Who wants to get Kelly Canyon Rd opened again?

Well, many of you have heard the sad news that the new Forest Service road closures has already struck pretty close to home here in Flagstaff. Kelly Canyon Rd., which offers the only really good access to the bouldering at the top of the canyon, has been closed to motorized travel.

Whether you have tasted the gritty slopers of Kelly Canyon or not, please consider taking a moment to fill out the bottom of this form fs.usda.gov/detailfull/coco…, asking for alternatives to this gate closure.

There are an awful lot of climbers around, maybe it's time we try throwing a little weight around?

Foot travel from the interstate exit is still allowed.........

Done! It was super easy and fast to fill out. Thanks for posting it up JJ. I don't go there that often but know lots that do. It's a nice escape form the heat some and some excellent bouldering for sure!

I'm an out of towner... when you say 'foot travel from the interstate' what does that mean exactly? Also, I would be happy to comment. Would I just say the Kelly Canyon Rd? Do you just park right off the interstate now? Forgive my ignorance, I've only been there once but was looking to taste the gritty slopers again this weekend.

Done!

Do you know why it is closed?

It is listed here: Road Status as "Open".

Let me know what I can do to help. My craving for Coconino Sandstone and cool temps must be satiated!

Right on guys, thanks for helping. MIYG, you can park at the gate, and walk in, but off hand I would say it is three miles or so to the descent into the canyon. I could be very wrong about that, but even the drive in takes a little while. The truly devoted could make the flat hike in without to much fuss, but it certainly changes the game out there.

Done. Bump.

Done.

did it too!

Done ... and done

bump

Yup!

bump

I noticed there is a USGS lock on the gate, hypothetically if someone had such a key and were to unlock the gate, locking it behind them and drive in and park at the top of Kelly would that be so wrong?

done. bump.

hypothetically, how would one acquire said key?

Did it!

I have said key!

I filled this out. As well,when the TMP started, there was a protest petition on MP that a lot of us responded to. Who did that,and what happened to the signatures/meeting/outcome???

Steve

We found some easy access to Kelly from the other side of the canyon. It takes only 5 minutes more than the old approach.

Take the Kachina exit off of 17, west towards the gas station next to the highway. Immediately before the gas station is an old paved road, take a left on that as it briefly parallels the highway. It bends right and goes over a cattle guard. From the cattle guard, go .9 miles and take a left on a dirt road. Go .5 miles and park at a tiny spot on the right. If the road continues at 0 degrees and right is 90, hike at about 60 degrees for a few minutes until you hit a small ridge line and old road. Follow the ridge until it starts to drop down more steeply and then trend right to the bottom of the canyon.

FYI, the road you turn on at .9 mile is not a legal road according to the motor vehicle use map. to be compliant one would have to park and walk from here.

Eric D wrote:We found some easy access to Kelly from the other side of the canyon. It takes only 5 minutes more than the old approach. Take the Kachina exit off of 17, west towards the gas station next to the highway. Immediately before the gas station is an old paved road, take a left on that as it briefly parallels the highway. It bends right and goes over a cattle guard. From the cattle guard, go .9 miles and take a left on a dirt road. Go .5 miles and park at a tiny spot on the right. If the road continues at 0 degrees and right is 90, hike at about 60 degrees for a few minutes until you hit a small ridge line and old road. Follow the ridge until it starts to drop down more steeply and then trend right to the bottom of the canyon.

Could be right, but I'm not so sure. There was a Forest Service road sign on it, road 9498A if I remember correctly.

Eric D wrote:Could be right, but I'm not so sure. There was a Forest Service road sign on it, road 9498A if I remember correctly.

in the case of 9498A you are correct as it is upon the map, however, just because a road is signed and numbered on the ground does not necessarily make it an open road. link to road map if one looks at the map of open roads and does not see the handy numbered road you are about to drive upon said map, well there is your answer.