Big Springs, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Big Springs, Arizona
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Big Springs Cabin and Pond, USFS
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 Big Springs, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Big Springs, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Coconino |
| Elevation | 6,949 ft (2,118 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| Area code(s) | 928 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1379 |
Big Springs is a small, undeveloped area in Coconino County, Arizona, United States. It's known as an unincorporated community, which means it's a place with a group of homes or buildings but no official local government like a town or city.
Big Springs is located inside the huge Kaibab National Forest. This forest is a beautiful natural area in northern Arizona. The community is about 10.8 miles (17.4 km) southwest of a place called Jacob Lake.
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What is Big Springs?
Big Springs is not a busy town. Instead, it's a quiet spot often used by the United States Forest Service. This agency manages national forests and grasslands. They use Big Springs as a summer base for their teams.
The buildings at Big Springs help the Forest Service do their important work. These include cabins for crews, a shower house, a cafeteria, a barn, and a house for staff.
Important Buildings and History
Near Big Springs, you can find two very important historical buildings:
- The Big Springs Lookout Tower
- The Big Springs Ranger Station
Both of these buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized for their special historical value. They tell a story about how people used to manage and protect the forests.
What is a Lookout Tower?
A lookout tower is a tall structure, usually in a forest, where someone can watch for wildfires. From the top, a person called a "fire lookout" can see for many miles. If they spot smoke, they can quickly report it so firefighters can put out the fire before it spreads.
What is a Ranger Station?
A ranger station is a building or group of buildings where forest rangers work. Rangers are like the guardians of the forest. They help manage the land, protect wildlife, and assist visitors. A ranger station is their office and often a place where they live.
What Happens at Big Springs Today?
The Forest Service uses Big Springs for several key activities, especially during the warmer months:
- Surveys: Teams might stay here while they are studying plants, animals, or the land itself in the surrounding forest.
- Firefighting: Big Springs acts as a base for firefighters. When there's a wildfire in the Kaibab National Forest, crews can gather here, get supplies, and rest before heading out to fight the blaze.
This makes Big Springs a vital spot for protecting the natural beauty and safety of the Kaibab National Forest.
Gallery
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Crew cabins in 1970.
