We had a chance to catch up with, Monty Lambert at Lyman Lake State Park who shared insights on hiking trails, popular activities and Lyman Lake State Park camping. Read below for some great information on the park and things to do in the area.
Monty’s Favorite Thing To Do In The Park
Hike the Petroglyph Trail. It is a moderately challenging trail with a gradual incline leading to a group of pictures carved into the rocks 700 to 1000 years ago by ancestors of the Hopi people. The trail is only 1/4 mile long but one can easily spend time exploring the little side trails leading to various petroglyphs scattered around the area.
Monty’s Favorite Campsite
Choosing just one site number 14 has a nice view.
Lyman State Park
When was Lyman Lake State Park founded? How did it start?
Lyman Lake was created in in 1922 when a dam was created to provide a reservoir for irrigation. Lyman Lake State Park was dedicated on July 1st, 1961 and allowed the water to be used for recreational purposes.
What are the most popular activities in the park??
Lyman lake is unique in the way that it is a quiet park where you can escape the heat of the lower part of the state and relax without large groups and noise. There are a lot of things to do in the park. The most popular activities usually consist of being on the lake, boating or fishing. Many people also come for the great camping numerous hiking trails.
Where is the park located? What are some other attractions in the area worth checking out?
The park is located between Springerville and St. Johns where highways 191 and 180 share a common stretch of road. The local areas of interest are the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert national park, Casa Malpais Ruins and a number of trout lakes.
Which one of those is your favorite?
I enjoy the trip through the Petrified Forest and then traveling on up to Canyon De Chelly.
Does the park have group camping sites?
Lyman Lake has a reservable Group Use area that has 12 campsites with electric, water and sewer. A meeting room with tables and chairs looks out over the lake. An adjoining patio with tables and barbeque area makes it easy to feed a large group. A ramada that sets on the overlook of the point makes a nice area for a wedding ceremony or just enjoying the sunset. A swimming cove and a dock are also part of the area.
What type of campsites does Lyman Lake State Park have?
Lyman Lake State Park offers many camping options with 4 one-room log cabins overlooking the lake, Yurts and 61 RV and tent camping sites. The cabins can sleep up to 6 and are equipped with a table, electricity, heat and air. They also have a picnic table and charcoal grill outside for cooking.
For a unique camping experience at Lyman Lake stay in a Yurt. They can be found throughout the park and are circular, lockable, domed tents with a canvas shell, an open floor plan, and a skylight. They come equipped with 2 futons, electricity, table and chairs. The outside provides a picnic table and charcoal grill.
Lyman Lake State park also offers RV and tent camping with 61 sites. 38 have electrical hook ups while the final 23 do not. There are some really great sites to choose from and is a popular place to camp.
