may not think much about here. But for a desert dweller like me, it was a breath of fresh air.Right after the tour, the bird show started. It was almost exactly the same show that we saw the day before at Bearizona, which was fine. It was really cute. It was actually better here because the audience to so much smaller and you are much closer to the action. Also this place is a lot cheaper than Bearizona. The unexpectant part was how long the dirt road is to get there. If you have an SUV or truck then you can fly down the road. Our car did about 15 mph the whole way. Overall, though, it was a wonderful experience.

We enjoyed ourselves on a rainy afternoon at the Arboretum. Lots of quiet paths with local trees and plants. It was great to see the staff in action as well. If you need a break in Flagstaff, this is a good place.

Karen, our docent and guide, was terrific and made the hour walk just fly by . The plants and grounds were beautiful with fall color and lovely plants, even after their normal "peak season" had past. Unpaved road to get there but well worth the few bounces.

This is a little hidden treasure. We found out about the concerts here in the summer and took in one and loved it. The views are glorious, the grounds beautiful. The concert was terrific and we hope to take in more next season. Or better yet we may become members and get season tickets!

Not a good month to visit. Plants would be better earlier in the year. Trees are the same as all the Colorado plateau trees. Likely to see Elk, Mule Deer and Proghorns along with multiple types of squirrels & chipmunks, but go early. We missed the Raptor demos - check times.

An urban retreat that is filled with interesting plants and a park like atmosphere in the spacious woods. It is gorgeous and quiet.

I was here on a warm September afternoon and was pleasantly surprised to see how many flowers were still in bloom due to all the recent rain. The drive in through a ponderosa pine forest smelled delightful and there were lots of fall wild flowers and grasses providing fall color.The visitor center is larger than I expected with spectacular views of the San Francisco peaks. The paths are wood chips and packed dirt, (nothing paved) which would be difficult for a wheelchair but which add to the feel of a stroll through a forest. The peak season is July and August when the large collection of mountain wild flowers (one of the largest collections in the country) bloom.There are docent led tours twice daily. I arrived too late in the day but would strongly recommend planning your visit to coincide with one of these hikes. The history of the former home which is now the visitor center is very interesting. There are so many species of plants (over 750) that it would be great to go with a docent. The lady at the visitor center said to call ahead to be sure if there will be a docent led hike as they are volunteers and hikes are scheduled around their availability.The Arboretum is open through the end of October 2014 then will be closed until May 1, 2015. When planning your visit, allow a couple of hours to be sure to see everything.CAUTION: Once you turn onto Wood Mountain Road, it is four miles to the Arboretum and only the first mile is paved. The last three miles are VERY ROUGH. Oncoming cars stir up so much dust that your visibility is impaired.

While missing some of the pines one would expect in Flagstaff, it is must see for plant lovers, and a nice place to visit on a pleasant afternoon. My wife and I saw the "Airborne Raptors" presentation with live birds which was truly fascinating. In looking at the website, i see that they have a very impressive events schedule, so visiting the website is recommended so you can plan your visit when it coincides with activities that interest you. Similarly, I see on the website today that they are closed on Tuesdays (at present), which is another reason to visit the website before setting out for a day at the arboretum.

the Arboretum offers a nice selection of plants, well maintained trails for viewing flora/fauna, and a raptor show. The ride can be a little bumpy on a dirt/gravel road that is reasonably maintained and likely passable by most cars assuming no extreme weather. While not unknown it certainally isn't overcrowded either (at least on the two occasions I was there). I would recommend timing your visit so that you are able to catch a raptor show and then another hour walking the paths and enjoying the flowers, birds, chipmunks/ground squirels, etc. would round out your visit. This could be enjoyed by children as well as adults of all ages.

Some of Chihuly's famous glass sculptures still here to enjoy. Plan to spend the day meandering thru all the different eco systems displayed here. Food is served and surprisingly good and reasonably priced. Don't forget to bring an extra memory card for the camera.

We enjoyed wandering the marked trails of the Arboretum. You are given a map of the property so you can navigate around quite easily. We came to see the Raptor show which is run twice daily.Here you are very close to the birds as they fly over the crowd. Volunteers get to participate with working with some of the birds. The Raptor Show was very informative. We got some great photos of the birds. Glad we came.

The Arboretum, located just off of route 66 is 30 degrees cooler, than in Phoenix. This is a Great location to look at flora and fauna of Northern Arizona.Wide open fields of Black eye Susans hidden among the pines.

Three miles down a sometimes rough dirt road on the southwest outskirts of Flagstaff gets you to this gem of an attraction. We joined the 11 am tour and a knowledgeable docent walked us through various of the gardens and talked about the plants we saw, discussed the trees native to the Flagstaff area and showed us examples, took us through a greenhouse, then ended the tour an hour later at the raptor Ramada, just in time to take in the raptor presentation. We were introduced to various eagles, falcons, a magnificent Eurasian Eagle Owl with bright orange eyes and an unflappable temperament, and were encouraged to come up close and take pictures with them. You could even put on a glove and hold one of the falcons on your fist. Meanwhile, the trainer and her assistants were providing fascinating information about the birds. Finally, a Harris hawk would shuttle between perches on either side of the crowd flying back and forth over your head, close enough to feel her feathers brush by you, to recover bits of meat from her handlers. As described by her trainer, she flies only high enough to clear the scenery, and you're the scenery. Finally, a raven uses its beak to take contributions from the crowd and then stuffs the bills through a slot into a collection box, later used to buy food for the birds. Wonderful to be so near these remarkable creatures. We also enjoyed a walk along the paths and through the grounds, then into the ponderosa forest, and the view of the San Francisco peaks from the edge of the meadow. We understand that dozens of browsing elk are viewable in the meadow if you're lucky as to time. Just a fascinating place!

We wanted to spend a couple of hours at the Arboretum so we followed the directions from the official website. It tells you, correctly, that the last three miles of the road is unpaved. But it also says that you can take a passenger car. Well -- technically, I suppose you can. But the road is terrible, so full of potholes and washboard that it is jarring. Perhaps you could go slowly enough to do it without damaging your kidneys and your car's suspension, but that would mean traveling at about 5 miles per hour. That would mean a 40-minute ride on the dirt portion. No thanks. Make sure you have an SUV or a pickup truck with stiff suspension and high clearance.

Grandparents, parents, and kids will love this place. Great raptor show with outstanding knowledgable staff. And you can get to hold a falcon at the end! Wonderful grounds, native species of plants, picnic tables, herb garden, and lots of walking paths. We loved it.