Rogers Lake, its basin spanning over one mile across, is located in the Upper Verde watershed and is a regionally significant, high-elevation wetland important to numerous wildlife species, including elk, black bear, pronghorn, bald eagles, and migrating waterfowl. The area also boasts a rich cultural history and a wide variety of native plant community types, as well as sweeping panoramic views of the San Francisco Peaks, Woody Mountain, and Woody Ridge. The area has prehistoric sites and scatter areas dating back 5,000 years, in addition to old railroad beds and log structures from Flagstaff’s sheep herding and logging era.

After an eight-year acquisition process that began in 2002, the county acquired Rogers Lake in a public auction, held on November 1, 2010. The acquisition was made possible with funding from the 2002 voter-approved Coconino Parks and Open Space (CPOS) program and a 2010 Growing Smarter Grant, Coconino County, and allows us to protect and preserve 2,250 acres of land, including 1,400 acres of wetland. Coconino County Parks and Recreation collaborated with several agencies and private stakeholders throughout the process.

There are two small trailheads with parking areas off Woody Mountain Road for the natural area, to access two multi-use trails that introduce people to this high-elevation wetland.