CELEBRATE AZ WATER WITH US AT KNOLL LAKE

September 27, 2016

Knoll Lake, named for the small island in the middle of the lake, is located in the Blue Ridge Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest. This scenic lake is 108 miles east of Flagstaff and is an outdoor lover’s paradise. There are trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. There is also a campground; open late April to late September, it can accommodate groups of up to 16 people. Boaters will also feel at home here, as the lake accommodates canoes or small boats, and there is a boat ramp for launching your watercraft (single electric motors are permitted). If you enjoy fishing, be sure to bring your rod and tackle because the lake is also a fisherman’s paradise, boasting species of Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout.  If you just feel like taking in the scenery, bring your chair and binoculars for sightseeing and wildlife viewing. Due to its location, at an elevation of 7,340 feet, the lake is closed to visitors in winter months. However, if the roads are open late into the season, you may be lucky enough to see a bald eagle. The roads open again in May, weather permitting.  

You may also want to extend your visit to Knoll Lake and take in the nearby Mogollon Rim. It forms the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau and offers great hiking opportunities, dramatic views and high-walled cliffs of limestone and sandstone. The name Mogollon comes from Don Juan Ignacio Flores Mogollón, the Spanish Governor of New Mexico from 1712 to 1715. Nearby towns include Payson, Sedona, Show Low, Alpine and Pinetop-Lakeside.


This photo by Megan M. is just one of over 1,000 entries for our Spring 2014 Celebrate AZ Water Photo Contest. It provided a stunning opportunity to celebrate the importance and wonder of water in Arizona and to reflect on one of our region’s most precious resources.