W MACKENZIE CHASE
ON THE
FUTS SIDE
Highlights along the Flagstaff Urban Trail System
Frances Short Pond draws fishers and wildlife alike to its waters. Photo by Jake Bacon
28 Northern Arizona’s Mountain Living Magazine
inding its way throughout the neighborhoods and open spaces of Flagstaff, the Flagstaff Urban Trail System is one of the city’s crown jewels, providing its users with well-maintained trails for non-motorized recreation like bicycling, running, hiking or casual walking. There’s likely a portion of the trail near you, so why not take the time to explore and take advantage of this important resource. Even a brief 30-minute walk once a day can make tremendous improvements to your health, both physical and mental. With that in mind, here are some highlights along two of the more than 30 trails that make up the FUTS. Explore one section, or explore them all—you can start pretty much anywhere, as all 50-plus miles of the trail system are interconnected and widely accessible. Just remember, it’s about the journey, not the destination; there are plenty other features along these trails worth appreciating, and you never know what might catch your eye. Visit www.flagstaff.az.gov/1763/ FUTS-Trail-Descriptions for more information.
Frances Short Pond Just half a mile along the Karen Cooper Trail, which begins at Wheeler Park on Birch Avenue, lies Frances Short Pond, a Watchable Wildlife site near Thorpe Park. Ducks, great blue herons,
