Easy • 2.1 miles • Loop • 45-60 minutes
Flagstaff's most popular urban trail, and it's easy to see why. The 2.1-mile gravel loop around Buffalo Park on McMillan Mesa is mostly open grassland, with sweeping views of the San Francisco Peaks and Mount Elden and only 55 feet of elevation gain. It's flat, well-maintained, and accessible for strollers and wheelchairs — a family-friendly go-to from babies through tweens. Plan 45 to 60 minutes for a lap. The honest catch is shade: the loop is almost all open grassland with barely any cover, so hat up and go before lunch in summer, which is also when mule deer graze. Restrooms, water fountains, and picnic tables sit at the entrance; make everyone go before you start the lap, because those don't repeat out on the trail. Free parking lot at the Buffalo Park entrance on Gemini Road. Open dawn to dusk, and it's free. Best in spring, summer, and fall.
Local tip
The loop is almost all open grassland with barely any shade, so hat up and go before lunch in summer — early morning is also when the mule deer are out grazing. Restrooms and water fountains are at the entrance only, so make everyone go before you start the lap.
Trail details
Trail features
Amenities
Kid ages
Weather
Season
Address
Buffalo Park - 2400 N Gemini Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Trailhead parking
Free parking lot at Buffalo Park entrance
Hours
Phone
(928) 213-2300Buffalo Park's flat, wide loop makes it one of the easiest outdoor spots in Flagstaff for a multigenerational outing — grandparents, toddlers, and everyone in between. Here's why it works so well for families, plus the wild history behind the name.
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