Anderson Mesa Station
An Arizona Important Bird Area, Anderson Mesa begins about 9 miles southeast of Flagstaff and is a gently sloping tableland for approximately 25 miles to the southeast. The northern lakes are Marshall, Lower and Upper Lakes Mary, and Mormon. Ashurst and Kinnikinck Lakes are more central. The southern lakes are Long, Soldiers’, Soldiers’ Annex, Tremaine and Hay.
Along the length of the mesa are many ephemeral wetlands of varying sizes. Low bluffs outline part of the western edge and Lakes Mary & Mormon are below the bluffs. Various habitats are coniferous & deciduous trees, shrubs, small canyons, open grasslands, seasonal marsh wetlands, and shallow wet meadows. The central portion of mesa is made up of plains grasslands, habitat for Pronghorn Antelope herds.
Passage 30 of the Arizona Trail traverses Anderson Mesa in the Lake Mary area southeast of Flagstaff.
Site Information
Region: Northern
County: Coconino
Directions: Located 20 miles southeast of Flagstaff, take the Lake Mary Road exit and travel east on Forest Road 3. Mormon Lake Lodge is located on the south side of Mormon Lake. There are overlooks, trails and two-track roads throughout.
Latitude: 35.066342
Longitude: -111.426892
Operational Hours: Open all year, 24 hours a day
Admission or Fees: None
Best time to visit: Spring, Summer and Fall
Habitats: Grassland, Mixed Conifer-Aspen Forest, Marsh or Wetland, Pinyon-juniper Forest
Know Before You Go
Safety First! Arizona has many beautiful places to explore and we’d like to help you make it a safe and enjoyable experience. Check out our recommendations for hiking precautions.
Species Highlights
Speciality: Acorn Woodpecker, Grace’s Warbler, Juniper TItmouse, Red Crossbill, Virginia’s Warbler, Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
Charismatic: Gambel’s Quail, Lesser Goldfinch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Contact Information
Coconino National Forest - Flagstaff Ranger District
US Forest Service
5075 N. Hwy 89
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Phone: 928-526-0866
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=70983
Additional Resources
Learn more about birds reported at this location at eBird:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L3938682
Additional Resources:
Arizona Trail - Passage 30
Arizona Important Bird Areas Program
