Arizona Daily Sun (June 26, 2022) by Larry Hendricks I lean back against a log and listen to the ponderosas tell stories to the land. The stellar jays and crows share secrets in a language I want to understand. I count flower petals and pine needles that bounce on the breeze. The dog pants and laps cool water from my hand. I am here, at lease, and my worries burn away like morning fog. Old friends of mine, the sections of the Arizona Trail that approach and pass through Flagstaff carry with them a yearning to, one day, hike the entire 790 miles from one end of the state to the other. My dream, like many hikers, is to trudge the whole trail before I’m too old to get it done. Some hikers decide to hike the entire trail in one go, taking more than a month to do so. Other hikers like to attack the trail piecemeal, bit by bit. Some hikers, like my good friend Bob Reynolds, schedule larger sections. His plan is to cover about 180 miles over the course of 10 days. In between spring storms, I decided recently to start out from the Marshall Lake...
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Location
- Mayflower Spring to Marshall Lake Trailhead
Length
- 17.8 miles
Southern Access Point: Mayflower Spring
- GPS Coordinates: 34.96637° N, 111.48621° W
Access
From Flagstaff, take the Lake Mary Road exit (339) off I-17 for ~20 miles, then turn right (west) on Mormon Lake Road (Highway 90). Follow this about 3 miles to an unmarked turnoff on the right. This two-track dirt road leads to Mayflower Spring (~0.4 miles).
Northern Trailhead: Marshall Lake Trailhead
- GPS Coordinates: 35.11125° N, 111.54138° W
Access
From Flagstaff, take the Lake Mary Road exit (339) off I-17 for 9 miles, then turn left (east) on FR 128 at the sign for Marshall Lake. Pass the observatory turnoff, then at 2.2 miles turn left before Marshall Lake (more of a marsh) and park at the AZT sign on the left. If you are coming from the south on Lake Mary Road, the Marshall Lake turnoff is 7.5 miles north of Pine Grove Campground.
Trail Route Description
Passage 30 traverses Anderson Mesa in the Lake Mary area southeast of Flagstaff. The trail is mostly singletrack, with occasional doubletrack, and the terrain is fairly flat and easy. This section begins northwest of Mormon Lake and features shaded pine forests, lush meadows, and wooded hillsides. The trail follows an old railroad bed for several miles, passes through a series of gates, and makes a short, steep ascent to Anderson Mesa.
The trail traverses the mesa with scenic views of the San Francisco Peaks and Lake Mary. It crosses Forest Road 129, passes Vail Lake and Prime Lake, and then skirts around the Perkins Observatory. After crossing an open meadow, the trail descends a wooded hillside and makes its way towards Marshall Lake and the end of this passage.
Difficulty
- Moderate
Season(s)
- Spring, Summer and Fall
- Current weather forecast
Water
Water can usually be found at some of the stock tanks along the route. There is seasonal water in some of the drainages the trail crosses. Check the online Arizona Trail Water Report for current information at https://aztrail.org/explore/water-sources/.
Notes/Warnings
- All water along this passage should be purified prior to use.
Resources
- Map of Passage 30
- USGS Topographic Maps: Ashurst Lake and Lower Lake Mary.
- Coconino National Forest – Visitors Guide.
- Coconino National Forest – Recreational Opportunity Guide.
- Coconino National Forest map.
- BLM Information Center maps.
For more information
- The Passage Steward
- Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff Ranger District, 5075 N. Hwy 89, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 (928) 526-0866.
- BLM Information Center (602) 417-9300.
