Best things to do in Flagstaff this summer: Zipline adventure, scenic skyride and more

If you've visited every resort pool, movie theater and mall in metro Phoenix and still feel like you need an escape from the desert heat, Flagstaff's mild summer weather — with highs in the 80s and overnight lows in the 40s and 50s, comparable to winter in the Valley — can feel like a breath of fresh air.

And there are plenty of things to do outdoors in Flagstaff to take advantage of that excellent weather.

Of course, people come to Flagstaff for the hiking. But there are so many more fun choices for spending a day outside. Here are five ways to enjoy the outdoors in Flagstaff this summer.

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Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course: Ziplines and obstacle challenges

Remember going through an obstacle course growing up? Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course is the amped-up version of that.

Located in Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff Extreme consists of multiple courses with varying degrees of skill and elevation. The easiest course, the green course, has minimum elevation and requires minimum skill. The hardest, the black course, has advanced elevation and requires advanced skill.

Each course includes 10 to 17 obstacles such as rope swings, scrambling walls and what the attraction's website describes as suspended "surprises." The experience begins with a 30-minute training session before visitors begin on the green course to get comfortable with the equipment and navigating the obstacles.

Flagstaff Extreme also has zipline courses, which have an additional cost.

Zipline and adventure course participants must be at least 12 years old. There's a separate adventure course for ages 7-11.

Details: Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course, 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop, Flagstaff. $60 per person for adventure course, $60 per person for zipline course, $30 for kids course. 888-259-0125, flagstaffextreme.com

Arizona Snowbowl: Scenic chairlift rides and a summer playground

Ski season is over, but Arizona Snowbowl is worth visiting in the summer for its scenic chairlift rides and other attractions.

Guests can ride the Arizona Gondola chairlift, which transports skiers in winter, to view the San Francisco Peaks, other mountains and ponderosa pine forests from 11,500 feet.

Gondola rides are offered during the day, and on Fridays and Saturdays during summer, visitors can also embark on sunset gondola rides.

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Tickets for the scenic chairlift ride start at $18 for daytime rides and $29 for sunset rides when purchased online in advance.

Besides the gondola rides, Snowbowl will have summer activities at its Agassiz Lodge, including a bungee trampoline, tubing slope and rock-climbing wall. Each activity costs $10; access to all three costs $20.

Details: Arizona Snowbowl, 9300 N. Snowbowl Road, Flagstaff. 928-779-1951, https://www.snowbowl.ski.

The Arboretum at Flagstaff: Wildflower walks and mountain views

As trees and flowers grow vibrant throughout the summer, a visit to the Arboretum at Flagstaff — surrounded by ponderosa pine forests with the San Francisco Peaks as a backdrop — offers a chance to appreciate the flora and fauna of northern Arizona.

The arboretum's trails and gardens showcase the plant life of the Colorado Plateau, including brilliant native wildflowers and rare and endangered species. Visitors might also encounter birds, squirrels and chipmunks.

The Arboretum has several special events lined up this summer, including guided morning bird walks at 7:30 a.m. on select Saturdays and First Friday wildflower walks scheduled for 9:30 a.m. July 7, Aug. 4 and Sept. 1. Pollinator Fest, an event to kick off National Pollinator Week that includes pollinator garden plant sales, is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 18.

Details: Arboretum at Flagstaff, 4001 S. Woody Mountain Road, Flagstaff. General admission starts at $12. Special events may cost extra. 928-774-1442, https://thearb.org.

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Pride in the Pines: Party in the park with family and friends

Pride in the Pines, a long-running Flagstaff tradition celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, will take place Saturday, June 17. The event includes live entertainment throughout the day, an afterparty in the evening and, for the first time in the event's history, a parade.

The celebration started as a small picnic in Fort Tuthill County Park and evolved over time. Now it takes place downtown at Thorpe Park, attracting nearly 4,000 people each year.

The parade will run through downtown Flagstaff from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. A festival with entertainment at Thorpe Park, headlined by the R&B duo Nina Sky, runs from noon to 9 p.m. The afterparty, which features drag entertainers, is scheduled for 9 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater.

Details: Pride in the Pines, various locations in downtown Flagstaff. The parade is free. Admission to the festival at Thorpe Park is $20 online in advance, $25 at the gate. Free for ages 10 and younger. The Orpheum Theater afterparty is $14. 928-814-0076, https://flagstaffpride.org/pride-in-the-pines.

Heritage Festival: Celebrate Indigenous cultures

Another major summer event in Flagstaff is the Museum of Northern Arizona's annual Heritage Festival, a celebration of the region's Indigenous cultures. It will take place across the museum grounds on Saturday and Sunday, June 24-25.

Acoma, Apache, Diné (Navajo), Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Pai, Ute, Yavapai and Zuni peoples will be represented, and the event will include traditional dances and music and talks from cultural experts, according to the museum.

The Heritage Festival also includes a Native American art market and flute workshops.

Details: Museum of Northern Arizona, 3101 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff. $20 for one day; $25 for both days; $10 for ages 10-17 for one day; $15 for both days. Tickets for Native Americans are $10 for the weekend. Children ages 9 and under get in free. 928-774-5213, https://musnaz.org.

Reach the reporter at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salerno_phx.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best things to do in Flagstaff: Arizona Snowbowl, Flagstaff Extreme