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Coconino National Forest
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| View of Rogers Lake |
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| Roadside stock tank just outside of the natural area boundary |
Located partially within the Rogers Lake County Natural Area
south of Flagstaff, the service road that goes to the summit serves as the
trail. The road can also be accessed by way of the Gold Digger Trail which you
can pick up at a trailhead a half-mile beyond the start point. But, if your
eyes are solely on the summit prize, beginning at the road gate is the most direct
route. At the parking area, the grassy
swale that is Rogers Lake sits among pine bluffs, ranches and acres of summer
wildflowers. Local cows graze and laze in the lake’s mucky flats and if you’re lucky, you’ll also see the elk, deer, raptors and coyotes that come to drink from the lake’s residual pools. The first
mile of the road hike is a moderate but continual climb through a sunny
pine-oak forest. It’s an unremarkable hike unless you turn around occasionally
to take in ever changing views of the lake and mountain peaks emerging over
coniferous woodlands. At the 1.3 -mile point, the road passes a gate and leaves
the natural area. Here, a reedy stock
tank fosters aquatic buttercups and clouds of butterflies. The double-humped
mound to the left is your destination---look closely and you’ll see the top of
the fire tower poking out from among tall pines. From the tank, the road begins
its northward swing around the mountain and the mood moves from bucolic to
deep-woods. The forest thickens as the road ascends barber-pole-style presenting
a visual carousel of Flagstaff landmarks, the mountains of Williams and the
pasture lands around the lake. Near the
2-mile point, the historic Woody Mountain fire tower comes into view.
The original
tower was a simple tree stand that was used from 1910 to 1921. In 1922, the
bare bones perch was upgraded to a wood tower which remained in service until
1936 when it was replaced with the posh-by-comparison steel and glass cabin
that’s still in use today. The tower is on the National Register of Historic
Sites. It rises 46 feet above ground, supporting a 7’ x 7’ cabin.
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| A Red-tailed hawk glides above the road |
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| Historic Woody Mountain Lookout |
Lookouts are sometimes stationed in the tower during fire
season. When a lookout is on active duty, you should never enter
a tower unless invited and you must comply with all their instructions.
Unless cordoned off or signed to stay out,
it’s okay to climb the tower ladder at your own risk to get an aerial view of
the lake that rolls out in concentric rings with puddles in the middle and
marshes fading from a bright emerald core to a golden-brown fringe as summer
sucks up snow-melt moisture.
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| Trailhead gate at Rogers Lake |
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| Service road to the summit of Woody Mountain |
When done taking in the historic sites and natural wonders,
descend the way you came or, if you’re up for more miles, pick up one or both
of the county natural area trails. The 4-mile, moderate-rated Gold Digger trail
wanders the foothills below the peak while the easy, 2-mile Two-Spot trail
stays low for optimum wildlife viewing.
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| Western Yarrow blooms June - September |
LENGTH: 4.2 miles round trip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 7060’ –
8045’
GETTING THERE:
From Flagstaff, go 1.9 miles west on Route 66 to Woody
Mountain Road (Forest Road 231), turn left and continue 6.4 miles to the gate
on the left located just past the Rogers Lake sign.
Park along the road.
The summit road may also be accessed from the Gold Digger
Trail and Two-Spot trailheads located 0.6 and 1 mile farther down FR231.
INFO & MAP:
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