Visiting and Hiking Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Areas
Hiking Opportunities at Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Areas
Wildlife areas primarily managed for the benefit of native wildlife. Arizona Game and Fish also encourages appropriate public uses.
Hiking is considered an appropriate use of these areas.
If goal is to see wildlife be there at the right time of day and season
Move carefully as you pursue your quarry – stop, look and listen
Even though you may not find your target species, hopefully you will experience something new.
Where to Go? Local Destinations - Allen Severson Memorial Wildlife Area
Key wildlife – ducks, rails, bald eagles, falcons, cormorants
Seasons – Spring for waterfowl and falcons, Summer for cormorants (Telephone Lake), blackbirds and rails and Winter for eagles
Allen Severson MWA
Allen Severson MWA
Allen Severson MWA
Allen Severson MWA
Viewing Blind
Allen Severson MWA
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Redhead
Allen Severson MWA
Telephone Lake Specialties: Double Crested Cormorants Ruddy Ducks and Bald Eagles
Where to Go? Local Destinations – Jacques Marsh Wildlife Area
Walk administrative road Approximately one mile in length.
Location: In Lakeside town limits. Take Porter Mountain Road to Juniper go left and park at kiosk.
Seasons – Spring ducks and falcons; Summer blackbirds, swallows, rails and geese; Winter bald eagles
Tips – Bring bug spray in summer!
Jacques Marsh Wildlife Area
Juniper Street
Penrod Road
Jacques Marsh WA
Canvasback duck
Peregrine Falcon
Jacques Marsh - Summer
Swallows, soras, ibis, blackbirds and swallows
Jacques Marsh - Summer
Ducklings and Canada geese
Local Destinations – Wenima Wildlife Area
Located north of Springerville along the LCR.
Wenima Wildlife Area Parking lot located
along access road Two walking trails
located adjacent to parking lot
One across the bridge and walk upstream , another going downstream to Slade Ranch Headquarters
Wenima Wildlife Area Both trails out and
back. Sorry no loops.
Wenima WA - Habitats
Area supports streamside, willow, mature cottonwood and walnut trees, agricultural lands and grassland habitats
Wenima WA
Varied habitat types attract more bird species.
Wenima WA
Many species of mammals live at Wenima
Sipe Wildlife Area
Sipe Wildlife Area
Sipe Wildlife Area - Headquarters
Sipe Headquarters location of trail heads, visitor center and picnic areas
Sipe Wildlife Area - Trails Two main trails: Hill trail behind
barn. Loop trail up Rudd
Creek and around McKay Reservoir
High Country Hummers
Sipe WA - Hummingbirds
Calliope
Sipe WA - Headquarters
Lazuli Bunting
Lesser Goldfinch
Becker Lake Wildlife Area
Becker Lake Wildlife Area
Becker Lake WA
Nice dayNot so nice day!
Becker Lake WA - LCR
Parking lots along Hwy 60 and Airport Road. Take foot trail
Becker Lake WA
Along foot trail see beaver dams, mix of sedges and trees
Becker Lake WA – Foot Trail
Beaver Mule Deer
Becker Lake WA
Expect to encounter Meadow Larks and Northern Harriers
Grasslands Wildlife Area
Grasslands WA
Over 10,000 acres of native grasslands to explore. One designated foot trail, but can walk roads and cross country. Please note: No restroom
Grasslands WA
PronghornElk
Grasslands WA
Wildlife species encountered include grassland bird species, coyote, badger, pronghorn.
Mountain Plover
KilldeerHorned Lark
Grasslands WA
Take foot trail loop at parking lot about 1.5 mile in length, and also walk to cottonwood trees and old ranch headquarters.
Prairie Dogs
Grasslands Wildlife Area
Take a walk down road to the headquarters and cottonwood trees.
MORE DISTANT ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT
WILDLIFE AREAS
Lamar Haines Wildlife Area Location: On San Francisco Peaks
north of Flagstaff, Unit 7 Directions: From Flagstaff, take
U.S. 180 North to Snowbowl Road. Turn right and travel 4.4 miles. A small parking area is on the right side of the road where the trial begins.
Trail: 1.5 mile loop, difficulty easy History: 160 acres property was
homesteaded in 1892 by Ludwig Veit. The Commission purchased the property in 1948 from the Jenks family. The property was named after Lamar Haines a Flagstaff educator and environmentalist.
Wildlife: Elk, deer, Mexican spotted owl
Habitat: Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, Aspen
Lamar Haines Wildlife Area Notables:
Pictographs estimated to be 1,000 years old.
Two springhouses
Pond filled by Indian Spring
Page Springs Hatchery
Located along Oak Creek north of Cornville – Area offers self guided tours of fish hatchery and foot trail with opportunities for excellent bird watching
Page Springs and Bubbling Ponds Hatchery
Location: Page Springs
Directions: Ten miles south of Sedona, 10 miles north of Cottonwood off Hwy. 89A on the Page Springs Road. Access is also available from I-17 via the McGuireville Exit (exit 293). West 10 miles to Cornville, turn north on Page Springs Road for 5.5 miles.
History: The Page Springs and Bubbling Ponds Fish Hatchery together comprise approximately 177.78 acres. Approimately 200 acres were purchased in 1949 and 1960 with boundary adjustments over time.
Trails: 1.5 miles of smoothed trails loop the two sites, difficulty easy
Wildlife: Ring-necked, ruddy ducks, common goldeneye, mallard, northern pintail, northern shoveller, cinnamon and green-winged teals, wood duck, common merganser, common black-hawk, belted kingfisher, mule deer, javelina
Habitat: Cottonwood, ash, sycamore, hackberry, walnut
White Water Draw and Willcox Playa Wildlife Areas
These areas located southeast of Willcox are best known for their wintering Sandhill Cranes
Whitewater Draw and Willcox Playa Wildlife Areas
November through February best time period – Wings Over Willcox Festival - Mid-January
Black-necked Stilt Vermillion Flycatcher
Willcox Playa Wildlife Area Location: Willcox, Unit 30A
Directions: From Willcox, take Highway 186 approximately five miles. Turn right (south) on the Kansas Settlement Road for about three to five miles. Turn right (west) into the wildlife area parking area.
History: Willcox Playa Wildlife Area is about 595 acres, including 120 acres of deeded land, 320 acres of land patented from the Bureau of Land Management, a 115-acre perpetual right-of-way from the Arizona State Land Department.
Trail: 3 mile trail to Crane Lake includes directional signs and interpretive displays, difficulty easy.
Wildlife: Waterfowl and shorebirds Habitat: Open wetlands
Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area Location: McNeal, Unit 30B Directions: From U.S. Hwy. 191
at McNeal, drive west on Davis Road for 3 miles to Coffman Road. Turn south on Coffman Road and follow the signs for 2 miles; turn west into parking area and trailhead.
History: The Whitewater Draw, formerly a cattle ranch, was purchased in phases in 1997, 1998 and 2002.
Trails: Short trails are adjacent to parking areas, easy difficulty
Wildlife: Wintering sandhill cranes and birds of prey, numerous wetland birds,
Habitat: Wetland habitats for waterfowl
Sunflower Flat Wildlife Area Location: Southeast of
Williams, Unit 8 Directions: From Williams go
southeast on on FR 141 for approximately 5 miles then turn left on FR 109. Take 109 south about 3 miles to FR 14. Turn right and drive south and west 1 mile and look for FR 14A on left. The property is .5 mile down the road.
History: 160 acre property purchased by the Commission in 1989.
No designated trails Wildlife: Waterfowl and
shorebirds Habitat: High elevation wet
meadow habitat
Upper Verde Wildlife Area
This 1100 acre wildlife area is located along the Verde River and Granite Creek about 8 miles north of Chino Valley
Yellow-billed cuckoo
Western Tanager
Upper Verde River Wildlife Area Location: Pauldin, Unit 8 and 19A.
Directions: From Hwy. 89 in Paulden, take USFS 635 or Chino Ranch Road east approximately 1 mile. Make sharp right across the railroad tracks then a sharp left. Take very first right.
History: 1,102.5 acres purchased by the Commission in 1996 and 2008.
No designated trails. May walk along 3 miles of the Verde River and 1 mile of Granite Creek.
Wildlife: Mule deer, beaver, river otter, Roundtail chub, spikedace
Habitat: Riparian corridor, canyons, headwaters of the Verde River
Conclusion
Arizona Game and Fish encourages you to get out and enjoy our wildlife areas!