Mormon Lake & Coconino Forests, AZ

Camping. The first time we camped together and we picked the Coconino forests after much deliberation. The primary concern was the fire advisories that barred campfires in several popular campsites. Eventually we found the Mormon lake area around Coconino forests to be open for camping and campfires and set out there without reserving a campground. As we approached the area on Saturday morning, we saw that all campgrounds were full...until that is, we stumbled upon a smallish one that wasn't. We drove our Honda past the SUV's and boats and finally found a quite spot and reserved it by pitching our tent there.


Once everything was setup and the fee paid, we were ready to do some hiking and followed a camp/park ranger on a nature field trip where he spoke about the squirrels, bark beetles, oak trees and the general evolutionary complexities and interdependencies of these amazing creatures. Thereafter we headed into the village, had free coffee in a nice lodge and bought some supplies for our campfire, which was the big event of course. We set it up, grilled some sausages and potatoes and ate them in the glow of the campfire and then slept peacefully in our little tent.



The next morning we woke up, used the pit toilets with great reluctance and hit the road to get home, stopping on the way at Mormon lake for about half an hour of bliss. An extremely memorable trip.