Getting here ·
The short version
Spoonbill Lodge is in Happy Jack, Arizona, at 7,500 feet. Snow falls here between November and March. Lake Mary Road in February is a different drive from Lake Mary Road in July.
This post covers the routes, the snow, the vehicle, what to carry, and when to turn back.
The two routes in
From Flagstaff, drive about 45 minutes south on Lake Mary Road, also called Forest Highway 3. Lake Mary Road ends at AZ-87 near Clints Well. Turn onto AZ-87 toward Winslow, and drive to Enchanted Lane.
From Payson, drive about 45 minutes north on AZ-87.
From Phoenix, the drive is about 2.5 hours. Take I-17, then AZ-260 or AZ-87.
The correct route always leaves AZ-87 at Enchanted Lane and goes past the Blue Ridge fire station. If your GPS sends you another way, do not follow it onto a forest road in snow. The guidebook has the full route and a map.
When the snow starts, and when it clears
Snow falls between November and March, and it can fall into April. In spring, the forest roads take time to dry.
The lodge is on a county road, and the county plows it. How quickly depends on when the snow fell, how much fell, and how long the plows take to get here. We cannot control when they come.
Between storms, the road can stay icy or packed with snow.
Neighbours plow and pack the snow on the road in and on the driveway. We keep a snow shovel and ice melt at the lodge in winter.
Check the forecast and AZ 511 before you start the drive. AZ 511 shows road conditions and closures. Allow extra time.
The vehicle: what you need, and what helps
From November through March, all-wheel or four-wheel drive is a real advantage. Carry chains as well, and practice fitting them at home.
Tires matter as much as the drive system. All-wheel drive helps you start and climb. It does not help you stop on ice.
We do not require a particular vehicle. The road on the day decides what you need. If the state posts a chain requirement on the highway, follow it.
If you drive an electric vehicle, expect less range in the cold. The garage has a Level 2 charger, up to 40 amps, with a J1772 plug and a Tesla adapter.
Drive slowly on the forest road. Watch for elk and deer, especially at dawn and dusk.
What to carry
Carry these in the vehicle from November through March.
A full tank. Fill it in Flagstaff or Payson. The last gas station before the lodge is at Clints Well.
Chains and a small shovel.
A blanket or a sleeping bag for each person.
Water and some food.
Warm clothes, boots, and gloves, within reach and not under the luggage.
A flashlight or a headlamp, and a phone charger for the car.
Cell service drops out
Cell service in the forest is unreliable, and it depends on your carrier. Expect little or no signal on the drive in.
Load the route while you have signal in town. Google Maps brings you to the door, but only if it loaded the route before the signal dropped.
Turn on Wi-Fi calling in your phone settings before you leave town. At the lodge, the Wi-Fi supports calls and texts.
Tell someone at home your route and the time you expect to arrive. In an emergency, call 911. If you have no signal at the lodge, connect to the Wi-Fi first.
The last mile
At the address there is a gate with two lampposts and a metal elk on it. There is no gate code. The gate is open when you arrive. If it is closed, it is not locked.
Drive through the gate and go straight ahead. The lodge is in front of you.
Park on the gravel beside the lodge or in front of the garage. Keep the area in front of the gate clear.
Check-in is at 3:00 pm, and you check yourself in. In winter, plan to arrive in daylight. The forest road is harder to read after dark in snow.
When to turn around
Turn around if the road ahead is closed. Turn around if you cannot see the edge of the road. Turn around if the vehicle starts to slide on a climb. Turn around if the state requires chains and you have none.
Go back to Flagstaff or Payson and stay the night there. Try again the next morning in daylight, after the plows.
Message us as soon as you decide. The lodge is yours from 3:00 pm on your check-in day to 11:00 am on your check-out day. A late arrival does not end the booking.
The cancellation policy is moderate. Cancel more than 30 days before arrival, and you get a full refund. Cancel between 30 and 14 days before, and you get half back. Inside 14 days, the booking is not refundable.
Weather is not a reason for a refund. If snow is in the forecast, ask us about arriving a day early.
The property under snow
In winter the forest is very quiet, and the property is under snow. That is the reason to come anyway.
The family room has a wood-burning fireplace, and we provide the firewood. Harper’s Room and Jane’s Room have gas stoves. Madison’s Room has a gas fireplace that you see from the bed and from the tub.
Mountain weather cuts the power sometimes. It is normally brief. The gas stoves and the fireplaces keep the lodge warm, and there are flashlights and headlamps in the lodge.
Bring sleds for the children. The forest roads are good for snowshoes and cross-country skis. For downhill skiing, Arizona Snowbowl is about 1 hour 15 minutes away, near Flagstaff.
Winter nights are long. On a clear night near a new moon, you see the Milky Way with bare eyes from the deck.