Photo: Coconino National Forest / Public domain

Day Use Areas 7,217 ft Bortle 3 Solitude: 95/100 (remote)

Dairy Springs Amphitheater in Arizona offers a secluded day use area with decent scenery and diverse wildlife. Spring through fall visits are pleasant in this mild climate averaging 47°F annually.

Near Mormon Lake, AZ in Arizona

What to Pack for Dairy Springs Amphitheater, Coconino

Being properly equipped turns potential hazards into manageable situations.

This packing list is tailored to the Forest environment and Temperate at Dairy Springs Amphitheater.

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.

Climate Gear

Insulated layers — Body heat escapes rapidly when you stop moving; an insulated layer traps warmth during breaks and at camp.
Hand warmers — Cold fingers lose dexterity fast, making it harder to operate zippers, buckles, and navigation devices when you need them most.
Thermos — A hot drink on a cold trail restores core temperature and morale faster than any other comfort item.

Terrain Gear

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 Dairy Springs Amphitheater, Coconino

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

The terrain here lends itself to photography, picnicking, soaking — activities that match the Forest environment.

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

Activities

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.
soaking — Relax in natural hot springs or designated soaking pools surrounded by scenic views.
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: Forest — Forests are dominated by dense tree cover, layered canopies, and shaded understories. Ground conditions vary from leaf litter to mossy soils, with limited visibility off trail.

Wildlife Safety at Dairy Springs Amphitheater, Coconino

Part of visiting responsibly is understanding the wildlife safety considerations for this area.

The wildlife safety profile at Dairy Springs Amphitheater includes venomous snakes — here's what to know about each.

Danger rating: 30/100 (based on terrain difficulty, wildlife presence, weather exposure, and remoteness) moderate

Mountain lions
Venomous snakes
Remote (109mi from city)

Altitude risk: mild

UV risk: high (Southern latitude (35N), Elevated (7,217ft), Forest canopy (shade))

Photo score: 55/100

Good dark sky (Bortle 3)
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 Dairy Springs Amphitheater, Coconino

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

The natural world around Dairy Springs Amphitheater reflects its Forest setting — overhead, Arizona mariposa lily and Woods' rose at your feet, and wildlife throughout.

Wildflowers (2)

Arizona mariposa lily — White to pale pink petals with deep purple markings.
Woods' rose — Pink five-petaled flowers with yellow centers.

Shrubs (2)

Fourwing Saltbush — Foliage often appears silvery due to salt excretion.
fernbush — Foliage has a strong resinous scent when crushed.

Other Plants (5)

Spinystar
Kingcup Cactus
Whipple Cholla
western blue flag
Green Ephedra

Mammals (13)

Pronghorn — A slender tan-and-white ungulate with distinctive black facial markings.
Wapiti — Also known as elk, this large deer has a tan body with dark neck and pale rump patch.
Gunnison's Prairie Dog — A stout, burrowing rodent with tan to brown fur and short tail.
American Bison — A massive, hump-shouldered bovine with shaggy dark brown fur.
White-tailed Antelope Squirrel — A small desert squirrel with tan fur and white stripe along sides.

Birds (30)

House Sparrow — Male with gray crown and black bib
Great-tailed Grackle — Glossy black male with long tail
Hooded Merganser — Male with large white crest
Brewer's Sparrow — Plain gray-brown plumage
Black-throated Sparrow — Bold black throat patch

Reptiles (11)

Plateau Fence Lizard — A medium lizard with spiny scales and gray to brown coloration.
Eastern Collared Lizard — A colorful lizard with two black collar bands around the neck.
Common Side-blotched Lizard — A small slender lizard with mottled brown or gray coloration.
Prairie Rattlesnake — A tan to greenish rattlesnake with dark oval blotches along the back.
Greater Short-horned Lizard — A stout-bodied lizard with short horns on the back of the head.

Amphibians (4)

Northern Leopard Frog
Arizona Tree Frog
Boreal Chorus Frog
Mexican Spadefoot

Insects (4)

Megetra vittata
Painted Lady
Convergent Lady Beetle
White-lined Sphinx

Fungi (1)

Fly Agaric

Other Wildlife (2)

Diablo Mountainsnail
Common Desert Centipede

Nature Bingo at Dairy Springs Amphitheater, Coconino

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

Wildlife Challenge

Common Raven (bird)
Pronghorn (mammal)
Plateau Fence Lizard (reptile)
Northern Leopard Frog (amphibian)
Spinystar (plant)

Botany Challenge

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

Dairy Springs Amphitheater, Coconino Climate & Sun

Reference data: temperatures, precipitation, and daylight hours by month.

The climate at Dairy Springs Amphitheater peaks for outdoor activity during May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, when temperatures average °F.

Climate type: Temperate

Annual avg temp: 47°F

Annual precipitation: 29.8 in

With an average annual temperature of 47°F and 29.8 inches of precipitation, Dairy Springs Amphitheater has cool, moderate rainfall conditions. Summer highs average around 66°F, while winter lows drop to 31°F.

Best months to visit: May, Jun, Jul, Sep. Consider avoiding: Jan, Dec.

Winter 31°

4.0"

Spring 43°

1.5"

Summer 66°

2.3"

Fall 49°

1.9"

Month	Avg Temp	Precip
Jan	31°F	4.0 in
Feb	33°F	3.9 in
Mar	38°F	3.5 in
Apr	43°F	1.5 in
May	51°F	1.0 in
Jun	61°F	0.3 in
Jul	66°F	2.3 in
Aug	64°F	3.5 in
Sep	59°F	2.1 in
Oct	49°F	1.9 in
Nov	39°F	2.2 in
Dec	31°F	3.6 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 – 7:40 PM

Winter: 7:26 AM – 5:15 PM

Winter Solstice: Sunrise 7:26 AM, Sunset 5:15 PM Golden hour from 4:36 PM

Summer Solstice: Sunrise 5:11 AM, Sunset 7:40 PM Golden hour from 7:03 PM

Spring Equinox: Sunrise 6:38 AM, Sunset 6:32 PM Golden hour from 5:59 PM

Fall Equinox: Sunrise 6:07 AM, Sunset 6:34 PM Golden hour from 6:01 PM

Dairy Springs Amphitheater, Coconino Trip Planning & Access

Here's the practical side of visiting Dairy Springs Amphitheater.

Whether it's a day trip or weekend getaway from Phoenix, here's what visiting Dairy Springs Amphitheater involves.

Nearest city: Phoenix (109 mi)

Estimated fuel cost: $27.35 (28 mpg, $3.5/gallon)

Carbon footprint: 88.4 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 Dairy Springs Amphitheater, Coconino

The area around Dairy Springs Amphitheater has plenty more to offer.

The proximity of 16 other outdoor spots makes this area ideal for multi-day exploration.

Stargazing & Night Sky at Dairy Springs Amphitheater, Coconino

After a day outdoors, the evening sky here is worth a look.

Under the Bortle class 3 skies at Dairy Springs Amphitheater, you can expect to see 2 major constellations and constellations and bright planets.

Bortle 3 Rural sky

Constellations

From Dairy Springs Amphitheater, 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 Dairy Springs Amphitheater, Coconino

The time of year you visit changes what you'll see and do.

Knowing what each season brings helps you plan the best possible visit to Dairy Springs Amphitheater.

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 Dairy Springs Amphitheater, Coconino

Before planning your trip, it's worth recognizing the Indigenous peoples connected to this land.

For thousands of years, this land has been cared for by Hopitutskwa, Pueblos, Ndee/Nnēē: (Western Apache) and their ancestors.

Territories

Languages

Indigenous languages connected to this territory include Dilzhę́’é (North), Hopilavayi.

Data from Native Land Digital

Dairy Springs Amphitheater, Coconino Geology & Natural History

Beyond the trails and wildlife, Dairy Springs Amphitheater 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: Pliocene to late Miocene basaltic rocks
Lithology: Major:{basalt}
Age: Neogene

Fossils

Fossil Occurrences: 5
Unique Species: 5
Oldest: 283.3 million years ago

Mineral Deposits

Deposit Sites: 26
Richness: Moderate
Minerals Found: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Volcanic Materials, Pumice, Stone, Crushed/Broken

Endangered Species

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

Temperature Records

Record High: 114°F (2005-07-18)
Record Low: -35°F (1979-01-30)

Wildfire History

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

Recorded Fires: 100
Largest Fire: Snake Ridge (15,333.3 acres)
Most Recent: 2024
Fire Risk: Extreme

Watershed

Watershed: Lower Woods Canyon
Water Quality (Good): 0%
Impaired: 0%

Reported Phenomena

UFO Sightings: 63 (NUFORC)
Bigfoot Reports: 2 (BFRO)
Eeriness Score: 46/100

Dairy Springs Amphitheater, Coconino Safety & Conditions

The weather data above tells you what's typical — these links tell you what's happening right now.

Safety starts with current information. These resources cover real-time conditions near Dairy Springs Amphitheater.

Flood zone: Not in a flood zone

Nearest weather station: MUNDS PARK 0.3 ESE, AZ US (8.47 mi)