Crowley, Coconino
Winter Sports in Arizona
Near Bellemont, AZ in Arizona
What to Pack for Crowley, Coconino
Being properly equipped turns potential hazards into manageable situations.
Pack for Desert terrain, Temperate, and the wildlife considerations above.
Essential
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Water (minimum 2L) — Dehydration impairs judgment and endurance long before you feel thirsty; 2L is the minimum for a moderate day hike.
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Navigation (map/GPS/compass) — Phone batteries die, cell service disappears, and trail signs get vandalized; a paper map and compass always work.
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Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen) — UV exposure intensifies at elevation and near reflective surfaces like water and snow; sunburn can happen in under 30 minutes.
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First aid kit — Blisters, cuts, and sprains happen on even the easiest trails; basic supplies let you treat problems before they force a retreat.
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Extra food — A wrong turn or unexpected storm can extend any outing by hours; extra calories prevent fatigue and poor decision-making.
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Headlamp with extra batteries — Trails that seem short in daylight can take twice as long with route-finding or elevation; a headlamp keeps you moving safely after dark.
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Fire starter — Hypothermia can set in even during summer at higher elevations; a reliable fire starter provides warmth and a signal for rescuers.
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Emergency shelter (space blanket) — A space blanket weighs under two ounces and reflects up to 90% of body heat, buying time in an unplanned overnight.
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Knife or multi-tool — From cutting cord to preparing food to improvising gear repairs, a knife is the most versatile tool you can carry.
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Extra clothing layer — Mountain weather can shift from sunshine to sleet within an hour; an extra layer prevents dangerous heat loss.
Climate Gear
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Insulated layers — Body heat escapes rapidly when you stop moving; an insulated layer traps warmth during breaks and at camp.
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Hand warmers — Cold fingers lose dexterity fast, making it harder to operate zippers, buckles, and navigation devices when you need them most.
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Thermos — A hot drink on a cold trail restores core temperature and morale faster than any other comfort item.
Terrain Gear
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Wide-brim hat — A wide brim shades your face, ears, and neck simultaneously, reducing UV exposure and lowering heat stroke risk.
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Sunscreen SPF50+ — Reflected UV from water, sand, and snow can burn exposed skin even on overcast days; SPF50+ blocks 98% of UVB rays.
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Extra water (desert) — Desert water sources are unreliable and often seasonal; carry all the water you need rather than counting on finding more.
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Headlamp (extra) — Remote terrain often takes longer than expected to navigate; a backup headlamp prevents being stranded in darkness if your primary fails.
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Emergency bivy — An emergency bivy sack weighs 4-8 ounces and provides wind and rain protection if an injury, storm, or navigation error forces an unplanned night out.
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PLB/satellite messenger — A Personal Locator Beacon sends your GPS coordinates to search-and-rescue via satellite, working anywhere on Earth with no cell signal needed.
Seasonal Gear
- Spring: Camera, Wildflower field guide
- Fall: Camera, Binoculars (foliage viewing)
Activities & Best Time to Visit Crowley, Coconino
The Desert terrain here lends itself to a range of outdoor activities throughout the year.
Whether you're here for birdwatching or looking to try something different, Crowley has options.
Photographers rate this area 65/100, with Exceptional dark sky (Bortle 1-2) and 3 excellent meteor showers being a major draw.
Activities
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birdwatching — Spot and identify birds in forests, wetlands, grasslands, and coastal habitats.
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cross_country_skiing — Glide across snowy fields and forest trails using narrow skis and poles.
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skiing — Glide downhill on groomed slopes or natural snow-covered terrain.
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snowboarding — Carve down snowy slopes on a single board.
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snowshoeing — Traverse snowy trails using wide snowshoes that distribute weight over soft terrain.
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walking — A simple way to explore trails, shorelines, and park paths at your own pace while taking in the scenery.
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wildlife_viewing — Observe animals in their natural habitats, from grazing deer to soaring raptors overhead.
Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Terrain: Desert — Desert terrain features sparse vegetation, exposed soils, and wide temperature swings between day and night.
Nature & Wildlife at Crowley, Coconino
The Desert terrain here supports a rich ecosystem worth noticing as you explore.
The Desert environment here supports 43 documented species across mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Trees (3)
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Southwestern Ponderosa Pine — Its thick bark forms broad orange plates separated by dark fissures. -
Gambel Oak — It often grows in dense thickets, spreading by underground sprouts to form large colonies. -
white fir — The bark is smooth and gray on young trees, becoming furrowed with age.
Wildflowers (2)
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Arizona mariposa lily — White to pale pink petals with deep purple markings. -
Stansbury's Cliffrose — Evergreen shrub with finely divided gray-green leaves.
Other Plants (5)
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Echinocereus bakeri
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great mullein
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quaking aspen
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alligator juniper
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western blue flag
Mammals (8)
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Abert's Squirrel — A gray tree squirrel with distinctive long ear tufts in winter. -
Mule Deer — A large deer with oversized mule-like ears and a black-tipped tail. -
Gunnison's Prairie Dog — A stout, burrowing rodent with tan to brown fur and short tail. -
Wapiti — Also known as elk, this large deer has a tan body with dark neck and pale rump patch. -
Rock Squirrel — A large ground squirrel with mottled gray-brown fur and bushy tail.
Birds (30)
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Red-winged Blackbird — Male black with red and yellow shoulder patch -
House Sparrow — Male with gray crown and black bib -
European Starling — Glossy black with iridescent green and purple sheen -
Eurasian Collared-Dove — Pale gray-beige body -
Dark-eyed Junco — Slate-gray form with white belly
Reptiles (5)
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Plateau Fence Lizard — A medium lizard with spiny scales and gray to brown coloration. -
Greater Short-horned Lizard — A stout-bodied lizard with short horns on the back of the head. -
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake — A slender snake with longitudinal yellow or cream stripes over a dark brown, gray, or greenish body. -
Gopher Snake — A large tan or yellowish snake with dark brown blotches along the back. -
Ornate Tree Lizard — A small spiny lizard with gray to brown coloration and subtle patterning.
Amphibians (2)
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American Bullfrog -
Arizona Tree Frog
Insects (10)
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Convergent Lady Beetle -
Gray Buckeye -
Carolina Grasshopper -
White-lined Sphinx -
Spotted Pine Sawyer
Fungi (1)
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lobster mushroom
Other Wildlife (2)
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Common Pill Woodlouse
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Virile Crayfish
Nature Bingo at Crowley, Coconino
Can you spot them all? Check off each species as you find it on your visit.
Wildlife Challenge
Botany Challenge
Crowley, Coconino Climate & Sun
Reference data: temperatures, precipitation, and daylight hours by month.
The annual average temperature here is 45.7°F, with 25 inches of precipitation.
Climate type: Temperate
Annual avg temp: 45.7°F
Annual precipitation: 25 in
With an average annual temperature of 45.7°F and 25 inches of precipitation, Crowley has cool, moderate rainfall conditions. Summer highs average around 64°F, while winter lows drop to 30°F.
Best months to visit: Jun, Jul, Sep. Consider avoiding: Jan, Feb, Dec.
| Month | Avg Temp | Precip |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 2.9 in |
| Feb | 32°F | 2.9 in |
| Mar | 37°F | 2.5 in |
| Apr | 42°F | 1.3 in |
| May | 50°F | 0.9 in |
| Jun | 60°F | 0.3 in |
| Jul | 64°F | 2.7 in |
| Aug | 63°F | 3.5 in |
| Sep | 57°F | 2.1 in |
| Oct | 47°F | 1.8 in |
| Nov | 38°F | 1.6 in |
| Dec | 30°F | 2.5 in |
Daylight & Sun Times
Daylight ranges from 9.8 hours in winter to 14.5 hours in summer — a difference of 4.7 hours.
Summer: 5:11 AM – 7:43 PM
Winter: 7:28 AM – 5:15 PM
Crowley, Coconino Trip Planning & Access
Here's the practical side of visiting Crowley.
Crowley is 135 miles from Phoenix — here's what to budget for the trip.
Visitor Friendliness
This location rates likely_allowed for dogs, excellent for families, and highly_suitable for elderly visitors.
- Dogs: likely_allowed — No restrictions found
- Families: excellent
- Elderly: highly_suitable
- Strollers: excellent (100/100)
- Beginners: Some experience helpful (Difficult - gain experience first (-20))
- Accessibility: Generally accessible to most visitors (95/100)
Places Near Crowley, Coconino
The area around Crowley has plenty more to offer.
If you're exploring this part of Arizona, these nearby spots complement a visit to Crowley.
Nearby Trails
- Kendrick Park Watchable Loop, Coconino 2.17 mi
- Bismarck Lake Trail, Coconino 3.2 mi
- Kendrick Trail, Coconino 4.05 mi
- Pumpkin Trail, Coconino 4.05 mi
- Humphreys Trail, Coconino 5.46 mi
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby Attractions
Stargazing & Night Sky at Crowley, Coconino
After a day outdoors, the evening sky here is worth a look.
On clear nights, the Bortle class 2 skies above Crowley reveal constellations and bright planets.
Constellations
From Crowley, you can trace Ursa Minor, Cassiopeia, Cepheus across the sky on clear nights.
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Ursa Minor — Home to Polaris, the North Star, Ursa Minor forms a small dipper shape that circles the northern sky year-round. -
Cassiopeia — Easily recognized by its bright W-shaped pattern, Cassiopeia stands out in northern skies. -
Cepheus — Cepheus appears as a faint house-shaped pattern near Polaris in the northern sky.
Meteor Showers
Time your visit around December 13-14 for the Geminids, the strongest meteor shower visible from this latitude.
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Geminids — peaks December 13-14 (excellent)One of the most reliable and active showers of the year; best viewed after 10 PM when Gemini rises higher in the sky.
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Quadrantids — peaks January 3-4 (excellent)This brief but intense shower peaks before dawn; early morning hours offer the best chance to see multiple meteors.
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Perseids — peaks August 11-13 (excellent)A summer favorite with warm nighttime viewing; look northeast after 10 PM.
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Eta Aquariids — peaks May 5-6 (good)Best seen before dawn in the southeastern sky as Aquarius rises.
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Delta Aquariids — peaks July 28-29 (fair)Best viewed after midnight when Aquarius is higher in the southern sky.
Planets
Planets visible to the naked eye from this location:
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Venus — The brightest planet, often called the Morning or Evening Star -
Jupiter — The largest planet, bright and steady in the night sky -
Saturn — Famous for its rings, visible as a golden steady light -
Mars — The Red Planet, recognizable by its reddish-orange hue
Equipment Guide
- Naked eye: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Mercury (with care)
- Binoculars: Jupiter moons, Uranus, Saturn rings (barely)
- Small telescope: Saturn rings, Jupiter bands, Mars surface features, Neptune
Viewing Tips
- Check planets rise/set times for your specific date
- Planets appear along the ecliptic (zodiac path)
- Planets don't twinkle like stars - steady light
- Venus and Jupiter are unmistakable - brightest objects after Moon
- Use a stargazing app to confirm planet positions
- Best viewing: when planet is highest in sky (transit)
Best Viewing Months
- Evening: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
- Morning: Jul, Aug, Sep
Seasonal Highlights at Crowley, Coconino
The time of year you visit changes what you'll see and do.
Timing your visit to Crowley around seasonal highlights can make a major difference in what you experience.
Spring Wildflowers
Peak bloom: March - April
Check local park websites for bloom reports
Fall Foliage
Peak color: September 15 – October 10
Best trees for color: Aspen, Cottonwood, Scrub Oak
At 8038ft elevation, expect peak 1-2 weeks earlier
Bird Migration
Spring peak: April - May
Fall peak: September - October
Best spots: Wetlands, coastlines, mountain ridges
Indigenous Land at Crowley, Coconino
Before planning your trip, it's worth recognizing the Indigenous peoples connected to this land.
Before this became a recreation area, this land belonged to Hopitutskwa, Pueblos, Havasu Baaja (Havasupai).
Territories
Languages
Indigenous languages connected to this territory include Dilzhę́’é (North), Havasupai, Hopilavayi.
Data from Native Land Digital
Crowley, Coconino Geology & Natural History
Beyond the trails and wildlife, Crowley sits within a landscape shaped by millions of years of geological processes. Here's what researchers and surveys have documented about this area.
Bedrock Geology
- Rock Type
- Permian sedimentary rocks
- Formation
- Kaibab Formation; Toroweap Formation; Coconino Sandstone
- Lithology
- Major:{sandstone,limestone}, Minor:{chert}
- Age
- Permian
Fossils
- Fossil Occurrences
- 187
- Unique Species
- 108
- Oldest
- 382.3 million years ago
Mineral Deposits
- Deposit Sites
- 96
- Richness
- Exceptional
- Minerals Found
- Volcanic Materials, Pumice, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Limestone, General, Perlite, Uranium
Endangered Species
- Species at Risk
- 1478
- ESA Endangered
- 29
- ESA Threatened
- 16
- Conservation Score
- 100/100
Temperature Records
- Record High
- 102°F (2021-07-11)
- Record Low
- -37°F (1963-01-12)
Wildfire History
This area has a relatively low wildfire risk, but always follow posted fire regulations.
- Recorded Fires
- 171
- Largest Fire
- Pipeline (26,532.4 acres)
- Most Recent
- 9999
- Fire Risk
- Extreme
Caves & Karst Features
- Feature Types
- Carbonate rocks at or near the land surface in a humid climate
- Karst Score
- 40
Watershed
- Watershed
- Lower Rio de Flag
- Water Quality (Good)
- 0%
- Impaired
- 0%
Reported Phenomena
- UFO Sightings
- 38 (NUFORC)
- Bigfoot Reports
- 5 (BFRO)
- Haunted Places
- 8 (Shadowlands)
- Eeriness Score
- 100/100
Crowley, Coconino Safety & Conditions
The weather data above tells you what's typical — these links tell you what's happening right now.
Before visiting Crowley, verify current conditions through these authoritative sources.
Coordinates: 35.38201, -111.7864