Many campers are having a hard time locating a place to camp in Arizona and New Mexico. That is because some forests are closing their gates in response to the extreme fire danger in the southwest. It is pretty common for there to be fire bans every summer but, in the ten plus years that I have been full-time traveling, this is the first time that I can remember forests banning all recreation.
Arizona
All of Arizona is in a drought. Some areas are in extreme drought. Live vegetation is exhibiting signs of drought stress. Most fire behavior indicators are setting records. There were five active wildfires last month. The forest service closed large swaths of forest land in an effort to prevent more fires as fire dangers reach extreme levels. They also created this map of some of the closure areas. It is not complete. It appears to be missing the Prescott closure area.
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests
Alpine Ranger District has closures near the towns of Alpine and Nutrioso. The area south of Hwy 260 to the Mogollon rim have been closed in the Black Mesa and Lakeside Ranger Districts. Springerville Ranger District has closed an area west of Greer. The rest of the forest is under stage II fire restrictions.
Read the Apache-Sitgreaves NF Press Release for more information.
Coconino National Forest
There are four closure areas in the Flagstaff Ranger District. And one area in the Mogollon Rim and Red Rock Ranger Districts. The rest of the forest is under stage II fire restrictions.
Read the Coconino National Forest Alerts for more information.
Kaibab National Forest
North Kaibab Ranger District’s Current Fire Danger is Very High and Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect. Tusayan Ranger District Fire Danger is Very High and Stage 2 fire restrictions are in effect. Williams Ranger District Fire Danger is Very High, Stage 2 fire restrictions are in effect and the Bill Williams Mountain Watershed area south of Williams is closed.
Read the Kaibab National Forest Fire Information for more information.
Prescott National Forest
The entire forest is under stage II fire restrictions. This means that we must all be extra vigilant and adhere to them. The Bradshaw Ranger District is partial closed to all recreation. See the maps for the closure area.
Read the Prescott National Forest Alerts for more information.
Tonto National Forest
On May 3rd, the entire forest was placed under stage II fire restrictions. This includes all National Forest System lands, roads and trails within the Tonto National Forest, Maricopa, Gila, Yavapai, and Pinal Counties, Arizona.
Two areas have been completely closed in the Tonto National Forest, the are encompassing and north of Four Peaks Wilderness and the Mogollon Rim in near Payson. Per the order, you are restricted form “Going into or being upon the restricted areas as described in the Order.” and “Being on any road within the restricted areas.” The restricted areas are depicted in the maps below.
Read the Tonto National Forest Alerts for more information.
New Mexico
At this time, there are three wildfires raging in this state. A large portion of the forest land in New Mexico is closed to dispersed camping due to stage two fires restrictions.
Santa Fe National Forest
Starting June 1st, all ranger districts are prohibiting public access to the forest. Hiking, fishing, camping, parking… everything is prohibited in the Santa Fe National Forest. The only exception is the Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River corridor, jointly managed by the Bureau of Land Management, which will remain under Stage 2 fire restrictions.
Read the Santa Fe NF Press Release for more information.
Carson National Forest
All of New Mexico’s Carson National Forest is currently in stage II fire restrictions. They include: “Possessing or using a motor vehicle off National Forest System roads – exceptions: parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway or overnight parking in Forest Service developed campgrounds and at trailheads” which pretty much shuts down dispersed camping.
Read the Carson National Forest Press Release for more information.
Cibola National Forest
The following ranger districts have enacted stage II fire restrictions: Sandia RD, Magdalena RD, Mount Taylor RD, Mountainair RD, Rita Blanca National Grasslands, and Kiowa National Grasslands. The restrictions are the same as CNF’s restrictions and effectively prohibit dispersed camping. The Black Kettle/McClellan Creek National Grasslands is the only area not in state II fire restrictions.
Read the Cibola National Forest Alerts and Closures for more information.
Lincoln National Forest
Two of the three ranger districts in this forest have implemented stage II fire restrictions. They are the Smokey Bear and Sacramento Ranger Districts. Just like the other forests in New Mexico, stage II restricts: “Possessing or using a motor vehicle off National Forest System roads – exceptions: parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway or overnight parking in Forest Service developed campgrounds and at trailheads”
Read the Lincoln National Forest Closure/Fire Orders for more information.
