OBSERVATORY MESA NATURAL AREA
OBSERVATORY MESA NATURAL AREA Flagstaff Observatory Tank along Forest Road 515 Wavyleaf thistle and guests Allow me to introduce A-1 Mountain, ruler of magma, queen of ashes and Mother of the Mesa. This dramatic introduction�admittedly inspired by a certain fantasy franchise�is an accurate description of the 300,000-year-old cinder cone located on the urban-forest interface west of Flagstaff. A-1 Mountain is the source of volcanic materials that built Observatory Mesa and other nearby geological features. Rising to 8,300 feet, the pine-cloaked mound is just one of many visual goodies dished out to visitors of the Observatory Mesa Natural Area. A-1 Mountain is a 300,000 -year-old cinder cone volcano The 2,251-acre site was acquired by the City of Flagstaff in 2013 to preserve native ecosystems and an essential wildlife corridor while allowing for recreation. Rich in biodiversity, the landscape is a mix of pine-oak woodlands, grasslands, shrubby range, tiny drainage areas and...