Mormon Mountain Trail: A Quieter Summit Southeast of Flagstaff

The San Francisco Peaks trails near Flagstaff are great hikes but they’re rarely empty. Mormon Mountain, 20 miles southeast via Lake Mary Road, gets a fraction of that traffic and gives you similar ponderosa pine forest, open meadow views, and a real summit at 8,178 feet.

It’s a different kind of mountain. Mormon Mountain is a broad volcanic shield, not the sharp cone you’d get from a cinder volcano. The summit is wide and open rather than a rocky peak, and the views span in multiple directions. On a clear day you can see the San Francisco Peaks to the north and Mormon Lake to the southeast, Arizona’s largest natural lake.

Trail Overview

The trail is a 4.2-mile round trip with 800 feet of elevation gain. Difficulty is moderate. The climb is gradual for most of the route, steepening only near the summit. The terrain is ponderosa pine forest transitioning to open meadows and shrubland as you gain elevation.

This is a good trail for intermediate hikers who want a summit without the effort of a longer or more technical route. It’s also one of the better wildflower trails in the Flagstaff area in June and early July.

No permit, no fee. Coconino National Forest manages the area.

Getting There

From downtown Flagstaff, take Lake Mary Road (FR 3) southeast. This is a paved road that runs 20 miles to the Mormon Lake area. The trailhead is off FR 300, which branches off Lake Mary Road before you reach the lake.

Look for the Forest Road 300 turnoff and follow it to the trailhead parking area. The approach road is dirt but manageable in a regular car in dry conditions.

From Phoenix, take I-17 north to Flagstaff, then Lake Mary Road southeast. Total drive from Phoenix is around 2 hours.

Note that Mormon Lake Village has a small store and lodge if you want food or supplies after the hike.

Trail Description

Miles 0 to 1: Trailhead Through the Ponderosa Forest

The trail starts in dense ponderosa pine. The grade is easy to start, with gentle ups and downs as the route establishes itself through the trees. Bunchgrasses and shrubs fill the understory. The pines here are old and tall, with thick orange-red bark that glows in afternoon light.

The trail is well-worn through this section and easy to follow. Look for the carved post markers at any junctions.

Miles 1 to 1.8: The Main Climb

The trail starts gaining elevation more consistently after mile 1. The climb is steady but not steep. Switchbacks keep the grade manageable. The ponderosa forest starts opening up as you climb, giving way to patches of Gambel oak and open rocky ground.

At around mile 1.5, you get the first good views back north toward the Flagstaff area and the San Francisco Peaks on clear days. The peaks are visible above the tree line. On a morning hike the peaks often catch the first light while the valley is still in shadow.

Miles 1.8 to 2.1: Summit Meadows and the Top

The forest opens significantly in the final stretch. You’re in broad meadow terrain with scattered trees. The summit of Mormon Mountain is wide and flat rather than a sharp point, which is typical of volcanic shield mountains. You can wander the summit area and find different view angles.

From the top you get views of Mormon Lake to the southeast. The lake’s size varies dramatically by season. After a wet monsoon, it spreads out impressively. After a dry year it can look more like a wet meadow than a lake. The San Francisco Peaks stand out clearly to the north, and the Colorado Plateau stretches in all directions.

Head back the way you came.

What to Bring

At 8,178 feet, Mormon Mountain is cooler than most Flagstaff-area trails, but you’re also more exposed at the summit.

Water: Carry at least 2 liters per person. The trail is short but the elevation means you’ll exert more effort than the mileage suggests. There’s no water on the trail. A hydration pack makes this easy.

Footwear: The trail has good footing throughout but the rocky summit meadow area benefits from a bit of ankle support. Hiking boots work well. Trail runners are fine if you’re comfortable on varied terrain.

Sun protection: The open summit meadows get full exposure. A sun hoodie is the right move here, combined with a hat and sunscreen.

Layers: Summit temperatures are often 10 to 15 degrees cooler than at the trailhead, especially when wind picks up. Pack a light fleece or wind layer.

Snacks: It’s a short hike but summit snacks make the views better. Bring something real.

Photo Spots

The summit meadows are the best photography location on this trail. The wide, open terrain lets you compose with wildflowers or grasses in the foreground and the San Francisco Peaks in the background. June and early July are the best months for foreground color.

Mormon Lake from the summit is worth capturing when the water level is high. A telephoto lens helps since the lake is a few miles away. Early morning light from the east gives the best angle on the lake.

The ponderosa section between miles 0 and 1 shoots well in late afternoon. The low sun lights up the pine bark and casts long shadows through the trunks. This section doesn’t have a view but the forest light is strong.

Safety Notes

Thunderstorms: Mormon Mountain’s open summit is a serious lightning risk during summer monsoon season, which runs July through September. Start your hike no later than 6 a.m. on monsoon days and plan to be off the summit and heading down by 10 a.m. Afternoon storms at 8,000 feet arrive fast and leave you with nowhere to shelter on the open summit.

Faint trail sections: The meadow sections near the summit can have faint or braided trail. If you lose the path, stop and look for cairns or trail markers rather than pushing forward and hoping. Download an offline map from AllTrails or Gaia GPS before you leave the car.

Wildlife: This is black bear country. Make noise on the trail. Don’t leave food in your car or pack. Bears in this area aren’t aggressive but surprise encounters are unpleasant for everyone.

Snow: The trail can hold snow from November through April, sometimes longer near the summit. The volcanic shape of the mountain means the summit meadows stay wet and soft well into spring. Check current conditions before the drive out.

Road conditions: FR 300 is dirt. In wet conditions it can get muddy. If you drove out after rain and the road is soft, park before it gets bad rather than committing to the full approach.

For any trail emergency, call 911.

Related Trails

The Mormon Lake area has additional Coconino National Forest trails that loop around the lake basin and through the surrounding forest. If you finish Mormon Mountain early, the lake area itself is worth a short walk, especially during high water years when the birdwatching is good.

For more summit views near Flagstaff without the drive southeast, the Elden Lookout Trail climbs Mount Elden to a fire lookout tower at 9,299 feet. It’s steeper and more demanding than Mormon Mountain but sits closer to town.

The corridor along Lake Mary Road has other trailheads for Coconino National Forest routes, including access to the Lake Mary area trails that are good for fishing-adjacent hiking near the water.