KEY INFO
LOCATION Gooseberry Springs Trailhead to Marshall Lake Trailhead
DISTANCE 33.9 miles one-way
DAY-TRIP OPTION See turnaround note in the trail description.
SHUTTLE RECOMMENDATIONS FR 219 (passage mile 7.1), FR 240 (passage mile 12.5), FR 651 (passage mile 22.3)
DIFFICULTY Easy
LAND MANAGER Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff Ranger District, www.fs.usda.gov/coconino, 928-526-0866
RECOMMENDED MONTHS April–October
GATEWAY COMMUNITY See Mormon Lake.
GEOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS Not applicable
This easy, nearly 34-mile section crosses beautiful open meadows beside aspen and pine forests, with fine views of the San Francisco Peaks. Passage 30 appeals equally to hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians, especially in late summer, when its sunflowers are in full bloom. Together, the passage’s southern and northern maps, on the next page and 226, respectively, provide a comprehensive view of this popular route.
As shown on the southern map (next page), this passage begins at the Gooseberry Springs Trailhead, 0.25 mile east of paved Forest Highway 3 (Lake Mary Road), along FR 92 at the steel Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) sign. The trail proceeds north across the road onto singletrack through the meadow to the edge of the woods, turns left (northwest), and comes to Lake Mary Road in about 0.5 mile. The trail winds northwest toward Railroad Spring, about 3 miles south of Mormon Lake. Rock cairns and brown carsonite posts show the way. Occasionally you’ll also see a wooden directional Forest Service sign.
At mile 5.0 the route joins a road, and 1 mile later it exits left (northwest) back onto singletrack. It crosses a road at mile 6.5, goes through a gate at mile 6.8, and descends to FR 219. Shortly, the trail reaches its high point of the passage, and then descends to FR 219A, which it crosses at mile 7.7 and again at mile 7.9. This is the location of Navajo Spring (about 100 yards off the trail), a seasonal spring in a tranquil meadow.
TURNAROUND NOTE: At nearly 8 miles into the passage, Navajo Spring is a perfect destination for out-and-back hikers who haven’t arranged a car shuttle. Mountain bikers will likely continue farther down the trail before turning around, and a variety of campgrounds found north of Navajo Spring make ideal places to refill bottles and reverse your route.
Moving on, at mile 7.9 the AZT reaches the junction with the Navajo Spring Trail, a 1-mile spur that leads directly into Mormon Lake Lodge. Only 1 mile from the AZT, the beautiful mountain community of Mormon Lake Village offers one of the best stops or staging areas anywhere along the entirety of the AZT’s route. In addition to privately owned cabins and RV spaces, Mormon Lake Lodge offers cabin rentals, camping, RV parking, showers, and laundry facilities. Visitors can also enjoy the amenities of a bar, restaurant, store, and post office. Mormon Lake Lodge, a Forever Resort, has been a major partner with the Arizona Trail Association in providing the necessary resources to complete the Arizona National Scenic Trail around Mormon Lake. For more information, write to P.O. Box 3801, Mormon Lake, AZ 86038; call 928-354-2227; or visit mormonlakelodge.com.
From the Navajo Spring Trail junction, the AZT continues generally north through a healthy pine forest. It crosses FR 90N at mile 9 and joins a doubletrack at mile 10.5. After 0.3 mile it becomes a singletrack again and crosses FR 90H and then FR 90B. At mile 11.7 the trail crosses the Lakeview Trail, and then the AZT descends to Double Springs Campground.
When the campground is open (usually late spring to early fall), it offers reliable water. The trail runs through the campground, climbs to the west, switchbacks east and then north, and crosses FR 240 at mile 13.1. After curving east and then west, the trail reaches a junction with the Mormon Mountain Trail, which connects to Dairy Springs Campground. Even when the campground is closed, a natural spring nearby offers a fairly reliable water source.
The northern passage map shows that you continue generally north, and the trail skirts some open areas staying on the edge of the woods. It passes through a series of gates, swings to the east, and then crosses FR 132 at mile 17.7. About 0.25 mile prior to this, the route joins an abandoned railroad bed that it follows for more than 3 miles before turning off of it at mile 20.9. After a short climb there is an easy descent to a crossing of FR 651—the access road for the Pine Grove Campground, which (similar to Double Springs) also has good water when it is open.
Just beyond this the trail crosses FH 3 and climbs steeply onto Anderson Mesa. It passes a short spur trail that connects to the Horse Lake Trailhead at mile 23.4 and then continues due north for several miles. Watch for intermittent views of the San Francisco Peaks from the doubletrack. Stay right at a road junction at mile 26, go through a fence, and then stay left at another road junction at mile 26.2. The trail curves around the mostly dry Horse Lake and heads east, finally leaving the road at mile 28.2.
The trail passes Lakeview Campground at mile 28.9, but as of this book’s printing there is no access to the campground without climbing down a limestone bluff. The AZT crosses FR 129A at mile 30.7, then heads northwest across open country and crosses through two gates in a game fence around Prime Lake. Equestrians must follow the fence around the lake. Shortly after crossing through the second gate the trail reaches the trailhead and small parking lot at the Lowell Observatory’s Perkins Telescope site. The trail crosses an open meadow and then descends a wooded hillside to FR 128. Continue straight ahead (west) for 0.2 mile to the Marshall Lake Trailhead and the end of Passage 30.
The lush meadows of Passage 30 provide abundant forage for northern Arizona wildlife.
The entire passage provides excellent, easy-to-moderate singletrack riding. You can ride point-to-point by leaving a vehicle at one of the access points or do an out-and-back from either end as a long-distance ride. For more information about mountain biking along the Arizona National Scenic Trail, visit aztrail.org.
From the turnoff leading from FH 3 to Mormon Lake Village, continue south on FH 3 for approximately 5 miles. Turn left onto a prominent road (FR 92) on the south side of the open meadow, and drive 0.25 mile to a sharp left turn in the road; the trailhead and a steel AZT sign is on your right. You can also reach this point from AZ 87 by driving north on FH 3.
From Flagstaff, take the Lake Mary Road (FH 3) exit (339) off I-17 for 9 miles, and then turn left (east) onto FR 128 at the sign for Marshall Lake. As the paved road to the observatory makes a hard right, continue forward onto the graded gravel road 2.2 miles to the large Marshall Lake sign. Turn left and park beyond the AZT sign on the left. If you’re coming from the south on Lake Mary Road, the Marshall Lake turnoff is 7.5 miles north of Pine Grove Campground.