3 Favorite Picnic Spots near Cottonwood

Surrounded by desert, mountains, and ponderosa pine forests, the city of Cottonwood, AZ  is a great base to explore the beautiful landscapes that northern Arizona has to offer. If you are looking for the best picnic spots to spend some quality time with your family or a group of friends, these are some great destinations you should check out while in near the Cottonwood and Flagstaff area.

1. Buffalo Park

With the most impressive views of Mount Elden and Mount Humphreys and located just two miles northeast of downtown Flagstaff, Buffalo Park is one of the top-rated picnic destinations among locals and visitors. This expansive green area is open year-round, offering plenty of opportunities for recreational activities including cross-country skiing, hiking, running, mountain biking, wildlife photography, and nighttime stargazing. The main feature of this park, however, is the 2.2-mile multi-use trail going through the Ponderosa forest.

Getting to Buffalo Park from downtown Flagstaff takes a little over five minutes by car, driving along San Francisco Street and Forest Avenue. Once you make your way here, the first thing you will find is the main loop’s trailhead. To find the best picnic areas, you can either follow the hiking path for a little under a mile or simply head left towards the open fields and take in the beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.

2. Coconino National Forest

If you want to get away from the city center and check out one of the most diverse national forests in the entire United States, Coconino National Forest is an excellent destination. Featuring impressive landscapes, the famous red rocks of Sedona, and expansive Ponderosa pine forests, this expansive nature reserve is the best spot for a day trip or a weekend escape. This place offers four easily accessible picnic areas with picnic tables, well-maintained vault toilets, and parking spots.

Coconino National Forest is located about 30 miles southeast of downtown Flagstaff, making it possible to reach it in about 40 minutes by car along Lake Mary Road. Covering almost two million acres of territory, this nature reserve is a great spot for a vast array of recreational activities including camping, boating, fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing, and wildlife watching. Visitors are required to purchase a $5 daily use pass to enter the national forest.

3. Lower Lake Mary

Located a little under 10 miles southeast of downtown Flagstaff, Lower Lake Mary is one of the best-known picnic destinations among locals and a perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon while taking in a beautiful sunset by the shores of the lake. Getting here from the city center takes about 15 minutes by car, driving along Lake Mary Road. Once here, visitors can find picnic tables, public grills, vault toilets, boat launches, and other facilities.

Are you ready for an exciting day trip to one of these fantastic picnic areas? Before you set off, visit us at Oxendale Chrysler Dodge Jeep. Talk to one of our team members and learn more about the different models and financing plans we have available for you.

Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

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