Rogers Lake County Natural Area

Get a different view of Rogers Lake and the San Francisco Peaks from two new hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails in the recently established Rogers Lake County Natural Area. Rogers Lake is perched at around 7,000 feet. It’s a high-elevation ephemeral wetland surrounded by ponderosa pine and Gambel oak woodlands. Following wet winters or late summer monsoons, this mile-wide wetland fills up, creating a brilliant blue lake. Between the two wet seasons the lake dries out, leaving behind a large flower-filled meadow. Rogers Lake provides important habitat to bald eagles, elk, black bear, pronghorn, coyote, mule deer, prairie dogs, migratory waterfowl, and many others. It’s a great place for wildlife viewing, birding, or hunting for wildflowers.

This area is a quick 15-minute drive from downtown Flagstaff on a washboard dirt road that is passable by almost any vehicle. The road is typically closed in the winter and following large rain events. There are two new parking areas complete with informational boards, maps, and bike racks.

There are two new trails here: the 2-Spot Trail, which forms a 2-mile loop on the eastern edge of Roger’s Lake, and the Gold Digger Trail, a 4-mile point-to-point trail. The two can be connected, creating a 5.1 mile loop.

Start at the north parking lot and head west across the road and through a gate on a singletrack trail. Follow the signs for the Gold Digger Trail. The trail rises through relatively open forests and past recently thinned stands of ponderosa pine. The trail is fully singletrack but crosses several forest roads. The high point of the trail is a knoll. Drop your bike here and walk up a short rocky trail to a viewpoint providing a panoramic view of both the lake and the San Francisco Peaks to the north. From here the trail undulates up and down across a rocky ridge for a few miles until finally descending back toward the lake where the Gold Digger Trail meets back up with the 2-Spot Trail. At the junction you can head left to take a flat section of trail on an old railroad bed adjacent to the lake or go right for a mellow section of trail through the forest. Both options are roughly the same length and lead you back to the parking area where you started. This trail is considered moderately difficult and lacks the crowds that are common at most other Flagstaff mountain biking areas.