Rogers Lake: Gold Digger Loop

Dogs Off-leash

Features Birding · Lake · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

On this loop with two trails in the recently established Rogers Lake County Natural Area, you'll get various views of the San Francisco Peaks and a unique Northern Arizona landscape. A natural basin perched at around 7,000 feet, Rogers Lake is a high-elevation ephemeral wetland surrounded by ponderosa pine and Gambel oak woodlands. Following wet winters or late summer monsoons, this mile-wide wetland fills up, creating a brilliant blue lake. Between the two wet seasons the lake dries out, leaving behind a large flower-filled meadow.

Start at the north parking lot and head west across the road, through a gate following signs for the Gold Digger Trail. The trail rises through recently thinned stands of ponderosa pine, giving nice open forest views. The high point of the hike is a knoll where you can take a short, rocky side trail to a viewpoint providing a panoramic view of both the lake and the San Francisco Peaks. From here, the trail undulates up and down across a rocky ridge for a few miles until finally descending back toward the lake.

At the junction with Two-Spot Trail you can go left to take a flat section of trail on an old railroad bed alongside the lake, or go right for a mellow section of trail through the forest. Both options are roughly the same length and lead you back to the parking area where you started. - Overview and description by Ryan Lima, Outdoor Project.

Rogers Lake provides important habitat to bald eagles, elk, black bear, pronghorn, coyote, mule deer, prairie dogs, migratory waterfowl, and many others. It's a great place for wildlife viewing, birding, or hunting for wildflowers. Check out signs at the trailhead to learn more about the wildlife and natural history of this area.