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The lakes are open year-round. In the warmer months (early May through early October), a fee is required to use the day-use areas, which are managed by a concessionaire. Vist individual sites for details and photos. Upper Lake Mary is the largest of Flagstaff's twin lakes. This long, narrow reservoir is especially popular with power boaters and water skiers because there is no motor size limit on it. It's also popular with those who prefer people-power or windpower over horsepower. For those who like fishing, the lake has northern pike, channel cat, crappie, and some trout. Lower Lake Mary is the smaller of Flagstaff's twin lakes. It has a tendency to disappear during the long dry spells that periodically hit this area. When the lake has water, its banks are usually lined with anglers trying to catch the trout which the Arizona Game and Fish Department stocks here. If it stays full for a year or two, it will pick up a population of northern pike and catfish. Picnic Areas Upper Lake Mary Boat Launch and Picnic Area Lake Mary Narrows Boat Launch and Picnic Area Lower Lake Mary Picnic Area Campgrounds Pinegrove Lakeview Canyon Vista Trails Wood Memorial Sandys Canyon Arizona Trail Priest Draw Kelly Motorized Trail System There are several other lakes nearby, including Marshall, Ashurst, and Mormon lakes.
Location: 7 to 17 miles southeast of Flagstaff on paved roads.
Access : Take Lake Mary Road (FH 3) south-east from Flagstaff. Lower Lake Mary is approximately 7 miles. The far end of Upper Lake Mary and Pinegrove Campground are approximately 17 miles.
Fees are required at the developed day-use areas during the high-use season, generally mid-April through mid-October: Upper Lake Mary Boat Launch and Picnic Area, Lower Lake Mary Picnic Area, and Narrows Boat Launch and Picnic Area special fee sites.
No fees or permits are required at trailheads or other sites around the lakes.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Basic park picnic pavilion & bathroom. Low rating because it was 4pm on a free state park day - we weren't there 2 minutes before a lady drives up on cart to get money - had my sister pay her rather that put it in the drop box. We paid her (full price) & ate our sandwiches - all before they closed the gates 6. It wasn't ugly but it wasn't anything special. We chalked up the charge to supporting the park or maybe the lady's golf cart?
Awesome open expansive view of what looks to be more of a meadow than a lake. I think it's prettier like this, without the water. The ramada and BBQ were very clean. No trash. No graffiti. Very nice. Worth the $10 day use fee. My only suggestion for improvement would be to add a trash can at the ramadas.
2022 update: so we visited here twice last year and now 3 times this year. Not sure if they changed hosts or what, but I've noticed the last 2 times we were here the host came by to ask for payment even though we had already dropped the payment in the fee box AND placed the receipt on our dash. I can understand this happening once, but twice in a row suggests that a pattern is emerging. Even more importantly is that the new hosts haven't been taking care of Ramadas 2 or 3. Ramada 1 (the one adjacent to the host site) looks clean and cared for, but Ramadas 2 and 3 clearly haven't been cleaned in awhile considering how much bird sh!t was on the picnic tables and grills. And this was during the Labor Day holiday weekend! For $10 day fee, they should be doing better.
Love this Lake.
I drive up into Happy Jack once a week and stop here. The sceneey is amazing. This time of the year not many people around - which is really great.
