Loop Trail
Links to Loop Trail information, maps, and planning:
- 2009 Loop Trail goals
- The NEXT Loop Trail date
- Register with the Loop Trail Volunteers
- Current status of the Loop Trail
- Overall goal & description of the Loop Trail
- Building Sustainable trail
- Loop Trail Map (4.5 Mb pdf)
Construction of the Loop Trail is underway! Be a part of this legacy trail!
After what seems like years of waiting (because it was), the Forest Service has gotten NEPA compliance approval on its Loop Trail alignments August 29th, 2008. Construction began in the fall of 2008 on this epic 42 mile trail circumnavigating Flagstaff, hopefully to be completed within the next several years, depending on the success of recruiting and coordinating mostly voluntary trail crews.
Old timers in Flagstaff may remember FBO’s founder, Geoff Cross, and his earliest efforts for this project back to 2003. 
Work on the Loop trail now shifts from the paper pushing phase to the dirt pushing phase for Flagstaff Biking Organization and their fellow founding partners and interested parties, including the Coconino National Forest, Coconino County, and the City of Flagstaff. Susan Hueftle, from FBO’s board of directors, is coordinating the Loop Trail efforts since the summer of 2008, with assistance from Bruce Belman, a retired professor of biology. They will take the lead in implementing FBO efforts in Loop trail events, prioritizing, working with cooperating agencies, and posting signage on the trail. If you want to join this group, please contact the Loop Trail coordinator.
2009 Goals: May the Circle be Unbroken
Our push for trail building in the 2009 construction season is to close the circuit of the Loop Trail. With luck, the help of many volunteers including you and yours, and the use of some interim routes, we want to be able to connect the existing trails sufficiently that “Ring around the Flagstaff” can be sung from Schultz Creek trailhead, to Fatman’s Loop, Campbell Mesa, Skunk Canyon, Ft Tuthill, to Observatory Mesa and back to Schultz. While not outside the bounds of possibility, this will take a lot of committed work from our volunteers and our partners with the City, County and Forest Service. It won’t necessarily be easy, but it will be fun!
There are 2 major obstacles to hike-throughs: A gap from Observatory Mesa to Cheshire, and a tunnel link from Campbell Mesa to Arizona Trail section D.
Sustainable Trail:
The goal of the Loop Trail partners: FBO, Forest Service, County and City; is to build high-quality sustainable trail. What does that mean? We follow the standards set out by I.M.B.A. (International Mountain Biking Assoc.) that include features that protect a trail long-term. It is designed to prevent erosion even while reducing the need for maintenance; it can even protect it’s users by managing blind spots. A good trail sheds water before it can erode the trail, its steepness suites the stability of the terrain, it incorporates the various needs of different users, and best of all, takes the user on a interesting journey through terrain.
This means trail is preferentially built on side-slopes rather than creek/wash bottoms, it is not excessively steep, never running straight up and down a slope, and is designed to drain, not collect, flowing water through undulation more than the use of large intrusive water-bars. Many trails in Flagstaff began as social trails or old road-beds with none of these features… and we can see the results… trails that become deeply rutted, rocky and not-so-much fun. Worse, they cause erosion and hurt the environment the users come to enjoy. A good trail can integrate with the environment and provide long-term enjoyment without requiring chronic maintenance.
For all trail days:
Follow this link to Google maps for starting locations of the Loop Trail Days.
2009 Trail Dates
- April 25th: Skunk Canyon, Seg. 34
- May 23rd: Skunk Canyon, Seg. 34
- June 6th: National Trail Day: Observatory Mesa to Cheshire.
- July 11th: CORRECTION! Observatory Mesa to Cheshire
- August 15th: Observatory Mesa to Cheshire, segment 55/56
- September 19th: CHANGED! Skunk Canyon connection, segment 34
- October 3rd: CHANGED! Skunk Canyon connection segment 34
- November 7th: Skunk Canyon connection segment 34.
While sipping coffee from Late for the Train, we will have safety meeting to make sure everyone works safely and happily. We will work until lunch time, (generously provided to us by Biff’s Bagels or Fratelli Pizza), and raffle off some great prizes. We will need help to build, repair and maintain this legacy trail, as well as install signs in 2009 so PLEASE JOIN US!
Trail building is fun, you meet great folks who share your love of Flagstaff Trails, and you become part of the legacy of the Loop Trail in this great town.
Please come with sturdy shoes, long pants, water, sunscreen, and a hat or bike helmet; and gloves if you have some. Dress in layers, with rain gear during monsoons– weather is changesome. We provide hard-hats, tools and equipment, guidance and training. Kids under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
April 25th: Skunk Canyon
Stages off Lk Mary Rd on Forest Road 720. We continued building new singletrack from YX Ranch Road toward Skunk Canyon trail head.
Sponsors: 
May 23rd: Skunk Canyon
This will be our last day in the Skunk Cyn area… we will finish off the new link! We will stage off Lk Mary Rd on Forest Road 720. Follow the signs to the parking area.
Please click HERE to see what you’ll need to bring and other important information.
Follow this link to Google maps for starting locations of the Loop Trail Days.
Sponsored by:
For more information on this trail day event, contact: looptrail@flagstaffbiking.org
June 6th: National Trail Day: Observatory Mesa to Cheshire, segment 55.
We will stage on FS 515. Follow Thorpe Rd to Kinlani Dr, right on Curling Smoke Dr, right on Hogan Dr, right on Westridge; follow signs to parking and the event staging area.
Please click HERE to see what you’ll need to bring and other important information.
Follow this link to Google maps for starting locations of the Loop Trail Days.
For more information on this trail day event, contact: looptrail@flagstaffbiking.org
July 11th: Observatory Mesa to Cheshire, segment 55.
We will stage on FS 515. Follow Thorpe Rd to Kinlani Dr, right on Curling Smoke Dr, right on Hogan Dr, right on Westridge; follow signs to parking and the event staging area.
Please click HERE to see what you’ll need to bring and other important information.
Follow this link to Google maps for starting locations of the Loop Trail Days.
Board of Supervisors
August 15th: Observatory Mesa to Cheshire, segment 55.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! We may not achieve our goal to encircle Flagstaff this summer without more volunteer help! This will probably (hopefully!) be our last day on this section before starting the challenging & exciting segment 56. We will stage on FS 515… follow the signs north from Thorpe Bark Park to Kinlani Dr, right on Curling Smoke Dr, right on Hogan Dr, right on Westridge, left at the cattle guard; follow signs to parking and the event staging area. The last quarter mile of 515 might be a little rough for some cars, but it is an easy walk or you can carpool with arriving trail builders.
Please click HERE to see what you’ll need to bring and other important information.
Follow this link to Google maps for starting locations of the Loop Trail Days.
Board of Supervisors
September 19th: CHANGED! SKUNK CANYON.
Please come with sturdy shoes, long pants, water, sunscreen, and a hat or bike helmet; and gloves if you have some. Consider bringing raingear, weather is changesome. We will provide hard-hats, tools and equipment, guidance and training. Kids under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
You can help us prepare for the Loop Trail Day by pre-registering now so we can estimate lunch, coffee and equipment quantities. Contact Susan@flagstaffbiking.org with questions. THANKS!
Please click HERE to see what you’ll need to bring and other important information.
Follow this link to Google maps for starting locations of the Loop Trail Days.
October 3rd: Return of Skunk Canyon-Ridge.
We are continuing on Skunk Canyon trail.
We continue to work on the legal issues with the Observatory Mesa easement will delay, so don’t despair… WE WILL RETURN! Meanwhile, we built some great new trail above Skunk Canyon on our last day and we will continue to build this high quality trail toward the Fisher Point trail.
DIRECTIONS: Take Lone Tree Road south to J.W. Powell Blvd and turn left/east. Go to the barricades and turn into Pine Canyon Club’s NORTH entrance: Important! Get a visitor’s pass at the booth. Follow signs: take an immediate left on Clubhouse Circle, drive 1.3 miles and turn left/east on Del Rae, following it 0.6 miles to the end circle. We will stage in front of “Lot 191″. Try this mapquest MAP.
Contact us here if you want to get these notifications!
Please click HERE to see what you’ll need to bring and other important information.
Board of Supervisors
November 7th: Revenge of Skunk Cyn/Ridge.
November trail days can be unpredictable… but they are often fantastic! We are planning to make a final push to connect our Skunk Canyon Ridge trail to Fisher Point trail before the 2009 season is done. Join us!
DIRECTIONS: Take Lone Tree Road south to J.W. Powell Blvd and turn left/east. Go to the barricades and turn into Pine Canyon Club’s NORTH entrance: Important! Get a visitor’s pass at the booth. Follow signs: take an immediate left on Clubhouse Circle, drive 1.3 miles and turn left/east on Del Rae, following it 0.6 miles to the end circle. We will stage in front of “Lot 191″. Try this mapquest MAP.
Please click HERE to see what you’ll need to bring and other important information.
Follow this link to Google maps for starting locations of the Loop Trail Days.
Board of Supervisors
Status of the 42 mile Loop Trail:
The proposed non-motorized 42-mile Loop Trail will include many existing trails, including portions of the Arizona Trail, some social trails, and some 2-track road converted to trail. The trail will be varied in character, from easy to more difficult trails. Currently the trail is disconnected and there are about 20 miles completed. Of the 21+ miles to be completed, FBO and our volunteers will be responsible for about 13 of those miles, as well as for posting signs on the length of the trail. We encourage ALL user groups: hikers, cyclists, dog-walkers and horseback riders to get involved with this effort to build a trail all of Flagstaff will enjoy for years to come.
- The Loop Trail will have 30 miles of singletrack (72%). Currrently, almost 18 of those miles exist, but 11 miles are yet to be built. Many of those miles will be constructed by volunteers (that’s you!) with coordination by FBO and our partners in the Forest Service, County and City.
- Of those 17 existing miles of singletrack, some will require some first aid to be first class trail.
- Over 7 miles of the trail will be unpaved FUTS, 4.5 miles which are yet to be constructed by the city.
- About 4 miles of the trail will be paved FUTS, 3.6 miles which are yet to be constructed by the city.
- There is about a half mile of paved connector road included in the trail.
- Work ahead on Forest Service land:
See AZ Daily Sun stories of Sept 11th. To read the USFS Decision and other USFS Loop trail documents, go Here.
The Overall Goal and Description of the Flagstaff Loop Trail
The goal of the Loop Trail is to provide an exceptional multiuse, non-motorized recreational experience close to the urban fringe. The trail will offer improved connectivity within our community while providing a safe and inviting transportation alternative.
What – When completed the 42 mile trail will circumnavigate Flagstaff, providing access from all areas of the city. The concept is that of an outer wheel surrounding Flagstaff, with the linking trails acting as spokes entering the city (the Flagstaff Urban Trail System). The wheel will then link to the communities outside the city limits and to the network of Forest Service trails. The Loop Trail will utilize a variety of Forest Service trails, abandoned roads, the Flagstaff Urban Trail System, State Land department trail easements and the Arizona Trail.
The Loop Trail is divided into 8 passages which are based on geographical areas and opportunities. A passage will have a main trailhead and will be not be more than 15 miles in length, making it possible to complete a passage on foot in one day. Smaller segments are based on land management areas, existing trails and roads.
Who – This project is being coordinated by the Flagstaff Biking Organization-a local non-profit group. Flagstaff Biking has been working with a committee that includes: Coconino National Forest Service, City of Flagstaff, Coconino County Parks and Recreation and many wonderful volunteers from the Flagstaff community.
Why – The FLT Project represents a unique opportunity to plan and create a remarkable corridor close to Flagstaff’s boundaries. The project is focused on respecting our forest environments by proactively managing recreation of high-volume urban interface areas to minimize negative impacts. This will preserve a green corridor surrounding the community before development overruns its boundaries.
Where are we now? – NEPA (National Environmental Protection Agency) compliance work was completed in August 2008; $36,000 was dispersed to complete the work required before the remaining Forest Service trail sections can be built. Our partners with the county are working toward acquiring trail easements on State Trust Land and we are also working on creating agreements for the sections located on City of Flagstaff property. Construction in the fall of 2008 included two work days that created about a half mile of new trail, converted another quarter mile from double track, and obliterated and restored about a quarter mile of old rutted trail.
More Information – Here’s a link to a Loop Trail Map. (pdf, ~4.6 Mb) which will show you map boundaries, completed sections and the links from the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS).
Get Involved! – We will need all the help we can get to work on signing, obliteration of old trails, and the building and upgrading of the Flagstaff Loop Trail for 2009. Contact Bruce.
Back to the TopWe had to change the location of this trail day due to legal issues with the easement joining Observatory Mesa to Cheshire. Rest assured, this issue should be worked out by next spring and the trail will be completed as we hoped.
In the meantime… we will continue on a pretty linkage from Skunk Canyon to Fisher Trail south of Flagstaff. NOTE–New Staging area!
DIRECTIONS: Take Lone Tree Road south to J.W. Powell Blvd and turn left/east. Go to the barricades and turn into Pine Canyon: Important! Get a visitor’s pass at the booth at the NORTH entrance. Follow signs: take an immediate left on Clubhouse Circle, drive 1.3 miles and turn left/east on Del Rae, following it 0.6 miles to the end circle. We will stage in front of “Lot 191″. Here’s a google MAP.