OBSERVATORY MESA NATURAL AREA

OBSERVATORY MESA NATURAL AREA

Flagstaff

Observatory Tank along Forest Road 515

Wavyleaf thistle and guests

Allow me to introduce A-1 Mountain, ruler of magma, queen of ashes and Mother of the Mesa. This dramatic introduction—admittedly inspired by a certain fantasy franchise—is an accurate description of the 300,000-year-old cinder cone located on the urban-forest interface west of Flagstaff. A-1 Mountain is the source of volcanic materials that built Observatory Mesa and other nearby geological features. Rising to 8,300 feet, the pine-cloaked mound is just one of many visual goodies dished out to visitors of the Observatory Mesa Natural Area.

A-1 Mountain is a 300,000 -year-old cinder cone volcano

The 2,251-acre site was acquired by the City of Flagstaff in 2013 to preserve native ecosystems and an essential wildlife corridor while allowing for  recreation.  Rich in biodiversity, the landscape is a mix of pine-oak woodlands, grasslands, shrubby range, tiny drainage areas and seeps that foster wetland species like willows, frogs, wild roses and salamanders.

Observatory Mesa

 

Hikers can access the area on dirt forest roads or by way of the Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS) trailhead at Thorpe Park near downtown. Either way, both options merge at a hub in the middle of the mesa where the Mars Hill, Tunnel Springs, Flagstaff Loop and Observatory Mesa trails spin off in different directions.  Although both access points are close to town, the trailhead along Forest Road 515 has more of a woodsy feel than its city-inflected counterpart. 

Slash piles 

Beginning at the FR 515 trailhead requires some route finding. The side road at the kiosk is Forest Road 515D which is one of several non-motorized dead-end roads that wander through meadows, wetlands and forests replete with antelope, porcupines, fox and squirrels. You can wander along these scenic roads for hours, but if you want the most direct route to the FUTS hub, hike 2.6 miles farther up FR 515 (the road you came in on) from the parking spot at the kiosk. At 1.1 miles, go right at a fork and then stay straight on the main road at a second fork. Continue to a cattle guard and gate at the 1.3-mile point where Forest Road 9113C crosses, pass the gate and continue hiking on FR 515 to a hub of trail signs. From here, you can pick up the FUTS or return the way you came. 

Logs ready for transport

While hiking on the mesa, you'll see fresh-cut tree stumps and slash piles (stacks of branches). These products of forest thinning efforts are part of the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Program that's designed to reduce the threat of devastating wildfires and post-fire flooding while improving forest health to promote diverse habitats for sensitive species like the Gunnison’s prairie dog, boreal chorus frog and Mexican spotted owl. Signs at the hub have information about the program. During logging operations, heavy equipment is in use on and around the dirt roads, so stay alert and be sure to park well out of the way.

Yellow Salsify

LENGTHS:

Forest Road 515 hike to hub: 2.6 miles one-way, 7400' - 7560'

Observatory Mesa Trail: 1.6 miles one-way, 7070’ – 7370’

Mars Hill Trail: 1.9 miles one-way, 6933’ – 7402’

Tunnel Springs Trail: 1.9 miles one-way, 7014’ – 7404’

RATING: moderate

GETTING THERE:

Forest Road 515 Trailhead:

From the Interstate 17/40 interchange in Flagstaff, go 4.8 miles west (toward Williams) on I-40 to A-1 Mountain Road exit 190. Follow A-1 Road (Forest Road 506) 1.8 miles and continue straight on Forest Road 515. Pass a cattle guard and go 0.2 mile and park at the kiosk. No facilities. 

Thorpe Park Trailhead:

From downtown Flagstaff, go north on Humphreys Street to Cherry Avenue, turn left and continue to North Thorpe Park Road, turn right and drive a short distance to the parking area near the ball fields.  Pick up the Observatory Mesa Trail across the road near the disc golf course.

INFO & MAP: http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/index.aspx?NID=3081

The “Pluto” of Flagstaff’s volcanoes

A1 MOUNTAIN

Flagstaff

Bill Williams Mtn as seen from the rim

Way back in 1930, from a telescope perched on Flagstaff's Observatory Mesa, Percival Lowell discovered the planet Pluto---er, the "trans-Neptunian object formerly known as Pluto".  Stripped of its solar system membership in 2006, the plutiod suffers the same ignoble status as the volcano that built the hill from which it was discovered. From space, the conical, volcanic form of A1 Mountain is clearly visible. However, because more impressive mountains and a coniferous cloak obscure the geological wonders of this 300,000-year-old cinder cone, it's considered a minor character in the Flagstaff volcanic field. Although it's small and often abused by target shooters and dirt bikes, the hill deserves more respect. A1 Mountain and its molten issue have made significant impacts on the surrounding landscape, birthing  many of west Flagstaff's gnarled lava formations including Observatory Mesa. A closed forest road (unsigned 9218D) serves as the trail for this hike.  Unmitigated by switchbacks, the route goes straight up the hill with the last 0.2-mile being quite steep with tricky footing.  At the crest of this final haul hikers emerge on the lip of the volcano's inner crater, but, due to its heavily forested condition, this is difficult to discern. The only clues are swales of vivid green grasses and tiny pools of rainwater in a ring of gigantic Ponderosa pines confined in a surround of vertical igneous walls. Within a few yards of the lip, the road splits, looping up to the summit, down into the crater's east face breach and back again.  From the high points, breaks in tree cover reveal views of Bill Williams Mountain, Wing Mountain and the western plains of Kaibab National Forest.  To the east, the white dome of Lowell Observatory resting on the ejecta of this beautiful massif opens nightly to survey the universe.

inside the crater

LENGTH: 2 miles roundtrip

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 7700' - 8302'

GETTING THERE:

From Flagstaff, go west on I40 to exit 190, A1 Mountain Road (FR506). Follow FR506 for 2.6 miles to FR518B, veer left (set your odometer) and continue 1.4 miles to a culvert marked by 3 light-colored boulders on the left side of the road and reflector posts.  The trail begins a few yards beyond at an unsigned road on the left.    There's plentiful parking a few steps little farther up FR518B. A high-clearance vehicle is required.

A1 Mountain seen from FR506

MORE PHOTOS:

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MARS HILL

MARS HILL TRAIL

Flagstaff Urban Trail System

Pluto was robbed.  Dissed by astronomers, this tiny space orb recently was demoted from planet to “plan-ette” status.  This seems absurd considering it sports two moons and a cartoon character namesake. Pluto was discovered in 1930 using a telescope on Flagstaff’s Mars Hill.  Today, the site is owned by Lowell Observatory, which has kindly granted an easement for non-motorized recreational use on its scientific preserve.  Mars Hill trail is maintained by the City of Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS, called “foots”) and has several access points.  When I visited here on Aug. 13, the Thorpe Park lot was full, but I saw on the park map that I could connect to the trail from the community center—this added roughly 1 mile to the roundtrip mileage. The route is wide and smooth with good views of Flagstaff peaks, and although it passes through Lowell Scientific Preserve, you cannot get to the observatory from this trail (well, you could, but, don’t break the rules and blow it for the rest of us).  Added bonus:  after hiking this trail, you can hike from Earth to Pluto---albeit in miniature, of course--by making a side trip Lowell Observatory.  In addition to the 350-foot interpretive trail, the (usually kid-crammed) destination offers educational tours, and plenty of entertaining (a mausoleum!) diversions.  

LENGTH: 1.9 miles one-way  (or 2.4 mile one-way from the community center)

RATING:  moderate

ELEVATION:  6,933' – 7,402'

KID FRIENDLY:  yes

DOGS: must be on leash, there's a fenced bark park at the Thorpe complex
BEST SEASON: May-October

FACILITIES: restrooms, water at Thorpe Park

GETTING THERE:

COMMUNITY CENTER TRAILHEAD: From Phoenix, go north on I17 to Flagstaff.  Drive north through town on Milton Rd. to Humphrey's St. Turn left onto Humphrey's and go north to Birch Street, and continue to where the road dead ends at the community center/tennis court parking area.  Trail is the dirt road straight ahead.

THORPE PARK COMPLEX TRAILHEAD:

From Phoenix, go north on I17 to Flagstaff.  Drive north through town on Milton Rd. to Humphrey's St. Turn left onto Humphrey's and go north to Birch Street (Cherry St. works, too), turn left and continue a few blocks to N. Thorpe Road.  Turn right and continue a couple blocks to Thorpe Park on the right. Trail begins across from Frances Short Pond/Baseball/Dog Park complex.

LOWELL OBSERVATORY:

928-774-3358, http://www.lowell.edu/

FUTS INFO: http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/index.aspx?NID=1379

MORE PHOTOS:

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