Trail Running in Flagstaff, Arizona: Buffalo Park and Beyond
Where can you start trail running in Flagstaff? For an easy-to-plan local loop, start with the two-mile Nate Avery Trail in Buffalo Park. For a sustained uphill effort, consider the Tunnel Springs segment of the Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS). Check the city's current map and trail information before you go; these are shared paths, not a marked race course.
Flagstaff gives runners a useful choice: stay on an urban trail for a controlled session, or plan a longer outing on the surrounding trail network. The City of Flagstaff says FUTS has about 59 miles of trails, roughly half paved and half hard-packed aggregate. That distinction matters when you are choosing shoes, setting a pace goal, or deciding whether you want a smooth recovery run or a trail-specific workout.
.jpg){kind=link}
Buffalo Park: a simple loop for your first visit
The city's FUTS trail descriptions list the Nate Avery Trail around Buffalo Park as a two-mile loop with wide views from McMillan Mesa. It is a practical first run because the loop makes distance and turnaround simple: run one easy lap, assess how you feel, then add another only if your effort is still comfortable. The trail is popular, so leave room for walkers and other users rather than treating the loop like a track.
Tunnel Springs: climb by effort, not pace
The same city guide describes Tunnel Springs Trail as a 1.8-mile segment climbing steadily through forest on the south face of Mars Hill. Use it when you want to practice keeping your effort even as the grade changes. Start easily, shorten your stride on the climb, and choose a turnaround time before fatigue makes the descent sloppy. Segment distance does not include any approach from your chosen starting point; confirm the complete route on the map.
Want to go farther? Build a route before you leave
Flagstaff's mapped Arizona Trail segment crosses the city, but it is only one piece of an 800-mile statewide route. The city's Urban Trails and Bikeways Map distinguishes paved FUTS, unpaved FUTS and singletrack, and shows trailheads and grades. Use it to mark your start, junctions, and return. For a longer run beyond the city, switch to the land manager's current maps and notices; do not assume the urban map covers the whole outing.
| If you want... | Start with... | Plan around... |
|---|---|---|
| A predictable first run | Buffalo Park / Nate Avery Trail | Two-mile laps and shared use |
| A climbing workout | Tunnel Springs segment | Uphill effort and a controlled descent |
| A longer mixed-surface day | A mapped FUTS or Arizona Trail connection | Junctions, surface changes and a firm turnaround time |
Before you head out
- Check the city's FUTS page and current map for the surface and route you intend to use.
- Look at today's forecast and take water and layers appropriate to your actual route. A shaded start can lead to a more exposed section.
- Set your return point and share your plan if you are leaving the urban network for more remote trails.
- Give other users room, especially when descending or passing on narrow sections.
Route note: Distances above are the city's named trail segments, not promises about a run from your parking spot. Trail access and conditions can change. The linked city map and the relevant land manager are your final checks on the day of your run.
Image: Arizona Trail, Anderson Mesa Passage near Flagstaff by Coconino National Forest, released under CC0 1.0. The pictured passage is southeast of Flagstaff and is not one of the urban routes described above.