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Forest Closures for Fossil Creek and Tonto NF area are starting Thursday 6/21

Original Post
Angela Mabe · · Flagstaff,AZ · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 185

A chunk of national forest lands in and around Fossil Creek Wilderness will be closed to the public beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday due to extreme fire danger.
The Coconino and Tonto national forests are closing the area to all due to risk of a wildfire burning the scenic area, and out concern that people would be trapped there if a fire did start.
Forest Service law enforcement personnel plan to issue citations to any person found in the area, and for any potentially fire-starting activities, like smoking.
Orders could be lifted when rain arrives, or would otherwise expire at the end of August.
The Kaibab and Coconino national forests have both moved their fire danger ratings to “extreme.”
A map of the closed area can be found here: redrockcountry.org/about-us…

Read More Here

Angela Mabe · · Flagstaff,AZ · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 185

I'm not exactly sure but now I just got word of more closures in the Tonto Forest area.

"AREAS DESCRIBED
1. All National Forest System Lands, roads and trails described as follows: Beginning at Forest
Road 708 at the Fossil Springs Trailhead thence proceeding southeasterly along the power
line corridor following the Mazatzal Wilderness Boundary; thence easterly along the power
line corridor to the junction of Forest Trail 540 (FT540); thence easterly and southeasterly
along the power line corridor to the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park; thence easterly along
Forest System Road 583 to State Highway 87; thence southerly following State Highway 87
to the Intersection with State Highway 260; thence easterly along State Highway 260 to the
junction of the Colcord Road (Forest Road 291); thence easterly and southerly along FR 291
to Forest Road 512; thence northerly along FR 512 to the Forest boundary at the top of the Mogollon Rim; thence westerly along the Mogol lon Rim and Tonto National Forest
Bounda ry to the Fossil Springs Trailhead at Forest Road 708. Forest System Road 583 from
State Highway 87 will remain open for access to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. The Tonto
Cr e ek Fi sh Hatchery operated by the Arizona Game and Fi sh Department will be closed for
publ i c access.
2. Al l National Forest System Lands, roads and trails within the Mt Ord, Four Peaks and Thr e e
Ba r Wildlife Area, mor e specifically described as follows: bounded by Highway 87 on the
we s t beginning at the intersection wi th Forest System Road 143; thence northerly along the
eastern edge of State Highway 87 to the intersection with State Highway 188; thence
southerly along the western edge of Highway 188 to the Salt River corridor; thence westerly
a long the north side of the Salt river corridor inCluding the north shores of Apache Lake,
Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake to Cottonwood Creek; thence northerly along Cottonwood
c r e ek to the intersection wi th Forest System Road 401; continuing northerly on Forest System
Road 401 to the intersection wi th Forest System Road 143; thence westerly on Forest System
Road 143 ter'minating at the intersection wi th State Highway 87.

Map Here

Manny Rangel · · PAYSON · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 4,788

Thanks Angela. I was going to Iso this weekend but that's out now.

ErikF · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 71

Thanks for getting the information out, Angela and Manny.

bio · · mesa, az · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 2,248

I was at wcc on friday and it was open.

Manny Rangel · · PAYSON · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 4,788

The map Angella posted shows that areas north of Hwy 260/87 intersection are not closed. All of WCC is open.

The northern closure has Isolation Canyon, East Verde River/Library and the entire Mogollon Rim definitely in the closure. Fossil Creek, although not a climbing area, is in the closure.

The southern closure affects Four Peaks and associated bouldering areas.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Arizona & New Mexico
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