Flagstaff Water Activities: Mountain Lakes, Kayaking & Fishing

Upper Lake Mary

Upper Lake Mary is the anchor of Flagstaff's lake district — the largest and most reliably full of the local reservoirs. A concrete boat launch ramp on the north shore accommodates kayaks, canoes, and small motorized watercraft (electric motors are permitted; gasoline motors are not). The reservoir stretches roughly 3 miles end-to-end, giving paddlers a meaningful distance to cover without driving to a destination lake. Shoreline picnic areas maintained by the Coconino National Forest dot the north shore and are popular with families on summer weekends.

Fishing at Upper Lake Mary is genuinely productive. The Arizona Game & Fish Department manages the reservoir and stocks it periodically; resident species include largemouth and smallmouth bass, channel catfish, northern pike, and sunfish. Bank fishing is accessible from multiple points; kayak fishing from the water reaches the deeper mid-lake structure where larger bass hold. A valid Arizona fishing license is required for anyone 10 years and older — available online through AZGFD or at sporting goods retailers in Flagstaff.

Current water levels at Upper Lake Mary are typically adequate for paddling from April through October, though drought years have reduced the reservoir significantly. Check Coconino National Forest water conditions before a specialized trip — the USFS Flagstaff Ranger District updates conditions seasonally.

Lower Lake Mary

Lower Lake Mary sits closer to town than Upper Lake Mary and is the smaller, shallower of the two reservoirs. In good water years, it offers kayaking and fishing in a more intimate setting with easier shore access. In drought years — and the American Southwest has experienced significant multi-year drought in recent history — Lower Lake Mary can drop to critically low levels, sometimes approaching near-empty conditions that make it unsuitable for watercraft. Before driving to Lower Lake Mary specifically, check current water level reports. When it's full, it's a fine paddling lake with good bass fishing and beautiful ponderosa framing; when it's low, it's a mudflat. The uncertainty is the limitation.

Mormon Lake

Mormon Lake is technically Arizona's largest natural lake — with a significant asterisk. It's a shallow playa lake that fluctuates wildly with precipitation. In wet years following strong monsoon seasons and good winter snowpack, Mormon Lake fills to a genuine lake of several square miles, attracting white pelicans, great blue herons, sandhill cranes (during migration), and a remarkable diversity of shorebirds and waterfowl. In dry years, it's a vast meadow of grass and sedge with barely a puddle remaining. This variability makes Mormon Lake one of northern Arizona's more interesting ecological sites — exactly what you find there depends entirely on when you visit.

Mormon Lake Village, a small seasonal community on the western shore, has a lodge, a steakhouse (the Mormon Lake Lodge Steakhouse & Saloon is a regional institution), and limited services. The village is worth the drive regardless of water levels — the meadow scenery and wildlife potential make it one of the better birding destinations in northern Arizona in most years. Check current water conditions before planning a paddling trip specifically; in drought years, watercraft are pointless here. Wildlife watching on foot or by vehicle, however, is worthwhile in almost any condition.

Ashurst Lake

Ashurst Lake is the overlooked gem of the Flagstaff lake cluster — small enough to feel private, consistently holding enough water to be reliably usable, and far enough off the main Lake Mary Road that casual visitors rarely make the detour. The lake sits in a ponderosa pine meadow setting at approximately 7,100 feet elevation. Arizona Game & Fish stocks rainbow trout seasonally, making Ashurst one of the better trout fishing destinations accessible from Flagstaff. Primitive camping is allowed at designated sites around the lake — no hookups, no facilities beyond vault toilets, no fee. A quiet morning kayaking Ashurst with fishing gear, no motor noise, and a high probability of seeing deer on the meadow edge at dawn, is a distinctly Flagstaff experience that most visitors miss entirely.

Access requires driving Lake Mary Road south past Upper Lake Mary and then turning onto a Forest Service road — the approach is signed but worth confirming with the USFS Flagstaff Ranger District or a current map app before the trip.

Marshall Lake

Marshall Lake is less a lake than a large pond — roughly 20 acres — situated in the ponderosa-to-grassland transition zone at the base of Mt. Elden's eastern flank. It's not a paddling destination and the fishing is limited, but it earns its place on this list as Flagstaff's best easy wildlife-watching water feature. The trail around Marshall Lake is approximately 1 mile and essentially flat, making it accessible to everyone. The real draw is the birdlife: sandhill cranes stage here during fall migration (typically late September through October), making it one of the more accessible crane-watching spots in northern Arizona. Great blue herons are resident spring through fall. Migratory ducks use the lake in spring and fall. Mule deer and elk (Mt. Elden's eastern slopes carry a healthy elk herd) are sometimes visible from the trail at dawn and dusk.

Marshall Lake also serves as a good introduction to the Mt. Elden trail system for visitors who want to combine a flat lakeside walk with a look at the mountain's lower flanks. Access is via Marshall Lake Road east of Flagstaff — a dirt road that's passable in standard vehicles in dry conditions.