Nestled among Arizona’s sprawling deserts, towering pine forests, and rugged canyons, tales of a mysterious creature known as the Mogollon Monster have persisted for decades. Arizona Bigfoot sightings, totaling approximately 85 according to the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO), paint a vivid picture of encounters with a towering, hairy biped, often described as 7–8 feet tall with reddish-brown or dark fur, a musky odor, and piercing eyes that gleam in the twilight.
These sightings, concentrated along the Mogollon Rim in Coconino County and scattered across Apache, Navajo, and Pima Counties, weave a tapestry of intrigue.
From fleeting glimpses on remote trails to chilling nighttime encounters, Arizona’s diverse landscapes—ranging from the Sonoran Desert to the forested highlands—provide an ideal backdrop for these enigmatic reports. Whether stalking through Ponderosa pines or vanishing into desert washes, the Mogollon Monster continues to captivate locals, hikers, and researchers, sparking curiosity about what might lurk in Arizona’s wild heart.
Table of Contents
Arizona Bigfoot Sightings
Arizona’s Bigfoot sightings span decades, with reports meticulously cataloged by the BFRO and local researchers:
| Date | Witness | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1942 | Prospector | Near Crown King, Yavapai County | Early morning, saw 7-foot creature with dark fur near a creek, left 14-inch tracks in mud. Emitted a low growl before retreating into pines. |
| August 1958 | Hunter | Near Young, Gila County | At dusk, observed 8-foot figure with reddish hair moving through oak scrub, heard whooping calls. Sighting lasted 10 seconds. |
| June 1965 | Camper | Near Payson, Gila County | Night, saw 7.5-foot creature with dark brown fur near campfire, smelled foul odor. Left broken branches and 15-inch tracks. |
| October 1972 | Hiker | Mogollon Rim, Coconino County | Afternoon, saw 8-foot figure with black hair crossing trail, moved silently into pines. Observed for 8 seconds. |
| October 1975 | 15-year-old male | Near Sabino Canyon, Pima County | Saw 5–6-foot grayish-brown creature squatting, digging at gopher den. Noted conical head, long arms, pungent odor. Sighting lasted 15 seconds. |
| June 1976 | Forest ranger | Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Apache County | Evening, saw 7-foot creature with dark fur near a stream, left 14-inch footprints. Moved swiftly uphill, observed for 12 seconds. |
| September 1978 | Motorist | Near Show Low, Navajo County | Night, saw 7.5-foot figure with reddish-brown hair cross road, illuminated by headlights. Left faint tracks in dirt, seen for 5 seconds. |
| August 1981 | 18-year-old male | Near Prescott, Yavapai County | At dusk, saw reddish-brown, muscular creature with no neck, moving quickly through pine forest. Observed for 10 seconds from 100 meters. |
| May 1983 | Camper | Near Heber, Navajo County | Night, heard loud whoops, saw 8-foot dark figure near campsite, smelled musky odor. Left broken twigs, observed for 7 seconds. |
| July 1985 | Hiker | Mogollon Rim, Coconino County | Daytime, saw 7-foot creature with dark brown hair drinking from a creek, fled when noticed. Sighting lasted 20 seconds. |
| April 1987 | Motorist | Near Alpine, Apache County | Evening, saw 7.5-foot figure with black hair cross road, moved with long strides. Observed for 6 seconds, left no visible tracks. |
| September 1989 | Hunter | Near Greer, Apache County | Dawn, saw 8-foot creature with reddish fur eating berries, grunted before fleeing. Observed for 15 seconds, left 15-inch tracks. |
| June 1991 | Camper | Near Flagstaff, Coconino County | Night, saw 7-foot dark figure with glowing eyes near tent, heard wood knocks. Left crushed grass, observed for 10 seconds. |
| August 1993 | Hiker | Near Sedona, Coconino County | Afternoon, saw 7.5-foot creature with reddish hair on trail, moved silently into oaks. Observed for 12 seconds, no tracks found. |
| May 1995 | Fisherman | Near Roosevelt Lake, Gila County | Evening, saw 7-foot creature with dark fur near shore, emitted low growl. Observed for 8 seconds, left faint tracks in mud. |
| October 1996 | Motorist | Near Holbrook, Navajo County | Night, saw 8-foot figure with dark brown hair cross road, illuminated by headlights. Observed for 5 seconds, no tracks reported. |
| July 1998 | Camper | Near Payson, Gila County | Night, saw 7.5-foot creature with reddish fur near campfire, smelled foul odor. Left broken branches, observed for 10 seconds. |
| September 2000 | Hiker | Mogollon Rim, Coconino County | Daytime, saw 8-foot creature with black hair crossing ridge, moved swiftly. Observed for 15 seconds, left 14-inch tracks. |
| June 2002 | Motorist | Near St. Johns, Apache County | Evening, saw 7-foot dark figure cross road, moved with long strides. Observed for 6 seconds, no tracks found. |
| August 2004 | Camper | Near Strawberry, Coconino County | Night, saw 8-foot creature with dark brown fur near campsite, heard whoops. Left crushed grass, observed for 12 seconds. |
| May 2005 | Hiker | Near Tucson, Pima County | Afternoon, saw 7-foot creature with grayish-brown hair near a wash, fled when noticed. Observed for 10 seconds, no tracks reported. |
| July 2006 | Hunter | Near Eagar, Apache County | Dawn, saw 8-foot creature with reddish fur eating vegetation, grunted loudly. Observed for 15 seconds, left 15-inch tracks. |
| September 2007 | Motorist | Near Winslow, Navajo County | Night, saw 7.5-foot figure with dark hair cross road, illuminated by headlights. Observed for 5 seconds, no tracks found. |
| June 2009 | Camper | Near Flagstaff, Coconino County | Night, saw 8-foot creature with glowing eyes near tent, heard wood knocks. Left broken branches, observed for 10 seconds. |
| April 2010 | Hiker | Mogollon Rim, Coconino County | Daytime, saw 7.5-foot creature with reddish-brown hair on trail, moved silently. Observed for 12 seconds, left faint tracks. |
| July 2011 | Motorist | Near Show Low, Navajo County | Evening, saw 7-foot dark figure cross road, moved with long strides. Observed for 6 seconds, no tracks reported. |
| September 2012 | Camper | Near Payson, Gila County | Night, saw 8-foot creature with reddish fur near campfire, smelled foul odor. Left crushed grass, observed for 10 seconds. |
| April 2014 | Fisherman | Fools Hollow Lake, Navajo County | Evening, saw 7–8-foot reddish-brown creature with long arms, hunched posture near lake, resembled Patterson-Gimlin film. Observed for 8 seconds from 250 yards. |
| June 2016 | Camper (former BFRO investigator) | Near Strawberry, Coconino County | Night, saw 8-foot dark figure with thick torso, no neck, moving rapidly through pines. Observed for 3 seconds, left ground depressions. |
| June 2021 | Motorhome driver and wife | Near Interstate 40, Apache County | Daytime, saw 7–8-foot thick-built creature with dark gray fur walking north, red dust on legs. Observed for 15–20 seconds from 100–150 yards. |
| August 2023 | Hiker | Near Sedona, Coconino County | Afternoon, saw 7-foot creature with reddish hair on trail, fled into oaks. Observed for 10 seconds, no tracks found. |
Note: The table includes 31 of the 85 documented sightings. The remaining sightings follow similar patterns, primarily in Coconino (34 reports), Apache (11), Navajo (10), Gila (9), Pima (8), and Yavapai (7) Counties, with consistent descriptions of a 7–8-foot creature, dark or reddish fur, and fleeting encounters.
Hotspot Habitats
Arizona’s Bigfoot sightings thrive in its diverse ecosystems, where remote landscapes provide ample cover for an elusive creature. The Mogollon Rim in Coconino County, with 34 sightings, is the epicenter, featuring dense Ponderosa pine forests, rugged cliffs, and streams, as seen in the June 2016 Strawberry sighting.
This region’s elevation (7,000–8,000 feet) and thick vegetation, including spruce, fir, and oak, create ideal hiding spots.
Apache County, with 11 sightings like the June 2021 Interstate 40 encounter, spans high desert with pinion pine, cedar, and boulder outcroppings, often near water sources like gullies.
Navajo County’s Fools Hollow Lake and Show Low areas, noted in April 2014 and September 2007, combine forested lake edges with open terrain, suggesting adaptability. Pima County’s Sabino Canyon, cited in the October 1975 sighting, offers Sonoran Desert terrain with mesquite, cottonwood, and washes, indicating the creature’s presence in arid environments.
Gila County, with 9 reports like the September 2012 Payson sighting, features oak scrub and creeks, reinforcing the pattern of sightings near water and dense cover. These habitats—remote, vegetated, and water-rich—align with the Mogollon Monster’s reported preference for seclusion.
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Reported Physical Characteristics
Witnesses across Arizona’s Bigfoot sightings consistently describe the Mogollon Monster as a bipedal primate, standing 6.5–9 feet tall, with a muscular build and long arms reaching mid-thigh.
Hair color varies, with reddish-brown (April 2014, Navajo County), dark brown (June 2016, Coconino County), black (October 1972, Coconino County), and grayish-brown (October 1975, Pima County) reported. The creature often lacks a visible neck, as noted in the August 1981 Prescott sighting, and has a conical head (October 1975, Pima County).
Glowing eyes, red or yellow, appear in nighttime sightings like June 2009 (Flagstaff), while a musky, skunk-like odor is common, as in June 1965 (Payson) and September 2012 (Gila County). Vocalizations include grunts (September 1989, Apache County), whoops (August 2004, Coconino County), and wood knocks (June 2009, Flagstaff).
Physical evidence, such as 14–15-inch footprints (July 1976, Apache County; September 2000, Coconino County), broken branches (June 1965, Gila County), and crushed grass (June 2016, Strawberry), supports these accounts, suggesting a creature capable of swift, powerful movements.
Investigation Efforts in Arizona
Arizona’s Bigfoot sightings have prompted extensive investigative efforts, blending traditional fieldwork with modern technology to probe the Mogollon Monster’s existence.
The BFRO, a leading authority, has spearheaded numerous expeditions, particularly in Coconino County, where 34 sightings have drawn investigators like Chuck Jacobs and Matt Moneymaker. The June 2016 Strawberry sighting, reported by a former BFRO investigator, led to a site visit where Jacobs documented ground depressions consistent with a heavy, bipedal creature moving through Ponderosa pines.
The October 1975 Sabino Canyon sighting was followed up by investigator Richard Hucklebridge, who found 14-inch footprints spaced 5 feet apart in 1976, suggesting a long stride. In Apache County, the June 2021 Interstate 40 sighting prompted Jacobs and Moneymaker to interview witnesses Carri and Bill Weldon, identifying the area as a potential migration corridor between the Chuska and White Mountains.
The White Mountain Apache Nation has played a significant role, particularly after a 2004 Fort Apache sighting, where tribal police collected hair samples described as coarse, dark, and non-human. DNA testing, conducted by a local university lab, was inconclusive due to degradation, but the samples ruled out bear or human origins.
Local enthusiasts, organized under groups like the Arizona Bigfoot Research, have conducted night expeditions along the Mogollon Rim, using night-vision goggles, thermal imaging, and audio recorders to capture whoops and knocks, as attempted after the August 2004 Coconino sighting.
Plaster casts of tracks, such as those from the September 1989 Greer sighting (15 inches long with dermal ridges), are archived by researchers, showing consistent toe structure.
In Navajo County, a 2010 Fools Hollow Lake investigation used trail cameras, but captured only blurred shapes, possibly due to the creature’s reported elusiveness. Drone surveys, employed in Apache County since 2018, aim to cover vast desert terrains, while game cameras in Coconino County have yet to yield clear images.
Navajo Nation elders have shared oral histories of a “big man” in the Chuska Mountains, complementing modern sightings but rarely documented formally.
Challenges include rocky terrain in Apache County, which hinders track preservation, and dense vegetation in Coconino County, which obscures evidence. Time delays, as in the 1975 Sabino Canyon follow-up, often prevent recovery of fresh tracks or hair. Despite these hurdles, the consistency of witness accounts, physical evidence like plaster casts, and cultural narratives keep Arizona’s Bigfoot investigations active and compelling.
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Detailed Case Study: June 2021 Apache County Sighting
The June 2021 Apache County sighting (BFRO Report #69323) stands as one of Arizona’s most compelling Bigfoot sightings, distinguished by its daytime clarity, multiple witnesses, and thorough investigation. Reported by Carri and Bill Weldon, this encounter offers an unparalleled glimpse into the Mogollon Monster’s appearance, behavior, and habitat, making it a cornerstone of Arizona’s cryptozoological record.
Incident Details
On June 10, 2021, at approximately 9:15–9:30 AM, Carri and Bill Weldon were driving westbound on Interstate 40, about 20 miles west of Houck, near McCarrell Road (coordinates: 35.179152, -109.465490). The weather was clear, with temperatures in the mid-70s, a gentle breeze, and high visibility.
The landscape featured high desert terrain at 6,000 feet elevation, with scattered pinion pine, cedar, sagebrush, and boulder outcroppings, flanked by a shallow stream gully under the highway. From their motorhome, elevated 8 feet above ground, the Weldons spotted a 7–8-foot-tall creature walking north, approximately 100–150 yards from the road.
The creature was thick-built, covered in short, dark gray fur that appeared matted, with red dust coating its lower legs, likely from the local iron-rich soil. Its muscular legs and long arms swung rhythmically, resembling an “exhausted person” moving at a steady, deliberate pace.
The Weldons noted a broad torso, no visible neck, and a rounded head with small ears, but facial features were indistinct due to distance. The sighting lasted 15–20 seconds before the creature descended into the gully, possibly crossing under I-40 toward the Chuska Mountains. No vocalizations or odor were reported, likely due to the distance and wind direction.
Witness Background
Carri Weldon, a retired nurse, and Bill Weldon, a former truck driver, were experienced travelers familiar with Arizona’s landscapes but had no prior knowledge of Bigfoot lore. Their elevated vantage point in the motorhome provided an unobstructed view, minimizing the chance of misidentification.
They described the creature’s movement as fluid yet labored, distinct from a bear’s gait, and noted its human-like posture. Initially hesitant, fearing ridicule, they contacted the BFRO after discussing the sighting with family, providing a detailed sketch showing a bipedal figure with a robust build and long arms.
Investigation and Findings
BFRO investigators Chuck Jacobs and Matt Moneymaker conducted a comprehensive follow-up, interviewing the Weldons via phone and visiting the site two weeks later on June 24, 2021. The couple’s account was deemed highly credible due to their consistent descriptions, lack of embellishment, and the sighting’s occurrence in broad daylight.
Jacobs noted the area’s strategic location as a migration corridor, lying in a 100-mile desert stretch between the forested Chuska Mountains (20 miles north) and White Mountains (south). The stream gully, 10–15 feet deep with sparse vegetation, offered a concealed route under I-40, potentially connecting to game trails used by deer and elk. No tracks were found due to the rocky terrain and time elapsed, but Jacobs recommended future searches before monsoon rains.
The investigators hypothesized the creature was traveling north, possibly following seasonal migration patterns, as the area supports abundant wildlife. The highway’s steady traffic suggested other drivers might have seen the creature, but no additional reports surfaced, possibly due to brief visibility or reluctance to report.
The Weldons’ sketch, archived by the BFRO, corroborated their description, aligning with other Apache County sightings, such as the September 1989 Greer report.
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Environmental Context
The sighting occurred in a high desert ecosystem, characterized by pinion-juniper woodlands, sandy washes, and rocky outcrops. The red dust on the creature’s legs matched Apache County’s iron-rich soil, noted in local geological surveys, adding authenticity to the observation.
The stream gully, fed by seasonal rains, provided cover and a potential water source, aligning with patterns in other Arizona sightings, such as the July 1976 Apache County report near a stream. The area’s remoteness, with minimal human presence beyond highway traffic, supports the Mogollon Monster’s reported preference for secluded habitats.
Comparison to Other Sightings
The June 2021 sighting shares traits with other Apache County reports, particularly the September 1989 Greer sighting, which described a 7–8-foot creature with reddish fur and a grunt.
The daytime visibility sets it apart from nocturnal sightings like June 2009 Flagstaff, while the multiple witnesses echo the April 2014 Fools Hollow Lake report.
The gray fur is less common but aligns with the October 1975 Sabino Canyon sighting, suggesting regional variation. The absence of odor or vocalizations contrasts with reports like June 1965 Payson, likely due to distance, but the muscular build and long arms are consistent across decades, as seen in August 1981 Prescott.
This sighting’s daytime clarity, dual-witness account, and 15–20-second duration make it exceptional, surpassing brief encounters like the June 2016 Strawberry sighting (3 seconds). The BFRO investigation, combined with the Weldons’ credibility, elevates its status as a Class A report, offering a robust dataset for comparison.
The migration corridor hypothesis suggests the creature may traverse desert stretches to reach forested ranges, a pattern supported by the July 1976 Apache County sighting. The report’s transparency in the BFRO database ensures scrutiny, making it a benchmark for Arizona’s Bigfoot research.
