Forest Lakes, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Forest Lakes, Arizona
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Ponderosa forest near Forest Lakes, AZ
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Location in Coconino County and the state of Arizona
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 Forest Lakes, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Forest Lakes, Arizona
Location in the United States
Forest Lakes, Arizona
Location in North America
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arizona |
| County | Coconino |
| Settled | 1939 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 27.29 km2 (10.54 sq mi) |
| • Land | 27.29 km2 (10.54 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0.00 km2 (0.00 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,311 m (7,582 ft) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 155 |
| • Density | 5.68/km2 (14.71/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST (no DST)) |
| ZIP code |
85931
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| Area code(s) | 928 |
| FIPS code | 04-24125 |
| GNIS ID(s) | 2805230 |
Forest Lakes is a small community in Coconino County. It is located in the northern part of the state of Arizona. This area is not officially a city or town, but a "census-designated place" (CDP).
Forest Lakes sits on the edge of the Mogollon Rim. This is a large cliff that stretches across Arizona. The community is very close to several lakes in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. It gets its name from the many forests and lakes nearby.
Contents
History of Forest Lakes
The Forest Lakes area started in 1939. The Denison family began mining for a metal called manganese here. The United States government needed a lot of this metal. This kept the mining going strong into the 1960s.
After that, the family started logging (cutting down trees) to earn money. In May 1964, the land was divided into smaller pieces. This created the first Forest Lakes Estates neighborhood. A group called the Forest Lakes Owners Association was also formed.
Many new lakes were built in the area for fun activities. This made more people want to buy vacation homes here. So, 10 more neighborhoods were added. The last one was created in May 1969.
The Rodeo-Chediski Fire
On June 18, 2002, a large fire started near Cibecue. Someone had purposely started it. This fire was called the Rodeo Fire. It quickly grew very large, covering about 10,000 acres. At first, it was not a danger to Forest Lakes.
Two days later, on June 20, another fire started. A hiker who was lost set a signal fire to get help. News helicopters were flying overhead because of the Rodeo Fire. The hiker was rescued, but their signal fire grew out of control. This new fire was called the Chediski Fire. It was much closer to Forest Lakes, about 14 miles away.
On June 22, the two fires joined together. They moved north, threatening several towns. These included Show Low and Heber-Overgaard. Forest Lakes was also in danger. Everyone in Forest Lakes had to leave their homes that afternoon. The fire came very close, within half a mile of Forest Lakes, on June 28. But firefighters worked hard to protect the community. No homes in Forest Lakes were damaged.
Geography and Climate
Forest Lakes covers an area of about 3 miles from north to south and 2 miles from east to west. Most of this land is part of the national forest. The main neighborhood, Forest Lakes Estates, is about 1.89 square miles.
Weather in Forest Lakes
Forest Lakes has a "Highland Continental climate". This means it has clear seasons with warm summers and cold winters.
- In July, the average high temperature is 80°F. The average low is 50°F.
- In January, the average high is 43°F. The average low is 14°F.
- Forest Lakes gets about 19 inches of rain each year. Most of this rain falls during the Monsoon season, from July to September.
- The area also gets about 31 inches of snow on average.
Community Life
Forest Lakes is a small community. In 2020, about 155 people lived there. The area is mostly made up of quiet, rural forest lands.
Many people who live in Forest Lakes are retired. Tourism is also important for the local economy. People visit to enjoy the outdoors. Businesses in the area provide services for the people who live there and for tourists.
Fun Outdoors
Just south of Forest Lakes is the Mogollon Rim. This is a very steep cliff that is 1,000 to 2,000 feet high. The Rim offers amazing views. It also has many man-made lakes that are great for fishing.
You can also go hunting for animals like elk, deer, and turkey. Fishing in the nearby trout streams is very popular. There are places for picnics and camping too.
Other beautiful spots nearby include:
- Black Canyon Lake
- Willow Springs Lake
- Woods Canyon Lake
- Chevelon Canyon Lake
- The Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery
- The Fort Apache Indian Reservation
Education
Students from Forest Lakes go to schools in the nearby town of Heber-Overgaard. These schools include:
- Mountain Meadows Primary School
- Capps Middle School
- Mogollon Junior High School
- Mogollon High School
About 551 students attend these schools in total.
Getting Around
The Mountain Valley Shuttle bus service stops in Forest Lakes. This shuttle travels between Phoenix and Show Low.
Nearby Places
