high country motor lodge
flagstaff, az
high country motor lodge: High Country Motor Lodge takes the classic Route 66 motor lodge and rebuilds it as a recovery-first mountain outpost. The 24-hour fitness center covers your basic training needs, but the real centerpiece is Arizona's first Nordic Spa — private saunas, a cold plunge, hot tub, and an outdoor pool that's the largest in Northern Arizona, all built around a proper sweat-shiver-soak-relax cycle rather than a token spa menu. It's a paid add-on ($50–75 per 50-minute session), not something bundled into the room rate, so plan for it if recovery is part of why you're booking. The General Store handles food and drink on-site with a casual, general-store-meets-bar setup — good for snacks and a beer, not a full dinner menu.
What makes this property worth targeting is what's just outside the door: the Flagstaff Urban Trail System runs along Route 66 essentially at the hotel's doorstep, part of a citywide network of more than 50 miles connecting neighborhoods, parks, and national forest land — a legitimate training network, not a novelty path. From here it's easy to reach Buffalo Park, Observatory Mesa, and the base of the San Francisco Peaks for genuine altitude training, all at Flagstaff's 7,000-foot elevation. Rooms carry basic coffee and small in-room fridges, no kitchenette, so budget for eating out or hitting the General Store between sessions.
Explore the area:
EVOLVE Flagstaff — Gym, Physical Therapy & Nutrition — 824 W Route 66, walkable (~0.1 mi)
Flagstaff Urban Trail System — trail access right along Route 66, walkable.
Arizona Snowbowl — 14–16 miles north, short drive
TRAIN LOCAl:
EVOLVE Flagstaff — A strength-and-recovery-focused gym literally down the block from the hotel, combining strength training, physical therapy, dietitian care, and acupuncture under one roof. Open gym access runs 5am–10pm daily for members, with day options worth calling ahead to confirm. About as walkable as a local gym option gets — practically an extension of the property.
★ DESTINATION GYM: Flagstaff Urban Trail System
A city-wide network of non-motorized, shared-use pathways used by bicyclists, walkers, hikers, and runners, with about 59 miles of trail connecting neighborhoods, parks, and the surrounding National Forest. The Route 66 Trail segment runs right along the hotel's street, and from there it links into Buffalo Park, Observatory Mesa, and eventually forest terrain toward the Peaks — a rare case where the "destination" starts at the front door.
★ DESTINATION GYM: Arizona Snowbowl
High Country Motor Lodge is Arizona Snowbowl's official premier hotel partner — not just a nearby property, but the resort's named lodging partner. Snowbowl offers 777 skiable acres, 2,300 feet of vertical drop, and 260 inches of average annual snowfall across 55 trails, with terrain for beginners through experts. It's also open beyond ski season for scenic gondola rides and high-elevation hiking. About 14–16 miles north of the hotel via a paved scenic drive.