Kachina Trail is one of Flagstaff's most popular. Especially in fall, hikers gravitate to the colors as bright gold lights the way through surrounding aspen groves. Skirting the south face of the San Francisco Peaks, the trail runs almost entirely within Kachina Peaks Wilderness.
From end to end, the trail covers five miles (8 km) and descends 700 feet (200 m) from its upper end here at 9,500 feet (2,900 m) to its terminus in the mouth of Weatherford Canyon at 8,800 feet (2,700 m). The rolling course takes you through high forest and broad, sloping meadows affording panoramic views over Flagstaff.
The trail crosses several canyons and even descends a high lava cliff. A dramatic, cave-like recess in the lava marks where a bed of looser volcanic debris eroded away from denser flow layers above.
