Kachina Trail Near Flagstaff

Among the approximately 200 hiking trails in and around Flagstaff, Kachina Trail is one of the most beautiful. Even before moving to the area, it was one of the first Arizona trails I hiked, and after moving here, I quickly returned to soak up its splendor. During those hikes, I took loads of pictures, some of which I’ll share in this post.

The trail is located about 13 miles outside of Flagstaff, up Snowbowl Road. (Snowbowl is the local ski area, you might be surprised to learn.) The Kachina Trail trailhead is across the road from that of Humphreys Peak, Arizona’s tallest mountain, topping out at about 12,600 feet. Kachina Trail, with an elevation fluctuation of 8800 – 9300 feet, is usually about 10 degrees F. cooler than locations at 7000 feet in and around Flagstaff. During the hottest days of summer, this trail offers a great respite from the heat.

Infoarizona.com describes the trail beautifully: If Humphreys is the dramatic headliner, Kachina is the quiet album track that true fans love most. Having hiked both trails, I will say I agree. Humphreys’ trail is riddled with small rocks and tree roots, which often results in sore feet. Kachina’s trail is smoother, and of course, less steep.

As you can see from the pictures here, Kachina Trail winds through an old growth forest. It is replete with ponderosa pines, aspen trees, wildflowers, ancient lava flows with large boulders, and enormous ferns. It offers incredible views of the (rest of the) San Francisco Peaks and Flagstaff. The complete trail is rated moderate, and is just over 10 miles out and back. After about 90 minutes of lovely rolling terrain, the trees largely disappear, fully exposing hikers to the intense Arizona sunshine for a distance. Many, I’ve read, turn around at that point.

Autumn on Kachina Trail is unforgettable. According to one writer, the aspens here don’t just change — they ignite. Usually within a week’s time, the aspens here transform to their most brilliantly colored foliage, followed by large numbers of leaf peepers. This is one of the reasons the trail is included in many top 10 hikes in Northern Arizona.

The larger wildlife around Kachina Trail includes bears, puma, deer, and elk. I’ve never encountered bears or puma here, thank goodness. But I once heard warnings about a bear being spotted on the trail.

Dressing in layers is always a good idea for hiking high elevation trails like this one. The temperature difference between shady and sunny areas can be 20 degrees F. And if the sky becomes overcast, the shaded parts can get chilly. If you’re not used to spending time at elevation, take the hike slowly to give your body time to adjust to the lower oxygen levels and avoid altitude sickness. And be sure to carry snacks and plenty of electrolyte drinks in your backpack.

If you’re in the Flagstaff area, I encourage you to check out the Kachina Trail. It might just be a hike you’ll never forget.

Blessings on the Trail,

Lisa

Recently, we drove up to hike the trail again and found that many trees and much undergrowth was being removed in a thinning project. This is done to protect from a catastrophic wildfire. I’m grateful for that, as a few years ago, a fire accompanied by high winds burned in the San Francisco Peaks for two weeks. The winds caused it to spread quickly, causing tremendous heart-wrenching devastation. The thinning project has, of course, changed the look of the trail.

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