Spring
The quietest season, and the most changeable. Snow falls into April, and the forest roads take time to dry. Bring layers. You will mostly have the property to yourself.
The area
One of the good parts of Arizona.
Thick ponderosa pine forest on the Mogollon Rim, at 7,500 feet, with four real seasons and trails running off in every direction. Blue Ridge Reservoir is 15 minutes away. Flagstaff and Payson are 45.
Image of the Mogollon Rim coming soon
Image of the night sky over the lodge coming soon
After dark
You can see the Milky Way from the deck.
This is the trade the forest makes. There is no city here, so there is no light dome and no traffic noise either. At 7,500 feet, in dry air, on a clear night near a new moon, you see the Milky Way with bare eyes. It reads as a band, not a smudge.
Let your eyes adjust for 20 minutes, and leave the porch light off. Autumn has the clearest skies. If you want to plan a stay around it, check the moon phase before you pick your dates.
By drive time
What is close, and what is a full day.
More is close by than people expect. You need a car for all of it — there is no rideshare and no transit here. These times assume dry roads, which covers most of the year but not all of it.
Right here On the property
The pond
A holding pond that catches rainwater and brings the wildlife in. Elk and deer come down to it. It is quiet enough in the morning that you hear them before you see them.
The disc golf course
A short course on the cleared land next door. The discs are in the shed.
The lit sport court
A full pickleball court with half-court basketball. It is lit, so games run after dark. Balls and paddles are by the garage.
The firepit
We provide the firewood. Check the current forest fire restrictions before you light it. They change through the season, and they are enforced.
Dark skies
There is no light pollution in any direction. On a clear night near a new moon, you see the Milky Way with bare eyes from the deck.
15 min Clints Well, the reservoir, and the forest roads
Clints Well
Gas and a small general store. This is your last stop for ice, a forgotten charger, or charcoal. It is not a grocery run.
Blue Ridge Reservoir
A narrow reservoir walled in by canyon, also called C.C. Cragin. The best way to see it is from the water. We have paddleboards on request.
Forest Road 300 — the Rim Road
This road runs along the edge of the Mogollon Rim. The pull-offs look out over hundreds of square miles of forest. The surface is dirt and it washboards, so high clearance helps.
Rim overlooks
Several unmarked pull-offs along the Rim Road look straight off the escarpment. Go at sunset.
30 min Winslow and Route 66
Winslow
A Route 66 town northeast of the lodge. Stand on the Corner Park, La Posada Hotel, and the old railroad main line through town.
Historic Route 66
The old road runs east and west from Winslow. It makes an easy half-day out for anyone who wants a drive with something at the end of it.
45 min Flagstaff, north on Lake Mary Road
Downtown Flagstaff
A walkable historic downtown with breweries, coffee, and restaurants. This is the obvious choice for a night out, or for a full grocery run on the way up.
Lowell Observatory
Astronomers discovered Pluto here. There are evening programs and public telescope viewing. Book ahead, especially in summer.
Arizona Snowbowl
Skiing and snowboarding in winter, and a chairlift in summer. About 1 hour 15 minutes from the lodge.
Groceries
Full supermarkets. Stock up here or in Payson. There is nothing closer.
45 min Payson and the Rim country, south on AZ-87
Payson
The southern gateway to Rim country. It has full services, restaurants, and a second option for groceries.
Pine and Strawberry
Two small towns on the way down. Both are good for a slow lunch. Pine has a brewery.
Tonto Natural Bridge
The largest natural travertine bridge in the world, in a state park north of Payson. The walks down into the canyon are short. The climb back is steep.
1–2 hrs Worth a whole day
Sedona
Red rock country, about 1.5 hours away. It is busy most of the year. Go early and come back here for dinner.
Grand Canyon, South Rim
About 2.5 hours each way. It is a long day, and it is worth it.
Meteor Crater
About 1.5 hours east. It is enormous, and it is better in person than in photographs.
By season
Four different stays.
The seasons are distinct at this elevation. Whichever one you pick, the temperature still changes 30 to 40 degrees in a day. Bring layers.
Summer
This is why people drive up from Phoenix. It is about 25 degrees cooler here. Monsoon storms pass through most afternoons in July and August. They are hard and short, and the evening clears.
Fall
The best weather of the year. Warm days, cold nights, and the clearest skies for stargazing. The aspens turn near Flagstaff. This is also the middle of hunting season.
Winter
Snow, wood stoves, and a very quiet forest. All-wheel or four-wheel drive is a real advantage, and chains are sensible. Check the road before you start the drive.
Getting here
The drive is part of it.
From Flagstaff, take Lake Mary Road south. It is 45 minutes of straight road under tall pines, with almost nothing on it. From Payson, take AZ-87 north through Pine and Strawberry. That drive takes the same time and is the better one.
Phoenix Sky Harbor is about 2.5 hours away. Flagstaff Pulliam is about 1 hour. You need a rental car from either one.
Download your map before you leave town. Cell service in the forest is unreliable and depends on your carrier. Google Maps brings you to the gate. Look for the double lamppost with a metal elk on it.
Image of the drive in coming soon
Questions
Questions about getting here and what's around.
How far is Spoonbill Lodge from Flagstaff?
About 45 minutes north, on Lake Mary Road. Payson is about 45 minutes south on AZ-87, and Phoenix is about 2.5 hours. There is nothing between but forest. You need a car — there is no rideshare and no transit.
What is there to do near Happy Jack, Arizona?
On the property: disc golf, a lit sport court, a field, a firepit, and forest to walk in. Within 15 minutes: Blue Ridge Reservoir, the Rim Road, and its overlooks. About 30 minutes: Winslow and historic Route 66. At 45 minutes: downtown Flagstaff, Lowell Observatory, Arizona Snowbowl, or Payson. For a full day: Sedona, Meteor Crater, or the Grand Canyon.
Can you see the Milky Way from the property?
Yes, on a clear night near a new moon. At 7,500 feet in dry air, with no town in any direction, there is no light dome. The Milky Way reads as a band, not a smudge. Let your eyes adjust for 20 minutes and leave the porch light off.
What is the weather like at 7,500 feet?
The temperature changes 30 to 40 degrees in a day, in every season. Bring layers. Summer runs about 25 degrees cooler than Phoenix, with short afternoon storms in July and August. Snow falls between November and March.
Do I need four-wheel drive?
Not for most of the year. Between November and March, all-wheel or four-wheel drive is a real advantage, and chains are sensible. Check the road conditions before you drive, and fill your tank before Clints Well.
Is there cell service?
It is unreliable, and it depends on your carrier. The Wi-Fi in the lodge is fast and reaches the deck, and Wi-Fi calling works throughout. Turn it on before you leave town, and download your maps first.