The high desert of Wupatki and Sunset Crater to the north of Flagstaff off Hwy89 towards Page, Arizona and Lake Powell should not be passed up for it provides a link to the past and the many Puebloans  who resided in the area nearly a thousand years ago. Sunset Crater Volcano was formed around this time having a dramatic effect on the plateau and its inhabitants.  Of course the most magnificent site near Flagstaff is the Grand Canyon, bar none.  However, bikers get a double treat when traveling from Flagstaff to the North Rim.  Riding the 180 northwest out of Flagstaff takes us through some of the most scenic high ponderosa country in Arizona and for that matter the entire United States.  Cutting right between the Kachina and Kendrick wilderness areas on 180 the San Francisco peaks rise to the highest elevation in Arizona with Humphrey’s Peak reaching almost 13,000 feet. The San Francisco Peak is the Navaho Nation’s most sacred mountain.  The peaks have  significant religious values to several native american groups in the area.  Named in honor of St. Francis of Assisi the San Francisco Peak received it’s name over a century and a half before San Francisco, California did.  By the way, click on this San Francisco Peak Web Cam link for a look see. Although much of the old Route 66 highway has been replaced with the Interstate 40 there are stretches of the original road thru Flagstaff and continuing on again from Ashfork to the west.  There is still alot of the Route 66 nostalgia to be enjoyed riding it through Flagstaff as well as the ‘gateway’ to the Grand Canyon town of Williams.  Flagstaff is home to Northern Arizona University. Host  to the spring training camp of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, the university excels in several studies including engineering as being among the best in the country.  NAU also has the highest enrollment of Native American students in the country.  If you are riding through Flagstaff just remember that ‘this Flagstaff’ does not turn on the ‘NO VACANCY’ sign for bikers.  Flagstaff is truely a ‘biker friendly’ town that boasts several businesses that hang out the ‘bikers welcome’ sign. As a matter of fact you can park your bike and pitch your tent for free at the old ‘Pine Breeze’ motel featured in Dennis Hopper’s Easy Rider.  The Route 66 Roadhouse Bar and Grill  is next door and just down the road is Grand Canyon Harley.  Grand Canyon Harley-Davidson is the northern most HD dealer in Arizona and they have a terrific staff and super service at their Bellemont location to boot! Stop in and tell them you were ridin’ the CAB website!  The Roadhouse is second to none for biker hospitality..not to mention their tribute to everything Harley.  So you can see that the Flagstaff area has to be on your list of planned rides whether you are really going some place or not while out there on the open road.  Ride safe and keep an eye out for the blind!