Stoneman Lake Road

Located in the beautiful Coconino National Forest, Stoneman Lake Road begins in a juniper and scrub pine forest on the west end and climbs steadily into towering Ponderosa pine forests, Gambel oaks, and grassy alpine meadows. Elk, deer, turkeys, coyotes, and the occasional black bear all reside in the area and are often spotted along the drive. Stoneman Lake is an 8 million-year-old geological oddity, a large bowl-shaped depression that holds rainwater and snowmelt. More a marsh than a lake, geologists disagree on whether it is the caldera of a small volcano or a sinkhole. KT Ranch is a highlight of this trail. Its bucolic pastoral setting evokes every kid's dream of being a cowboy. An active ranch, its cattle graze on the expansive open meadows and laze under in the shade of old-growth pines. Stoneman Lake Road is a wonderful place to escape the desert's summer heat for some relaxed camping and enjoy all this beautiful area has to offer.