It’s just a two-hour drive north of the massive desert metropolis of Phoenix, but Flagstaff feels a world away. This rugged, high-elevation gateway city to the Grand Canyon, with a sizable population of college students attending Northern Arizona University, sits amid ponderosa pine forests in the shadows of the tallest mountain in the world. state, Humphreys Peak (elevation 12,633). Flagstaff isn’t exactly a gay mecca, but in recent years it has become an increasingly popular place to live and visit among GLBT travelers, in part because so many gays and lesbians now lived in Phoenix.
Flagstaff is also less than an hour from New Age and Sedona, and is a popular midway stop for travelers venturing southwest between Los Angeles and Albuquerque on I-40 (a colorful stretch of the old American Route 66 passes through downtown).
The city of 70,000 is, for the most part, fairly liberal as Arizona progresses, and its gay and lesbian community continues to grow. Every June, the city celebrates Gay Pride, officially known as Pride in the Pines. This year, Flagstaff Gay Pride celebrates its 20th anniversary on June 25, 2016. Belinda Carlisle, Crystal Waters, Brandon Skeie and several others will perform this year.
The festivities take place on the west side of charming historic downtown, at Thorpe Park (191 N. Thorpe Rd., At W. Aspen Ave.).
Flagstaff Gay Resources
Visit the Flagstaff Gay Dining and Nightlife Guide to learn more about where to eat and play in this beautiful desert community. For tips on where to stay, check out the Flagstaff and Grand Canyon Gay-Friendly Hotel Guide.
Check out Arizona gay newspapers such as Echo Magazine for more information on the region’s gay scene, as well as the handy AZ Gay Pride Guide, GayArizona.com. Also take a look at the excellent visitor site produced by the city’s official tourism organization, the Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau.
