I have an external antenna placed on my RV roof for better internet reception. Videos take a bit longer to load, so it’s not the fastest service I’ve had. Verizon mobile broadband internet is consistently fast, usually 2-3 bars. I did see a golden eagle and a deer on Elden Mountain.Ĭell Signal: Verizon cell phone service is great. What I have seen are squirrels, cottontail rabbits, swifts, a couple hawks, and a few other birds. Wildlife: Due to the traffic, noise, and reduced vegetation there isn’t as much wildlife here. I’ve had no rain yet, except for a couple sprinkles.

It’s been quite calm the last few days with clouds rolling in. The wind hasn’t been too bad just breezy now and then. At night, it only drops down into the 60s. Highs have been in the 80s, with a few days reaching the low 90s. The ponderosa pines are stunted here due to the drier conditions. All this black volcanic rock really absorbs the sunshine, making temps go up. It seems my last campsite, west of Flagstaff, was the coldest. Weather: This must be the warmest place to camp near Flagstaff. Many of the less traveled roads here among the cinders are impossible to bike as bike tires easily sink into the loose cinders. You can also bike west across Highway 89 to San Francisco Mountain. From it you can get to FR 545 and Sunset Crater National Monument, and also to Strawberry Crater Wilderness. Forest Road 776 is a good road for biking and receives only light traffic. There are plenty of cinder hills (extinct volcanoes) to explore. The OHV area is quite large so you wouldn’t run into dirt bikes and ATVs too often, unless it’s a weekend or holiday. Hiking and Biking: Hiking is difficult – it’s sort of like hiking in sand here. There are many excellent hiking trails on these mountains, including a few that are popular for mountain biking. There are a few short single track hiking/biking trails on top of this hill.įrancisco Mountain, or Elden Mountain. This campsite is right next to the OHV area boundary and near a hill that has a great view of Elden Mountain and San Francisco Mountain. It’s more private and quiet being away from the majority of traffic.

This is a much better campsite, though it doesn’t have a view of Cinder Lake like Campsite 1. Take this road ¼ mile to the campsite next to the ponderosa pines on the right. You’ll see a road on your right that follows the tree line. Follow FR 776 about 1 ¼ miles to the Cinder Lake, a large treeless expanse of black cinders. GPS Coordinates: N 35 19.471’ W 111 31.512’ĭirections: From Flagstaff take Highway 89 north about 8 miles then turn right (east) on FR 776.

You can easily get stuck in the loose cinders. There is much to see nearby including Sunset Crater National Monument (directly north of the OHV Area), San Francisco Mountain (the highest mountain in the Arizona), and Elden Mountain.Ĭaution: If you have 2 wheel drive, be very careful that you don’t go off any paths that aren’t packed down. The Cinder Hills are located northeast of Flagstaff in the Coconino National Forest. I've even seen equestrians out here, which is fitting, as a horse is the ultimate go anywhere vehicle! Finding a spot to park the RV is easy - you can pretty much camp anywhere among the cinders.

It's the ultimate playground for off-road vehicles. The Cinder Hills OHV Area is the place to camp if you've got a dirt bike, ATV, jeep, or dune buggy.

Flagstaff cinders