South Side of Walnut Canyon

Boondocking and ATV heaven, with scattered views of the San Francisco Peaks! There are so many side roads, and so many dispersed campsites and usage on the northern end of the route is low even in peak season. Most of the dispersed camping is RV-accessible. You’re minutes from Flagstaff’s only major outdoor shooting range, located along the north end of the route. If you are coming into Flagstaff from the east on I-40 and want to take the slow shortcut to Mormon Lake and Lake Mary (or vice versa), this is your ticket. (Winona Ranch Road 82 to the east will also work). There’s a lot of elevation change, and you’ll wind in and out of canyons, out of the Pinon-Juniper, and into the Ponderosas. There’s a lot of exploration to be done between here and Winona Ranch Road. At the south end of the route you’ll find Marshall Lake, then Lake Mary, and nearby Ashurst Lake. This route winds along the south side of Walnut Canyon National Monument, which is fenced off and can only be accessed from the north at the visitor’s gate. But the side canyons here on the south side are pretty nice too! Finally, you will access the Arizona Trail using this road, on the south side of Marshall Lake.