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!