About
Just south of Flagstaff and adjacent to travel route 89A, Griffith Springs is ideal for a morning stroll, a picnic lunch stop, or a classroom field trip.
What You'll See
The spring-fed wetland portion attracts various birds, a wide variety of unique insects, and provides habitat for frogs. Photographers will find wildflowers at their feet and soaring raptors overhead. A short hiking trail takes visitors through Ponderosa pine and Gambel's oak, with a bench overlooking a small canyon. Although this is a small area of Forest Service land, the habitat is varied with a small stand of aspen, a small cliff, as well as riparian. It's a great site for viewing birds, frogs, and wild flowers.
Getting There
From Flagstaff, drive south on Highway 89A (toward Oak Creek and Sedona). Continue south and look for signs for the Griffith Springs parking area on your left approximately two miles past Fort Tuthill County Park.
Helpful Tips
Amenities
Parking, picnic area, restrooms, trails.
Access Info
The short road into the parking area is gated in the winter months. Visitors can choose to pull over on 89A and enter on foot, but should do so only when conditions are safe.
You can see a lot more than Stellar’s Jay and Abert’s squirrels at this site if you know where to look. Larry Stevens (Museum of Northern Arizona) discovered a whole Genus of insects new to science here recently. In this AWWE audio guide, learn all about these predatory Robber flies and how to find them. You’ll also learn about another group of tiny winged predators – the Haploid water beetles – and where to look for them at this outdoor site. Herpetologist, Erika Nowak, discusses amazing facts on the Arizona Black Rattlesnakes, where they hang out, and what to do if you encounter one.
Introduction by Karen Mallis-Clark, narrated by Rose Houk, and recorded and produced by Diane Hope with funding from the AZGFD Heritage Fund.
Contact
Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff Ranger District
(928)526-0866