This is a great spot to bird mixed conifer forest, intermediate between Ponderosa Pine forest at lower elevations and spruce/fir forest at higher elevations, this area has species typical of both. Breeding woodpeckers, warblers, flycatchers, nuthatches, finches, and others abound. Look for Olive Warbler, Williamson’s Sapsucker, and Red Crossbill. Orange-crowned Warbler, a very local breeder in Arizona, may be found among aspen stands. Following the main trail will take you to Veit Springs, a historical site and a nice spot to fill your water bottle while you examine pictographs. Sit still next to the stream and see what birds come in to drink.

Old growth forests, aspen stands, wet meadows, and springs provide habitat for a wide array of species, some of which are rare in the Flagstaff area. While deer, elk, and woodpeckers are common, Lamar Haines is also visited by Mexican spotted owls and northern goshawks.

The Lamar Haines Memorial Wildlife Area (LHMWA) is owned by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and consists of approximately 160 acres of relatively undeveloped old-growth forest and wet meadow. The property was originally patented under the Homestead Act by Ludwig Veit in 1892, and purchased by the Jenks family in 1928. It was acquired by the Department in 1948 as a water source for wildlife on the southwest slope of Agassiz Peak. Currently, it is valuable as a wildlife interpretive area in an area of old-growth forest habitat.

It is located 12 miles north of Flagstaff in northern Arizona, in the San Francisco Mountains, within the Coconino National Forest.

The wildlife attracted to these habitats afford valuable recreational opportunities. Wildlife watching has increased in popularity in Arizona, and the United States generally. The primary use of the LHMWA is limited to day-use hiking, sightseeing, and photography by the general public with numerous organized field trips sponsored by Flagstaff Public Schools in association with Project L.I.F.E. and Camp Colton. The surrounding USFS lands are restricted in their use by Wilderness Area designation.