The Coconino National Forest Hiking

The Coconino National Forest is one of six United States National Forests in Arizona, covering over 1.8 million acres of diverse terrain that includes ancient volcanic peaks and the largest stand of ponderosa pines in the world. The forest ranges in elevation from as low as 2,600 feet near the Verde River and rises to the top of the San Francisco Peaks and highest point in Arizona at 12,633 feet. The Ponderosa Pine Forest begins at the Grand Canyon and runs all the way to the New Mexico boarder. The forest offers diverse outdoor opportunities for groups and families with over 6,300 miles of scenic roads and 550 total individual camp sites available. Hundreds of hiking trails of all difficulty levels are also available to accommodate hikers of all sorts.

In the heart of this magnificent forest is the Mogollon Rim, a beautifully forested escarpment that forms the southern rim of the Colorado Plateau and is home to one of the largest wild elk herds in the United States. The Mogollon Rim offers eight lakes and many streams where visitors can swim, boat, and fish; plentiful trails, campsites, and healthy forest offer diverse options for hiking, horseback riding, ATVing, camping, and hunting as well.