Elevation along the road ranges from 7,900 to 8,600 feet, with cool summer days and the possibility of cold nights. You’re near Arizona Snowbowl here, one of the state’s prime downhill-ski areas, as well as the Arizona Nordic Village, so expect wintry weather anytime from early fall to late spring. In the winter, Snowbowl maintains FR 516—the primary access to Freidlein Prairie Road—but the ski area’s personnel only plow when Snowbowl is open. If you’re truly hardy and ready to try winter camping here, check the Snowbowl and Coconino National Forest websites to assess conditions. You’ll need a free winter backcountry permit (available at the ski area if open or from the Flagstaff Ranger Station) for winter camping and snow play in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness area.
You can find summer fun at Snowbowl as well, with daily scenic lift rides up Agassiz Peak and ranger talks at the top. Have a deli-style lunch at the Agassiz Lodge Restaurant, then head out for a hike. You can use Snowbowl as the jumping-off point for some great hikes in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness, including a 4.5-mile, 3,300-foot climb to the top of Humphreys Peak (Arizona’s highest at 12,633') and the Kachina Trail, a more moderate 7-mile ramble across the slopes of the ancient volcano, which terminates at the end of FR 522.
For more information about Flagstaff’s charms and area attractions, see the next profile, Lockett Meadow Campground.
GETTING THERE
From Flagstaff, take US 180 northwest 7.4 miles to Snowbowl Road; then turn right and drive north 2.4 miles to FR 522. Turn right into the dispersed area.
GPS COORDINATES N35° 17.473' W111° 42.403'
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Lockett Meadow Campground
Beauty
KEY INFORMATION
CONTACT: 928-526-0866, tinyurl.com/lockettmeadow
OPEN: Mid-May–mid-October
SITES: 17
EACH SITE HAS: Picnic table, fire ring
ASSIGNMENT: First-come, first-served; no reservations
REGISTRATION: Self-register on-site
AMENITIES: Vault toilets
PARKING: At campsites, at trailhead
FEE: $16/night, $8/additional vehicle, $8 day use
ELEVATION: 8,600'
RESTRICTIONS:
PETS: On leash only
FIRES: In fire rings only
ALCOHOL: Permitted
VEHICLES: RVs and trailers not recommended; 2 vehicles/site; ATVs or motorbikes prohibited except to and from campground; mountain bikes prohibited in wilderness
QUIET HOURS: 10 p.m.–6 a.m.
OTHER: 14-day stay limit; 8-person limit/site; bear-country food-storage restrictions; firearms prohibited; horses prohibited
In spring and summer, the meadow is spangled with wildflowers, and in late September and early October, the changing aspens splash the mountainsides with bright gold.
Volcanic peaks around the Inner Basin form the backdrop for Lockett Meadow.
Approaching Flagstaff from any direction, the first thing you’ll notice is the San Francisco Peaks. Volcanic upheaval created this range, and after a million years of erosion, these are still Arizona’s highest mountains. For centuries the peaks, frequently snowcapped or shrouded in rain clouds, have held spiritual significance for Native Americans. They form the Sacred Mountain of the West and the boundary of the Navajo Nation; they’re also visible from the mesas of the Hopi, who believe that the Kachina spirits call these mountains home. The Kachina Peaks Wilderness encompasses the heart of this ancient volcano.
On the edge of this wilderness, nestled high on the eastern slopes, is the alpine haven of Lockett Meadow Campground. The narrow unpaved road winds up the mountain, revealing magnificent views past the cinder cones and lava fields of Sunset Crater National Monument and out to the Painted Desert. This challenging route is usually passable by passenger cars in dry weather but is definitely not recommended for RVs or trailers. At its end, towering Douglas-fir, ponderosa pines, and quaking aspens surround several acres of upland prairie grasses, once summer grazing for the sheep of homesteader Henry Claiborne Lockett. In spring and summer, the meadow is spangled with wildflowers, and in late September and early October, the changing aspens splash the mountainsides with bright gold. Stand quietly at sunrise or sunset and you may see foraging elk, mule deer, porcupine, or even a black bear. Listen for voices of the numerous native and migratory birds. The variety of plant and animal life found in these mountains inspired pioneering biologist C. Hart Merriam to develop the ecological concept of life zones.
Lockett Meadow is the only campground this high in the peaks, and it’s best to arrive early—the 17 campsites cannot be reserved, and dispersed camping is not permitted near the meadow. The high elevation means you’ll enjoy comfortable temperatures all summer, but come prepared for chilly evenings and quickly changing mountain weather in any season. The road is closed in the winter and the campground is unmaintained from October to May, but hardy souls on skis or snowshoes are welcome to use the campsites.
As you reach the campground, the road becomes one-way. The meadow itself is protected grassland closed to camping and vehicles. The campsites are outside the loop, nestled under a canopy of pale aspens and mature ponderosa pines with their vanilla-scented bark. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring; in dry Arizona it’s always a good idea to check with the U.S. Forest Service about fire restrictions. Pull in to the self-service pay station and check out site 1; it’s close but nicely screened from the road, and one of the two wildlife watering holes is just through the trees. Our favorite sites are near the busy trailhead, but once the day-use traffic is gone, site 7 may be the most secluded in the campground. Campsites 9–11 provide more room for larger groups, but are also more open to the road and each other. The best views of the meadow and the second pond are from sites 13–16. Two sets of vault toilets serve the campground; there are no other facilities and no drinking water. You won’t have a host, but the campground feels fairly secure. Although popular, Lockett Meadow still leaves you with an impression of remoteness and serenity once you’re in camp.
The Inner Basin Trail begins its steady uphill climb at Lockett Meadow Campground. The wide, even trail makes a pleasant 3.9-mile round-trip through the forest of the caldera. You’ll top 10,000 feet, so be aware of your conditioning and pace yourself. If you’re very ambitious, follow the Weatherford Trail to the Humphreys Trail, which takes you to Arizona’s highest point (12,634'). On a