Plateau Potato Lake

PLATEAU POTATO LAKE

Potato Lake Tank on Anderson Mesa

Roughly thirty minutes south of the summer hiking magnet of Flagstaff, is a quieter but no less attractive trekking destination.

The basin of Potato Lake on Anderson Mesa

The Plateau Lakes on Anderson Mesa offer respite from crowds in an under appreciated landscape replete with quirky geological features.

Forest Road 82D near Als Lake

The Plateau Lakes Region in Coconino National Forest is anchored by Mormon Lake—Arizona’s largest natural lake.

Texas Frog Fruit blooms April - November

During years with lots of precipitation, the lake can span an area up to 12 square miles. 

View of Peaks from FR9484D

But that’s the exception, not the norm.  Mostly, it’s a scenic yet mucky wetland of puddles and swales that still manages to attract wildlife and support a fringe of water-loving vegetation.

Forest Road 82D near Als Lake

It’s also the mother ship per se for dozens of smaller natural water pockets, wildlife waterholes and created lakes that orbit its massive basin.

Geologists describe the Plateau Lakes as naturally occurring bowl-like depressions formed by various tectonic events that resulted in slumps and sinkhole features in the volcanic landscape.

Field Bindweed blooms May - September

Junction FR82D and FR9484D

Spread across the flatland like pock-marks or lunar craters, some are no larger than a kiddy pool while others rival football stadium proportions. Like Mormon Lake these hollows vacillate between weedy swamps and shallow pools that evaporate entirely in times of drought leaving behind crop-circle-like impressions. 

Entrance to Potato Lake

Hiking to the Plateau Lakes can be done by hopping on the Arizona National Scenic Trail Passages 29 and 30 which skirt by several, or by using a network of rough dirt roads that traverse the mesa. 

Typical scene on FR9494D

One interesting destination is Potato Lake.  Don’t be confused, though. This is a different animal from the watery, crawdad infested “solution depression” (geology speak for a kind of sinkhole) Potato Lake off Forest Road 300 (Rim Road) on the Mogollon Rim near the community of Pine. (Read the POTATO LAKE story on this blog).

The easy hike to "Plateau Potato Lake” uses three easy-to-navigate dirt roads. Beginning on Forest Road 9117F, the trek heads east for 0.4-mile to where it meets the fenced edge of Post Lake—another Plateau Lake. 

Potato Lake Tank

A storm brews over Als Lake

The rocky two track then bends north onto the mesa and merges into (unsigned) Forest Road 82D. 

Anderson Mesa is a mostly flat, windswept expanse dotted with junipers and intermittent plots of Ponderosa pines.

San Francisco Peaks seen from FR82D

The airy expanse is criss-crossed with draws and canyons that disrupt exposed grasslands favored by pronghorn.  The mesa is surrounded by volcanic mountains that churn up weather, which means it’s almost always windy here. 

Post Lake

At the 1.3-mile point, views of  8,463-foot Mormon Mountain to the west and 12,633-foot San Francisco Mountain north of Flagstaff stand out over Als Lake, another Plateau Lake with hit-or-miss water levels. It’s worth mentioning that even when bone dry, the footprint of these ephemeral lakes are often lush with wildflowers and knee-high grasses.

Storm over Potato Lake Road

Past the lake, the road meanders through fragrant woodlands dominated by junipers until it comes to a fork where FR9484D spins off to the right. The road, which is also known as Potato Lake Road is signed, but the numbers are barely legible. At this juncture, FR82D continues a half-mile north to one of the most well-known Plateau lakes—Deep Lake.

It’s worth a side trip on the way back. (Check out the DEEP LAKE story on this blog).  FR9484D continues through more juniper-shaded terrain with chunks of basalt strewn about the rusty soils.  The route meets a junction with FR9119W at 2.8 miles. FR9119W heads left and circles Potato Lake, but this trek continues straight ahead on FR9484D.  After another 0.2-mile, a stand of thick greenery of pines, firs and oaks herald the entry to Potato Lake.

Passing through an aboreal archway, the road opens up to views of the sprawling lake. In early June 2026, the lake was dry, but adjacent Potato Lake Tank contained a basin of residual muddy water.  Built into the south edge of the lake with an earthen dam, the margins of tiny waterhole showed signs of wildlife activity.  Elk, deer, waterfowl, raccoon and coyote tracks sunk deep into the moist muck signal it’s time to turn the hike around and leave the precious water to the winged and furry forest residents. 

trailhead

LENGTH: 6 miles roundtrip

RATING: easy

ELEVATION: 7,049 - 7,127 feet (447 feet of accumulated elevation change) 

GETTING THERE:

From Flagstaff go 17 miles south on Lake Mary Road (County Road 3) to Forest Road 82E on the left just past milepost 327 which is signed for Ashurst Lake. Follow FR 82E 1.7 miles to FR 9117F on the left. A faded sign marks the road.  There’s parking in dirt pullouts. 

Forest Road 82E is washboard gravel suitable for all vehicles. High clearance is recommended on FR 9117F.  No facilities or fees. 

THE BACK ROADS TO POTATO LAKE

THE BACK ROADS TO POTATO LAKE

Thistles around Potato Lake attract pollinators.

Whether called crayfish, crawfish, crawdads or aquatic cockroaches, there are two sure things about the prolific freshwater crustaceans--they harm native species and they love bacon.

With few natural agents to control them, the population of non-native crayfish released into Arizona lakes and streams via bait bucket dumps or other means, has exploded.

Potato Lake is surrounded by pine forests.

Their voracious appetites and territory-hogging talents are decimating indigenous aquatic wildlife. They consume the eggs and larvae of native fish, amphibians and reptiles and gobble up critical food supplies.

Invasive crayfish threaten native species.

Plus, their nearly year-round reproductive cycle means they can commandeer a waterhole in no time flat. They need to go.

Forest Road 9362T serves as the trail.

The best way to help eradicate them is to prevent their introduction in the first place. The second-best way is to catch them with a dangling wad of raw bacon and cook them up for dinner.

Tree huggers embrace an aspen.

If you’re inclined to the later, pack a net, a propane cook kit with your favorite seasonings and hike out to Potato Lake.

Although you could drive to the tiny lake located off Forest Road 300 on the Mogollon Rim, a hike along two old roads that have been closed to motorized use offers quieter, alternative access.

From the parking area in a primitive campsite 2.5 miles southwest of the lake, hike 0.3-mile north to a “road closed” sign. This is Forest Road 9362T which is open to foot traffic, bikes and equestrian use only.  Following the remains of a rocky two-track, the route descends toward the lake on a barely noticeable incline. The 650 feet of elevation loss will be apparent on the way back.

Fences protect sensitive habitats.

This lovely path curves northeasterly through woodlands of Gambel oaks, conifers, New Mexican locust and a smattering of aspens.   Except for a few spots where a healthy understory of ferns and brambles spill over its uneven course, the road is easy to navigate.

A hummingbird moth sips nectar.

At the 1.5-mile point, take the less-obvious left fork where two metal poles mark a Y junction.  Make note of this swerve as it’s easy-to-miss on the way back. From here, the route vacillates between shaded woods and dewy meadows with roaming herds of grazing cattle.

At 1.8 miles, veer right onto Forest Road 147B. This segment flanks yawning draws, sunny pastures, waterways and pristine canopies that provide habitats for the endangered Little Colorado spinedace and the Mexican spotted owl. 

A sunny spot on the way to Potato Lake.

Please respect these pristine ecosystems by staying on the roads and not cutting or jumping fences.

Bellowing bovine graze in meadows near the lake.

Non-motorized backwoods roads are open to hikers.

At 2.3 miles, a cattle gate marks the beginning of the final 0.2-mile walk to the lake. Ringed with pines, the lake’s water level ranges from puddle to sizable pond depending on rainfall.

Potato Lake is a tiny pool on the Mogollon Rim.

A 0.7-mile walk around the lake’s perimeter reveals clumps of common silverweed and aquatic buttercups growing from its muddy banks and fields of purple thistle that attract swarms of pollinators including hummingbird moths that sip nectar though long curved feed tubes.

Hikers on Forest Road 147B.

Diverse ecosystems around the lake support myriad wildlife.

Beneath the lake’s glassy surface, crayfish--which resemble mini lobsters-- stir up mud and are easy to spot congregating under semi-submerged logs.  

Approaching Potato Lake.

If you follow Arizona Game and Fish Department rules regarding their capture and transport, you may harvest as many of these villainous invertebrates as you like. Boil them lobster-style for a protein-rich entree that tastes like crab. They’re great with garlic, peppers and corn. Beer helps.

LENGTH: 5.7 miles out-and-back

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 7234 – 7888 feet

GETTING THERE:

From Payson, go 27.7 miles north on State Route 87 to Forest Road 300 (Rim Road) located near milepost 281.  Go 1.7 miles on FR300 to Forest Road 9362T on the left.  If you have a high-clearance vehicle, descend about 0.1 mile on the rough dirt road and park in the primitive campground.  The hike begins at the “road closed” sign at the north end of the site.  

INFO:

Coconino National Forest

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/home/?cid=FSEPRD485388

Arizona Game & Fish Crayfish information:

https://www.azgfd.com/PortalImages/files/Recreation/Crayfish_Brochure.pdf