Well, I don't have 99 things on here yet, but the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce distributes a free booklet by that title that is highly recommended. I can email you a copy, or you can pick one up when you get into town at the main downtown intersection of Rt. 66 and Humphreys, right by the railroad tracks. While the booklet includes more popular tourist activities, my list includes lesser-known adventures you can do for free:
CINDER CONES: I'm always surprised when people ask me, "What is a Cinder Cone?" There are so many of these mini vocanoes around here, and they are fun to hike, despite the deep and slippery cinders! For maps and directions to many, Call Sunset Crater National Monument (see Flagstaff Links). My favorites are Strawberry Crater (Indian ruins on the top north side that no one knows about, and to the east also) and SP Crater which is completely in-tact and quite deep, and has tropical-looking lizards! The map will also show where ATV's and Four Wheel Drives are allowed.
INDIAN RUINS: You don't have to pay to see indian ruins..... These may not be as spectacular as Mesa Verde or Montezuma's Castle, but just finding something on your own is rewarding. Basically, if you see a nice knoll with a good view, there's probably a small ruin on top. If you happen to be hiking Fat Man's Loop (very popular and highly recommended trail accross from the mall), look for knolls 1/2-1 mile north of the loop. Also, small hills around Doney Park have pottery laying around. Old Caves Crater has a nice trail all the way up. Off Highway 89 north of the Mall, turn right on Silver Saddle Road. A parking area will be on your left. Once at the top, explore the south side to find the caves. Don't take any pottery!
ELDEN'S CABIN SITE: Find out how Mt. Elden got it's name. First find the trailhead with your yellow pages maps. Fanning, to Matterhorn to the culdesac Lugano. The trail immediately splits; stay to the right, cross the pipeline, and be looking for a historical marker sign at the cabin site. To find the spring, find the lowest area at the base of the mountain, directly behind the cabin site. Go west from the cabin site to find John Elden's grave by an Alligator Juniper tree. Keep traveling west 1/2 mile on main trail to find a huge, ancient Juniper that kids can't resist climbing.
ROCK-CLIMBING WALLS: There are a lot of fun places to rock climb outdoors, with or without ropes. Just past the Museum of Northern Arizona, on highway 180, turn right on Schultz Pass Rd. At the fork, stay to the right on Elden Lookout Rd. When it turns to dirt, continue about a mile, past two very sharp turns, to a small parking area where the Rocky ridge trail and the Oldham trails merge.There will be a cliff to the right, barely visible through the trees, and several routes to top rope climb. A great place for the whole family. To find the best routes (4 adjacent), head straight for the cliffs from the parking area, going up and to the left.To hike up and around to tie your ropes, you can go left or right, all the way around the cliffs.
MOUNTAIN BIKING/NORDIC SKIING: It's not hard to find a trail in Flagstaff, but here's how to get to one of our most popular, the Shultz Creek Trail. From Downtown on Rt. 66, go uphill on Humphreys until you get to a stoplight. Turn left. You will be on Highway 180 (Ft. Valley Rd). After a couple miles, you will pass the Museum of Northern Arizona. Look for a long rock wall and Shultz Pass Rd on the right. Turn Right. Go left at fork. When road turns to dirt, turn right, down the hill to the parking area. Trails to the right are fun and flat for the kids but don't go far, the Rocky Ridge trail is very rocky, and the Shultz Creek trail to the left is a gentle uphill that will eventually take you to other trails if you want to go that far. Lots of fun to come down! If you like to skate on your cross-country skiis, you might like the icy surface of Lake Mary.
SLEDDING: South Snowbowl Road. Take highway 180 toward the Snowbowl ski area. When you get to Snowbowl Road, turn left, and go until the road takes a sharp turn. There is a trailhead there. Walk straight up the trail to a small but fun hill, or walk further for a big, big hill. Kinsey Elementary also has a very popular hill. From downtown, take Rt. 66 heading south under the underpass, then left or east on Butler, then right on Lone Tree Rd. Go about a mile and park at the school, right by the hill.
SCENIC SEDONA: If you haven't seen Sedona, you can't pass this up. Take I-17 South for a mile or two. Take the first exit to Sedona. Turn right, then left at the T and you will be on highway 89A. After a few miles, keep a look out for the Oak Creek Vista Overlook (on the left) where you can see native American crafts and a great view down into Pumphouse Wash. Then continue down the switchbacks thru the most beautiful redrock canyon you can imagine. It will take about 40 minutes to get to Sedona, where you can see the shops and endless artwork, eat lunch, stop at the Chamber of Commerce, etc. If you'd like to hike to indian ruins for free, ask how to get to amazing Boynton Canyon. The ruins can be found on side trails. On your way back to Flagstaff, stop at Slide Rock State Park and take the kids swimming down the natural waterslides. If the parking lot is full, nobody will stop you from parking somewhere up the hill and hiking down the steep trails. For 102 things to do in Sedona, visit www.visitsedona.com
AIRPLANE WRECKAGE: How would you like to see airplane wreckage near the top of Humphrey's Peak? If you have a GPS, I'll email you the coordinates and the directions to get there.
To be continued... Come back for more!