Arizona · Hiking · Near Kachina Village

Bismarck Lake

Bismarck LakePhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)
2.1 mi
round trip
309 ft
climb
8,889 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jul, Sep
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 9 h ago

Is Bismarck Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Coconino National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Coconino National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Bismarck Lake is an easy hike of about 2 miles on natural trail in the Flagstaff Ranger District of Coconino National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back that gains about 310 feet, with the low point at 8,580 feet and the high at 8,889 feet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Ft Valley show May highs around 71°F and October highs around 66°F, while July and August bring the most wet days. The Bismarck Lake Trailhead Access is about 0.6 miles away, and the Domingo Tank Trail is about 1.5 miles off. The Arizona Trail-Snow Bowl Connector and the Aspen Nature Loop are both within about 2.5 miles.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Hart's Prairie

    Campground

    Campground · 2.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    McDonald's

    Fast food

    On your way back · 10 mi · Open after 6
  • If it rains

    Museum of Northern Arizona Research Center

    Museum

    On your way back · 10 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Kachina Village

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Jul, Sep

    Best time to visit Bismarck Lake

    Best months: May–July and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      46° / 17°

      8 wet

    2. Feb

      48° / 20°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      54° / 24°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      62° / 27°

      5 wet

    5. May

      71° / 33°

      4 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 40°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 49°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 49°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 41°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      66° / 30°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      55° / 23°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      46° / 16°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ft Valley, AZ, 6.6 mi away at 7,347 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Bismarck Lake Trailhead AccessPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Bismarck Lake Trailhead Access

~1 min drive

1.3-mile out-and-back trail to Bismarck Lake with 105 ft elevation gain in Arizona.

HIKE

Humphreys Summit Trail #151

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AbineauPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Abineau

~6 min drive

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Bear JawPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Bear Jaw

~6 min drive

4.64-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 1,158 ft elevation gain.

Domingo Tank TrailPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Domingo Tank Trail

~3 min drive

1.9-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 496 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Humphreys Peak

~5 min drive

8.85-mile out-and-back trail to Humphreys Peak in Arizona gains 3,212 feet.

Rocky MotoPhoto: InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rocky Moto

~10 min drive

7.70-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 445 ft elevation gain.

Inner Basin Trail #29Photo: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Inner Basin Trail #29

~9 min drive

4.14-mile lollipop trail in Arizona with 2,327 ft gain.

Arizona Trail-Snow Bowl ConnectorPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Arizona Trail-Snow Bowl Connector

~4 min drive

1.12-mile out-and-back trail with 341 ft elevation gain in Arizona.

HIKE

Kendrick Mountain Trail

~13 min drive

8.54-mile out-and-back hike on Kendrick Mountain Trail in Arizona with 2,666 ft gain.