Chapel of the Holy Dove
W Fort Valley Rd, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001
Built in 1962, this tiny A-frame chapel has played host to countless weddings, moments of reflection, and spontaneous stops for travelers en route to the Grand Canyon. A touch bigger than its little front door suggests, the light-filled chapel has enough seating for about a dozen people. Its all-glass back wall frames quite the view: ponderosa pine trees aplenty and the San Francisco Peaks beyond.
The basics
On your road trip through Arizona, stop and spend a few minutes in the chapel to enjoy the view and read messages written by past visitors. Since it’s on the back route to the Grand Canyon, you may even have the place to yourself. For more context about the chapel and the family who built it, read the on-site placard or download a self-guided audio tour of the greater Grand Canyon area.
Things to know before you go
Visiting the chapel is free, including for events, but donations are accepted on-site and online.
You don’t need to make a reservation for a wedding or special event—the chapel is first come, first served.
There’s no bathroom at the chapel, so make your rest stop at the Kendrick Park Watchable Wildlife Trail or Grand Canyon Junction instead.
The chapel is wheelchair and stroller accessible.
How to get there
From Flagstaff, drive 20 miles (32 kilometers) north up Highway 180, and you’ll find the chapel, along with a small gravel parking lot, on your right. If you’re heading to the Grand Canyon afterward, you’ll have a little more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) to go from the chapel.
When to get there
The Chapel of the Holy Dove is free to visit all year, though the little wooden building is particularly striking against the winter snow from December to February. In any season, the chapel’s east-facing back windows make for a picturesque sunrise in the Coconino National Forest.
Take a stroll through the forest
The chapel is just across the road from the Kendrick Park Watchable Wildlife Trail—great news if you need to stretch your legs during your road trip. Two easy trails, one 0.25 miles (0.4 kilometers) and the other 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers), loop through the pine forest and offer marvelous mountain views. Check out the interpretive signs about wildlife native to the area, which includes elk, badgers, Abert’s squirrels, and a variety of beautiful birds.
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