Where the Rio de Flag runs by the museum, a deep basalt canyon and abundant coyote willows and Gambel’s oak attract a diversity of migratory songbirds every spring and fall. Deer, elk, foxes, and bats are regular visitors in this area. An overlook and interpretive signs greet visitors near the entrance to the museum. A nature trail leads down into the riverbed where flowering plants and shrubs attract countless butterflies. Lizards are also easy to spot among the rocks.

Stop into the Museum for exhibits on Northern Arizona’s history, geology, cultures, and more.

Located in Flagstaff, Arizona, our 200-acre museum campus includes an exhibit building, research labs, and state-of-the-art collections facilities for more than five million Native American artifacts, natural science specimens, and fine art pieces. The Museum of Northern Arizona is recognized internationally for the quality of its collections, its first-rate exhibitions and festivals, and its renowned Native American Shop.

Founded in 1928, the mission of the Museum of Northern Arizona is to inspire a sense of love and responsibility for the beauty and diversity of the Colorado Plateau through collecting, studying, interpreting, and preserving the region’s natural and cultural heritage. MNA works in collaboration with native peoples of the Southwest to protect and foster the cultures, traditions, and beliefs of the Colorado Plateau by encouraging artistic expression and supporting, empowering, and educating visitors about the art and cultures of Southwestern Native people.

The Friends of the Rio de Flag (FoRio) are individuals and organizations that support the preservation and restoration of the natural beauty and beneficial functions of the Rio de Flag stream channel.

FoRio promotes the Rio de Flag’s natural stream system as a unique and valuable natural resource, an asset, and an amenity to the City of Flagstaff and the surrounding community.

FoRio promotes the preservation and rehabilitation of all parts of the Rio de Flag and its tributary streams with particular emphasis on sections of the channels that have been disturbed, undergrounded, or abandoned.

The goal of FoRio is to protect, restore, clean up and improve the Rio de Flag and its tributaries to maximize their beauty, educational, recreational, and natural resource values, including the riparian habitats they provide.