Veit Springs Flagstaff

We didn't make it to Red Mountain. We kept it super local and crossed the street to our own backyard mountain.

This is one of the best hikes to do with kids because it has a very clear destination. We've found that when we just walk a mile in and then turn around in the middle of a trail, the kids are frustrated and cranky. If we have a goal, they are totally on board.

The destination on this hike is an old abandoned cabin, a spring, a cave, and some rock art. I know… so much reward for such a short hike. That's why it is amazing for kids. Ours loved it. This hike is super short, only a mile and a half round trip. It's not too steep or rocky, but rocky enough that the kids won't feel like they are walking on a side walk. We've been walking this hike since the kids were  small and strapped into backpacks and strollers. Now that they are big enough to crawl around on their own it's even more fun. The cabin site and it's associated structures are wedged in between some huge boulders and up against a cliff wall. There is so much to climb on and explore we probably stayed here and looked around longer than it took us to hike up.

Also since it's the end of monsoon season it's also mushroom season. Carl spend the entire hike taking pictures of all the variety of mushrooms. He says he's going to see which ones are edible and hope for some that are classified as hallucinogens.

The hike can be found in most Flagstaff guide books under Veit Springs Trail. Take highway 180 up to Snowbowl road and turn up the mountain. Climb up about 4.5 miles and look for a turn off in a little crack on the right. It's called the Lamar Haines Memorial Trailhead, but you can't see that sign from the road. Just look for the crack and a little parking area. There are usually a few cars parked there on the weekends.

Rock Art

Standing in front of the cave.

Rock art at entrance to cave.

Trees growing in the cracks up the cliff wall.

I can't say it enough times. We are very lucky to live in Flagstaff. This is not our vacation home, but our  final destination. There are so many places to explore and opportunities to teach our children. It's mind bottling. We are in nature every day. We feel the seasons. We watch things grow and decompose. We measure the rain and the snow and enjoy the sunshine. We smell the elk, hear the coyotes, feel the caterpillars, and see the trees change colors. This is one of the best seasons in Flagstaff. The monsoon is tapering off. The ground will dry out, the temperatures will cool off and it will be the perfect time to hike and explore without the threat of heat or flash flooding. The wildflowers are still in bloom and most of the summer tourists have gone home for the fall. We have the place all to ourselves.