Photo: davidpinter / CC BY 3.0

Fishing 7,582 ft Bortle 4 Solitude: 70/100 (secluded)

Fish Your National Forests -this site can be accessed by passenger car Fish available include trout and panfish Types of fishing available include: Shore, motorized boat, float tube, fly, spin, bait, and ice A Boat Launch is available at this site

Near Young, AZ in Arizona

What to Pack for Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site, Coconino

Given these conditions, here's what to pack for a safe and comfortable visit.

Based on the terrain, climate, and wildlife at Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site, here's what to bring.

Essential

Water (minimum 2L) — Dehydration impairs judgment and endurance long before you feel thirsty; 2L is the minimum for a moderate day hike.
Navigation (map/GPS/compass) — Phone batteries die, cell service disappears, and trail signs get vandalized; a paper map and compass always work.
Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen) — UV exposure intensifies at elevation and near reflective surfaces like water and snow; sunburn can happen in under 30 minutes.
First aid kit — Blisters, cuts, and sprains happen on even the easiest trails; basic supplies let you treat problems before they force a retreat.
Extra food — A wrong turn or unexpected storm can extend any outing by hours; extra calories prevent fatigue and poor decision-making.
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.
Fire starter — Hypothermia can set in even during summer at higher elevations; a reliable fire starter provides warmth and a signal for rescuers.
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.
Knife or multi-tool — From cutting cord to preparing food to improvising gear repairs, a knife is the most versatile tool you can carry.
Extra clothing layer — Mountain weather can shift from sunshine to sleet within an hour; an extra layer prevents dangerous heat loss.

Wildlife Gear

Hiking buddy (avoid solo) — Groups of three or more are almost never involved in serious bear incidents; larger groups make more noise and appear more intimidating.
Noise maker — Clapping, whistling, or using an air horn warns wildlife of your approach, preventing surprise encounters on blind corners.
Gaiters — Snake-proof gaiters provide a physical barrier against venomous bites below the knee, where most strikes occur.
First-aid snakebite kit — While evacuation to a hospital is the priority, a snakebite kit helps you stay calm and follow proper first-aid protocols.

Terrain Gear

Wide-brim hat — A wide brim shades your face, ears, and neck simultaneously, reducing UV exposure and lowering heat stroke risk.
Sunscreen SPF50+ — Reflected UV from water, sand, and snow can burn exposed skin even on overcast days; SPF50+ blocks 98% of UVB rays.
Extra water (desert) — Desert water sources are unreliable and often seasonal; carry all the water you need rather than counting on finding more.
SPF50 lip balm — Lips lack melanin and burn faster than other skin; cracked, sunburned lips at altitude are painful and slow to heal.

Seasonal Gear

Spring: Camera, Wildflower field guide
Fall: Camera, Binoculars (foliage viewing)
Winter: Microspikes/traction devices

Activities & Best Time to Visit Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site, Coconino

The Desert terrain here lends itself to a range of outdoor activities throughout the year.

Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site supports 10 outdoor activities, with boating being the most popular draw.

Photographers rate this area 55/100, with Good dark sky (Bortle 4) and 3 excellent meteor showers being a major draw.

Activities

boating — Explore lakes, rivers, or coastal waters by motorboat or sailboat.
fishing — Cast a line in lakes, rivers, or coastal waters in pursuit of local fish species.
hiking — Follow marked trails through forests, deserts, or alpine terrain for a deeper connection with nature.
ice_fishing — Drill through frozen lakes to fish beneath the ice during winter.
ice_skating — Glide across frozen ponds or maintained outdoor rinks during winter months.
photography — Capture landscapes, wildlife, and changing light across trails, coastlines, and mountain vistas.
picnicking — Spread a blanket, unpack a meal, and enjoy food outdoors surrounded by fresh air and open views.
swimming — Cool off in designated lakes, rivers, or ocean beaches during warm weather.
walking — A simple way to explore trails, shorelines, and park paths at your own pace while taking in the scenery.
wildlife_viewing — Observe animals in their natural habitats, from grazing deer to soaring raptors overhead.

Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Terrain: Desert — Desert terrain features sparse vegetation, exposed soils, and wide temperature swings between day and night.

Wildlife Safety at Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site, Coconino

While the wildlife here is part of the experience, some species require caution and preparation.

With a danger score of 25/10, Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site has a few wildlife hazards worth preparing for.

Danger rating: 25/100 (based on terrain difficulty, wildlife presence, weather exposure, and remoteness) moderate

Mountain lions
Venomous snakes
Far from city (89mi)

Altitude risk: mild

UV risk: extreme (Southern latitude (34N), Elevated (7,582ft), Desert (exposed))

Photo score: 55/100

Good dark sky (Bortle 4)
3 excellent meteor showers
Fall foliage
Spring wildflowers

Venomous Snakes

Venomous snakes here include . They're most active during warm months.

Watch where you step and place hands
Stay on trails
Wear boots and long pants in snake country
Do not reach under rocks or logs
If bitten: stay calm, immobilize limb, seek medical help immediately
Do NOT: cut wound, suck venom, apply tourniquet, ice, or alcohol

Nature & Wildlife at Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site, Coconino

The Desert terrain here supports a rich ecosystem worth noticing as you explore.

Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site sits within a Desert ecosystem home to 1 documented mammal species and 30 bird species.

Trees (1)

Arizona sycamore — It grows along streams in desert and canyon environments.

Wildflowers (4)

purple owl's-clover — Dense spikes of purple-tipped bracts.
pinkflower hedgehog cactus — Clumping cylindrical stems with dense spines.
California poppy — Bright orange cup-shaped flowers with silky petals.
Coulter's lupine — The plant grows in open disturbed soils.

Shrubs (3)

Brittlebush — A rounded desert shrub with silvery fuzzy leaves and bright yellow daisy-like flowers.
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus — The plant rarely exceeds a foot tall but can spread outward in mounded colonies. Its vivid blooms contrast sharply against arid landscapes.
Sonoran scrub oak — Acorns are small and mature in a single season.

Other Plants (5)

saguaro
Buckhorn Cholla
jojoba
Panamint liveforever
ocotillo

Mammals (1)

White-tailed Deer — Reddish-brown in summer and grayish in winter with a bright white underside to the tail.

Birds (30)

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 (7)

Ornate Tree Lizard — A small spiny lizard with gray to brown coloration and subtle patterning.
Plateau Fence Lizard — A medium lizard with spiny scales and gray to brown coloration.
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake — A heavy-bodied rattlesnake with bold diamond-shaped dorsal blotches.
Common Side-blotched Lizard — A small slender lizard with mottled brown or gray coloration.
Greater Short-horned Lizard — A stout-bodied lizard with short horns on the back of the head.

Amphibians (3)

Canyon Tree Frog
Red-spotted Toad
Lowland Leopard Frog

Insects (6)

Pipevine Swallowtail
Queen
Marine Blue
Gray Buckeye
Dainty Sulphur

Other Wildlife (1)

Desert Blonde Tarantula

Nature Bingo at Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site, Coconino

Can you spot them all? Check off each species as you find it on your visit.

Wildlife Challenge

Black-throated Gray Warbler (bird)
White-tailed Deer (mammal)
Ornate Tree Lizard (reptile)
Canyon Tree Frog (amphibian)
saguaro (plant)

Botany Challenge

Achnatherum Pinetorum
Aquilegia Coerulea Var. Pinetorum
Arabis Holboellii Var. Pinetorum
Asclepias Engelmanniana
Echinocereus Engelmannii
Almutaster

Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site, Coconino Climate & Sun

For detailed planning, here's the climate data for this area.

The climate at Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site averages 50.1°F annually, with Temperate conditions.

Climate type: Temperate

Annual avg temp: 50.1°F

Annual precipitation: 33.3 in

With an average annual temperature of 50.1°F and 33.3 inches of precipitation, Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site has mild, moderate rainfall conditions. Summer highs average around 69°F, while winter lows drop to 34°F.

Best months to visit: May, Jun, Sep, Oct.

Winter 34°

4.6"

Spring 46°

1.4"

Summer 69°

3.4"

Fall 52°

1.7"

Month	Avg Temp	Precip
Jan	34°F	4.6 in
Feb	36°F	4.2 in
Mar	41°F	3.7 in
Apr	46°F	1.4 in
May	55°F	1.0 in
Jun	65°F	0.3 in
Jul	69°F	3.4 in
Aug	67°F	4.1 in
Sep	62°F	2.3 in
Oct	52°F	1.7 in
Nov	42°F	2.3 in
Dec	34°F	4.3 in

Daylight & Sun Times

Daylight ranges from 9.9 hours in winter to 14.4 hours in summer — a difference of 4.5 hours.

Summer: 5:10 AM – 7:36 PM

Winter: 7:22 AM – 5:15 PM

Winter Solstice: Sunrise 7:22 AM, Sunset 5:15 PM Golden hour from 4:36 PM

Summer Solstice: Sunrise 5:10 AM, Sunset 7:36 PM Golden hour from 6:59 PM

Spring Equinox: Sunrise 6:36 AM, Sunset 6:30 PM Golden hour from 5:57 PM

Fall Equinox: Sunrise 6:05 AM, Sunset 6:32 PM Golden hour from 5:59 PM

Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site, Coconino Trip Planning & Access

Planning your trip to Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site — here's the practical information you'll need.

The nearest major city to Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site is Phoenix, about 89 miles away.

Nearest city: Phoenix (89 mi)

Estimated fuel cost: $22.26 (28 mpg, $3.5/gallon)

Carbon footprint: 71.9 kg CO2 (round trip by car)

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: Good starting point
Accessibility: Generally accessible to most visitors (95/100)

Places Near Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site, Coconino

There's more to explore in this part of Arizona.

There are 12 outdoor destinations within easy reach of Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site.

Nearby Trails

Meadow Trail, Coconino 0.1 mi
Woods Canyon Nature Trail, Coconino 0.12 mi
Woods Canyon Lake Connector, Coconino 0.26 mi
Woods Canyon Lake Trail, Coconino 0.26 mi
Woods Canyon Nature Trail Conn, Coconino 0.51 mi

Nearby Campgrounds

Spillway Group Cg Campground, Coconino 0.32 mi
Aspen Cg Campground, Coconino 0.47 mi
Aspen (az) Campground, Coconino 0.47 mi
Woods Canyon Lake Group Campground, Coconino 0.51 mi
Spillway (az) Campground, Coconino 0.55 mi

Stargazing & Night Sky at Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site, Coconino

Once you're geared up and settled in, the night sky here offers its own rewards.

The skies above Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site register a Bortle class 4, making this a Rural/suburban transition location for stargazing.

Bortle 4 Rural/suburban transition

Constellations

From Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site, you can trace Ursa Minor, Cepheus across the sky on clear nights.

Ursa Minor — Home to Polaris, the North Star, Ursa Minor forms a small dipper shape that circles the northern sky year-round.
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.

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.
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.
Perseids — peaks August 11-13 (excellent)
A summer favorite with warm nighttime viewing; look northeast after 10 PM.
Eta Aquariids — peaks May 5-6 (good)
Best seen before dawn in the southeastern sky as Aquarius rises.
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:

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 Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site, Coconino

The sky isn't the only thing that changes with the seasons at Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site.

The seasons shape the experience at Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site — here's what each one brings.

Spring Wildflowers

Peak bloom: March - April

Check local park websites for bloom reports

Fall Foliage

Peak color: October 15 – November 5

Best trees for color: Maple, Oak, Aspen

Higher elevations peak 1-2 weeks earlier

Bird Migration

Spring peak: March - April

Fall peak: October - November

Best spots: Wetlands, coastlines, mountain ridges

Indigenous Land at Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site, Coconino

This area sits on land with a deep human history that predates modern recreation.

Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site sits on the traditional lands of Hopitutskwa, Pueblos, Ndee/Nnēē: (Western Apache).

Territories

Languages

Indigenous languages connected to this territory include Dilzhę́’é (South).

Dilzhę́’é (South)

Data from Native Land Digital

Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site, Coconino Geology & Natural History

Beyond the trails and wildlife, Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site 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: 1
Unique Species: 1
Oldest: 283.3 million years ago

Mineral Deposits

Deposit Sites: 20
Richness: Moderate
Minerals Found: Manganese, Iron, Barium-Barite, Fire Clay (Refractory), Kaolin, Clay, Silica, Sand and Gravel

Endangered Species

Species at Risk: 1478
ESA Endangered: 29
ESA Threatened: 16
Conservation Score: 100/100

Temperature Records

Record High: 96°F (2005-07-12)
Record Low: -22°F (1949-01-04)

Wildfire History

This area has a relatively low wildfire risk, but always follow posted fire regulations.

Recorded Fires: 172
Largest Fire: Dudley (20,116.7 acres)
Most Recent: 2024
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: Upper Wildcat Canyon
Water Quality (Good): 0%
Impaired: 0%

Reported Phenomena

Bigfoot Reports: 5 (BFRO)
Eeriness Score: 30/100

Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site, Coconino Safety & Conditions

Before heading out, check these real-time safety resources for current conditions.

Check current conditions at Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating Site before heading out using these official sources.

Flood zone: Not in a flood zone

Nearest weather station: PLEASANT VALLEY, AZ US (16.15 mi)