ROGERS TRAIL
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| Rogers Lake Natural Area |
Southwest of
Flagstaff, two recreation areas with divergent personalities are now
linked. The recently completed 5.4-mile Rogers
Trail tethers the event-centric, party atmosphere of Fort Tuthill County Park
with the subdued wilds of Rogers Lake Natural Area.
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| Switchbacks on Rogers Trail |
The non-motorized, flowy trail
that straddles the open space between the two Coconino County properties has
several access points and many opportunities to create short day hikes, long
loops or car shuttle excursions.
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| A bee harvests nectar from Butter and Eggs |
One
convenient out-and-back circuit begins at a trailhead on Forest Road 532. From the roomy dirt parking lot, pick up the
Flagstaff Loop Trail heading west and follow it 0.9-mile to the beginning of
Rogers Trail. Roughly paralleling Woody
Mountain Road, the meandering, single track holds steady at around 7100 feet,
sweeping easily through wildflower meadows, and shady glens.
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| The San Francisco Peaks seen from Rogers Trail |
Watch for swarms of butterflies and bees
drawing nectar from Butter and Eggs, New Mexican vervain and field
bindweed blooms. After passing by the Arboretum at Flagstaff, where there’s a short access path, the trail turns
southwest heading toward the pine-smothered mound of 8045-foot Woody Mountain. Near the four-mile point, a set of syrupy
switchbacks take on the southeast flanks of the mountain. The smartly
constructed trail eliminates much of the huff-and-puff of the 600-foot ascent.
(I ran into several volunteer forest service workers who were improving
drainages on this section. It’s
important that trail users don’t cut switchbacks because doing so will cause
the path to degrade and create dangerous conditions.)
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| Gambel oaks are common along the trail |
The uphill segment winds through thick stands
of Gambel oak, New Mexican Locust and Ponderosa pines. Even with the dense tree cover, glimpses of
the San Francisco Peaks can be seen through breaks in the foliage. Trailside
basalt boulders, an understory of pine cones and clumpy grasses plus the
rustlings of ravens, hawks and mountain blue birds in the canopies complement
the trail’s pleasant, away-from-it-all feel. The route levels out as it approaches its high
point at the natural area border.
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| New Mexican Vervain attracts pollinators |
Continue hiking past the boundary to enjoy vistas of Rogers Lake rolling
out 400 feet below. The sprawling,
high-elevation wetland is an important refuge for wildlife and native plant
species and it’s common to sight pronghorn and elk skulking around the fringes
and domestic cattle converging around puddles.
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| Acres of pinecones |
At the 6.1-mile point, a metal
post marks the spot where Rogers Trail connects with the natural area system.
Two Spot Trail heads off to the left while Gold Digger Trail takes the right
fork. For a satisfying 12-mile roundtrip
day hike, turn around here.
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| View of Rogers Lake from the trail's high point |
Otherwise, go either way at the junction for a two-mile
downhill trek to viewing decks at the edge of the lake.
LENGTH: 5.4 miles
one-way (6.1 miles one-way as described here)
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 7030 – 7680 feet
GETTING THERE:
EAST ACCESS (as
described here):
From Flagstaff,
go west on Historic Route 66 to Woody Mountain Road (Forest Road 231) on the
left. Go 1.8 miles south to Forest Road
532, turn left and go a few yards to the parking area on the right. Follow the Loop Trail 0.9 mile to connect
with Rogers Trail.
Woody Mountain Road is washboard-rough but passable by
sedan.
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| Rogers Trail links Ft. Tuthill Park with the Natural Area |
ALTERNATE MIDWAY
ACCESS POINTS:
There’s a
0.3-mile spur path directly across from the entrance to Flagstaff Arboretum (3.7 miles south of Route 66 on Woody Mountain Road) and
parking aprons where the trail crosses FR 390A and FR 9026 south of Woody
Mountain Road.
WEST ACCESS at
ROGERS LAKE:
Go 7.8 miles south on Woody Mountain Road to the Gold
Digger trailhead.
The Two Spot trailhead is located another mile down the
road.
INFO:
TRAIL MAP:
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