Outdoors
Wildlife viewing and birding near Flagstaff
Refuges, lakes and wild areas near Flagstaff for wildlife viewing and birdwatching.
27places to see wildlife
10 mito the closest
12within 30 miles
Good to know: Early mornings and evenings are best for wildlife; bring binoculars and keep a respectful distance.
Closest picks
Oleary Group Site
13 mi north · USDA Forest Service
O'Leary Group Campground was constructed in 2001 and is named for O'Leary Peak, which overlooks this site.
Pine Flat Campground West
13 mi southwest · USDA Forest Service
Pine Flat Campground is a popular camping spot in scenic Oak Creek Canyon in Arizona's Coconino National Forest. The campground is nestled in a forested canyon near the well-known town of Sedona, Arizona, and its red rock cliffs.
Map of all 27 places
Map of 27 places loads as you scroll.
Within 30 miles (12)
Coconino National Forest Recreation
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Climbing
- Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
Oleary Group Site
O'Leary Group Campground was constructed in 2001 and is named for O'Leary Peak, which overlooks this site.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Pine Flat Campground West
Pine Flat Campground is a popular camping spot in scenic Oak Creek Canyon in Arizona's Coconino National Forest. The campground is nestled in a forested canyon near the well-known town of Sedona, Arizona, and its red rock cliffs.
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Photography
- Star Gazing
- Swimming
- Wildlife viewing
Bonito Campground (AZ)
Bonito Campground is located 18 miles northeast of Flagstaff, near Sunset Crater/Wupatki National Monument. Elevation is 6,900 feet.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Cave Spring
Cave Springs sits in the scenic Oak Creek Canyon and is one of Coconino National Forest's most popular campgrounds. The campground is nestled in a forested canyon near the town of Sedona, Arizona, and its famous red rock cliffs.
- Birding
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Photography
- Swimming
- Wildlife viewing
Pinegrove
Pinegrove Campground sits in the lush Coconino National Forest of northern Arizona, offering visitors countless recreation opportunities set in a stunning landscape.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Dairy Springs
Dairy Springs is a comfortable campground tucked away in a scenic area of northern Arizona. Its main attraction is the seasonal Mormon Lake which, when filled with water, draws visitors for fishing, windsurfing and wildlife watching.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Fernow Cabin
Fernow Cabin offers a quaint, forested retreat near Flagstaff and Sedona, in central Arizona. The rustic, three-bedroom log cabin is a retired U.S.
- Biking
- Camping
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Wildlife viewing
Kendrick Cabin
Kendrick Cabin offers groups of up to 10 people the chance to experience spectacular mountain views, numerous hiking and mountain biking trails, and several cultural and historic attractions of the Southwest region.
- Biking
- Camping
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Wildlife viewing
Spring Valley Cabin & Bunkhouse
The Spring Valley Cabin and Bunkhouse offer a peaceful retreat with spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks, quiet solitude, wildlife viewing opportunities, and access to nearby trails.
- Biking
- Camping
- Cross Country Skiing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Snowshoeing
- Star Gazing
WHITE HORSE LAKE Campground
White Horse Lake is an extremely popular fishing lake, 19 miles southeast of Williams, in northern Arizona.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Picnicking
- Ranger programs
Wupatki National Monument
Nestled between the Painted Desert and ponderosa highlands of northern Arizona, Wupatki National Monument is an unlikely landscape for a thriving community.
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
30 to 75 miles (6)
Kaibab National Forest
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
Tuzigoot National Monument
Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary rocks.
- Wildlife viewing
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture.
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Prescott National Forest
.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Grand Canyon National Park
Entirely within the state of Arizona, the park encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Horse Camping
- Paddling
Agua Fria National Monument
Plan Your Visit Visitors to Agua Fria National Monument can hike in rugged landscapes, view rock art, and experience wide‑open desert vistas with few built facilities.
- Biking
- Birding
- Dispersed Camping
- Hiking
- History
- Horseback riding
- Off-highway vehicles
- Photography
75 miles and farther (9)
Tonto National Forest
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Climbing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
Black Canyon National Recreation Trail
The 80-mile Black Canyon Trail provides visitors with a long-range backcountry trail riding, mountain biking, and hiking opportunity.
- Accessible Facility Or Activity
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Mountain Biking
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Hell's Canyon Wilderness
The 9,951-acre Hells Canyon Wilderness Area is a portion of the Hieroglyphic Mountains. The most prominent peaks are Garfias Mountain at 3,381 feet (1,030.5 m) and Hellgate Mountain at 3,339 feet (1,017.7 m).
- Backpacking
- Climbing
- Dispersed Camping
- Rock Climbing
- Wilderness
- Wildlife viewing
Lake Pleasant
This newly expanded reservoir has 114 miles of shoreline for family recreation uses. The reservoir boasts a 10-lane boat ramp; parking for 200 vehicles. Recreational facilities concentrated primarily on the reservoir's western shore.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Off-highway vehicles
- Picnicking
Upper Burro Creek Wilderness
The 27,440-acre Upper Burro Creek Wilderness is located in Yavapai and Mohave counties in Arizona, 60 miles west of Prescott and 60 miles southeast of Kingman.
- Bird Watching
- Birding
- Dispersed Camping
- Hiking
- Photography
- Swimming
- Wilderness
- Wildlife viewing
Petrified Forest National Park
A landscape where deep time lies fully on display, Petrified Forest National Park blends colorful badlands, vast grasslands, and one of the world’s largest and most vivid collections of petrified wood.
- Biking
- Camping
- Hiking
- History
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Tres Alamos Wilderness
The 8,300-acre Tres Alamos Wilderness Area is in Yavapai County, 80 miles northwest of Phoenix, Arizona, and six miles south of the Santa Maria River.
- Backpacking
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Photography
- Wilderness
- Wildlife viewing
Burro Creek Recreation Site
The Burro Creek Recreation Site is situated along Burro Creek within a very scenic Sonoran Desert canyon at an elevation of 1,960 feet. This peaceful area has long been a favorite stop of travelers on nearby Highway 93.
- Backpacking
- Bird Watching
- Birding
- Camping
- Camping Area
- Hiking
- Photography
- Water Access
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
This remote and unspoiled, 294,000-acre monument is a geologic treasure, containing Paria Plateau, Vermilion Cliffs, Coyote Buttes and Paria Canyon. Visitors will enjoy scenic views of towering cliffs and deep canyons.
- Camping
- Hiking
- History
- Off-highway vehicles
- Photography
- Wilderness
- Wildlife viewing
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Flagstaff. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
Get outside around Flagstaff
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
Top 5 Must-Do's in Flagstaff, Arizona
A local activity Short shared by UltimateUtopia5.
Watch on YouTube ↗
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
Best Things to Do in Flagstaff, AZ! 🌲
A local activity Short shared by Plates and Paradise.
Watch on YouTube ↗Around Flagstaff
More outdoors near Flagstaff
Questions
Where is the closest place for wildlife & birding near Flagstaff?
Coconino National Forest Recreation (USDA Forest Service), about 10 miles east of Flagstaff as the crow flies. Next are Oleary Group Site (13 mi) and Pine Flat Campground West (13 mi).
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.