Open/Closed Trails in Flagstaff Area

[fotogirl53]

From the AZ Daily Sun, Flagstaff's newspaper, this morning:

"Areas outside of the 15,000-acre Schultz fire on the San Francisco Peaks are set to reopen today.

The fire area as well as all of the Kachina Peaks Wilderness and a buffer zone around it were closed last week to facilitate the firefighting operations.

The fire, which started June 20, was fully contained Wednesday.

The following trails will be open as of today: Elden Lookout Trail, Fatmans Loop, Sandy Seep, Humphreys Trail, Kachina Trail, Christmas Tree Trail, Brookbank Trail, Pipeline Trail, Upper and Lower Oldham Trails, Rocky Ridge Trail, Schultz Creek Trail, all of the trails in the Fort Valley trail system, and Forest Road 164b in the Fort Valley area.

The following will remain closed due to the fire or danger of falling trees nearby: Freidlein Prairie Road, Schultz Pass Road, Elden Lookout Road, Little Bear Trail, Deer Hill Trail, Weatherford Trail, Inner Basin Trail, Waterline Road/Trail, portions of Sunset Trail (from junction with Brookbank Trail to Schultz Creek Trail), most of Little Elden Trail (from junction of Heart Trail north to Sunset Trail).

Lockett Meadow Campground and Little Elden Springs Campground, although not directly impacted by the Schultz Fire, remain closed indefinitely.

No arrests have been made in connection with the Schultz fire.

For more information, contact the Peaks Ranger Station at 526-0866."
I can't wait to get back on the mountain!

[hippiepunkpirate]

The report does not specifically mention if the Heart Trail is open or closed. I assume it's open and I'm gonna go hike that sucker right now!

[Jim]

Do an Elden Loop, I'll see you out there.

[Alston_Neal]

Thanks for the heads up on trails. On Fathers Day, my son, wife and I were gonna hike Schultz Pass. We were about a mile from the TH at alittle after 11 when we were met by some people hauling pumpkin toward us with total fear in their eyes. We then did Bear Jaw, the fire cloud was unreal.
Maybe after the monsoon gets here they'll open Lockett.

[Jim]

I expect Lockett and the Inner Basin will reopen as firemen are released, and the BAER work is completed in the area. They are rebuilding the road in, and Sugarloaf burned hot. The road may be fixed by now, but they want to stabilize Sugarloaf to keep it from sliding into the road if heavy rains come and release a lot of hydrophobic sediment.

[Alston_Neal]

^^^^ hydrophobic sediment? I bet that's not in Urban Dictionary.

[Jim]

word!

[Alston_Neal]

Went hiking yesterday (Wed.) at Bear Jaw/Abineau TH. Great wild flowers, starting to get some monsoon moisture up there.
Fyi, we came in from Fort Valley road, but when we left on FR 418 to go to 89A the road was closed about 5 miles east of the Bear Jaw TH turnoff.

[joebartels]

@Alston Neal You might consider posting triplogs of your adventures. Only about 2-3% of the visitors on site daily (about 50) make it into the forum.

[Dschur]

Order Number:
ORDER
04-10-05-F
EMERGENCY FIRE CLOSURE
COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551,and 36 CFR § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited on all National Forest System
lands within the Coconino National Forest, in Coconino County in the state of Arizona. The restricted area is depicted on the
attached map, hereby incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A.
PROHIBITION:
1. Going into or being upon the restricted area; 36 CFR § 261.52(e)
2. Being on the road; 36 CFR § 261.54(e)
3. Being on a trail; 36 CFR § 261.55(a)
EXEMPTIONS:
Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this closure order:
1. Persons with a Forest Service permit specifically authorizing the prohibited act or omission.
2. Any Federal, State or Local Officer or member of an organized firefighting force in the
performance of an official duty.
3. Resident owners will be allowed to drive to and from their residence.
The order applies to national Forest system lands, roads and trails within the vicinity of the San Francisco Peaks and Mt. Elden / Dry Lake
Hills. The area closure boundary is north of the Sandy Seep Trail from the junction of Highway 89 (Sandy Seep Trailhead) to the junction of
Heart Trail. It continues north of the Heart Trail to the junction of Sunset Trail and on to the junction of Brookbank Trail. It continues north
of Brookbank Trail to the junction of Little Gnarly Trail. It continues to the north and east of Little Gnarly Trail to the junction of Schultz
Loop Trail. It proceeds to the east of Schultz Loop Trail to Sunset Trailhead located on FR 420. From Sunset Trailhead it continues to the
north and northeast of Secret Trail to the junction of FR 6273. It continues to the east of FR 6273 north to the junction of FR522 and
Kachina Trail. It continues along the Kachina Trail to the junction of Weatherford Trail. The area closure boundary continues on
Weatherford Trail (which is part of the closure) to the junction of Humphreys Trail. It continues to the east along Humphreys Trail to the
summit of Humphreys Peak. It continues to the east of Humphreys Peak along the ridgeline to Bear Jaw Canyon where it proceeds north to
the junction of Bear Jaw Trail and the Waterline Road (FR 146). It continues to the east on Waterline Road (part of the closure) to Lockett
Meadow and FR 522. It proceeds along FR 522 to FR 9129D and continues to FR 418. It continues east on FR 418 to FR 419 and proceeds
north of FR 419 to FR 9123C to US Highway 89. The closure continues south on US Highway 89 to the junction with Sandy Seep Trailhead.
AREA DESCRIPTION:
In addition, the closure includes Freidlein Prairie Road (FR 522), Schultz Pass Road (FR 420), and Elden Lookout Road (FR 557).
PURPOSE:
This Order is necessary to protect public health and safety due to ongoing wildfire suppression activities and
rehabilitation efforts on the Schultz Fire.
IMPLEMENTATION:
1. This Order will be in effect July 1, 2010 at 8:00 A.M. and shall remain in effect until July 31, 2010
or until rescinded, which ever occurs first.
2. This Order rescinds, replaces and supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same acts
covered by this Order in that area addressed in Exhibit A
Done at Flagstaff, Arizona, this 1st day of July, 2010
MEarl Stewart_______
M. EARL STEWART
Forest Supervisor
Coconino National Forest
Violations of these regulations is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor, by a fine of not more than $5000 for an individual or $10,000 for an
organization, or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months or both; 16 USC § 551, and 18 USC §§ 3559 and 3571.

[Alston_Neal]

@joe bartelsThanks for the heads up on the % hitting the forum. I are a troglodyte when it comes to posting photos. I will try and work on it for this site though.

[tonyp]

Locket Meadow and the Inner basin are closed until at least September 15, along with the actual area of the fire. Most of the trails around them, including the Weatherford, are now open.

[writelots]

That means my plans for late September are good... Now,if only I could reconcile my need for continued wet weather with my desire to get up on that mountain!!!