Coconino National Forest

Surrounding the mountain city of Flagstaff in northern Arizona, Coconino National Forest rises from red rock desert at 2,600 feet to the summit of Humphreys Peak at 12,633 feet, the highest point in the state. The forest's 1.856 million acres encompass an astonishing diversity of landscapes, from the world-famous red rock formations of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon to ancient volcanic cinder fields at Sunset Crater, ponderosa pine parklands, and alpine tundra above treeline. Drawing millions of visitors annually, Coconino is consistently among the most heavily visited national forests in the country, serving as a four-season recreation destination for hiking, mountain biking, skiing at Arizona Snowbowl, and rock climbing.\n\nThe San Francisco Peaks, a cluster of ancient stratovolcano summits forming the forest's spine, hold profound spiritual significance for over a dozen Native American tribes, including the Navajo, Hopi, and Havasupai peoples. Below the peaks, the world's largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest stretches across the Coconino Plateau, providing habitat for elk, mule deer, black bear, and the reintroduced Mexican spotted owl. The forest also manages portions of the Mogollon Rim escarpment, a dramatic 200-mile cliff face marking the transition between the Colorado Plateau and the basin-and-range country to the south.\n\nCoconino's three ranger districts administer a landscape of extraordinary geological and cultural importance, including over 300 archaeological sites documenting thousands of years of human habitation. The Red Rock Ranger District near Sedona manages one of the most popular recreation areas in the national forest system, where iconic formations like Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Courthouse Butte draw hikers, photographers, and spiritual seekers from around the world. Active forest restoration projects, including the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), work to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk across hundreds of thousands of acres of overly dense ponderosa pine stands.