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What are the names of the 5 major peaks on the San Francisco Peaks? Please click on the photo at right for labels. Can I put up a tree stand in the National Forest? Tree stands are legal as long as you don’t leave them in the forest unattended and you don’t damage the tree. Tree stands need to be portable and removed when not in use. You cannot put nails or screws in a tree, or remove limbs, without causing damage to the tree. There are tree stands on the market that meet these requirements. Are dogs allowed in the forest and on forest trails? Generally, dogs (pets), are allowed anywhere in the forest provided they are contained (as in a vehicle or a cage) or leashed at all times. Please note the following exceptions:
[See Code of Federal Regulations - Title 36 Sec 261.8(D) and Sec.261.16(J)] What type of access is allowed for November (winter) hunters for camping facilities, or for hunting access or to retrieve downed game? Annually we close our developed campgrounds in September and October as use trickles off and it is no longer cost effective to keep these facilities open. However, most hunters camp near or in the hunt units at sites along Forest Roads - what we called dispersed campsites, not in our developed campgrounds. As such you would be able to camp along open Forest Roads outside of the City of Flagstaff corporate boundary - marked on most maps and signed on the ground - where no camping is allowed. In terms of open roads - we close roads as they become snow-covered or saturated with moisture for two reasons: for public safety and to protect the road surface from rutting and damage caused by vehicle traffic in wet weather. We anticipate closing roads for the winter as weather conditions change. These roads once closed are closed to ALL MOTORIZED TRAFFIC including ATVs. In terms of using your ATV or vehicle for game retrieval it is your responsibility to obey posted restrictions, such as any cross-country travel closures as they are signed on the ground. Information on these areas is available at all three Forest Service offices in Flagstaff. Where cross-country motorized travel is allowed we require that people ride safely and responsibly and attempt to avoid causing any damage to the landscape including ruts and damage to vegetation. May I Decorate Trees in
the National Forest for Christmas? What does
Coconino mean? Are maps of the forest available? How do I reserve a campsite? What are fire restrictions and how
do they affect me? When in effect, fire restrictions mean campfires and smoking are not permitted. Charcoal, wood and coal fires outside of dwellings are classified as campfires. However, gas burning stoves and grills are permitted. Smoking is permitted in designated forest camp and picnic grounds or in a vehicle provided an ash tray is used. Permits authorizing campfires may be issued by designated Forest Officers when local conditions are favorable and/or in some Forest Service developed camp or picnic grounds. It is advised to call ahead to each local district office as restrictions may vary on the forest. Additional information is available at the Fire page. What is NEPA? What is a closure? How do I obtain a special-use
permit? Additional information is available on the Permits page. Are Forest Service roads open
to the public?
Each Forest Service road exists to serve a specific need or needs identified as necessary for management of the portion of National Forest the road serves. Roads are constructed and maintained with funds appropriated by Congress for management of the National Forests. The Forest Service is the owner of these roads. (By contrast, "public roads" are owned by cities, state, and counties; constructed and maintained with highway user funds such as gas tax and vehicle license fees; and are intended for all uses in the general commerce of the United States.) Thus, while the Forest Service roads are necessary for management of the public's National Forests, the roads themselves may not individually be open to all types of vehicles at all times. When you visit the Coconino National Forest, you will probably reach your destination by traveling on a Forest Service road. Please drive carefully; paying attention to wildlife crossing the road, other traffic, and surface conditions. What should I do if I spot
possible illegal activity on the forest? How do I inquire about jobs on the
Coconino National Forest? Can I volunteer to work
on the forest? How can I find out about the water
quality in Oak Creek? What about all those dead trees? Bark Beetle Epidemic: Many people have inquired about the large number of dead pine trees they are seeing on the Coconino National Forest and around the City of Flagstaff. The majority of these trees have been attacked by beetles or have fallen victim to drought stress. More information.. What's all that sticky, sap-like stuff dripping from the trees? The sticky substance that is causing the sheen on the needles of trees,
the sticky film on your vehicle windshields and the goopy mess on sidewalks
and roads is caused by aphids. Aphids are tiny insects that feed on tree
and plant sap. What kinds of trees grow in the Coconino National Forest? Conifer trees of Coconino National Forest This list does not include deciduous (broadleaf) trees, but there several of these interesting and exciting trees that grow in various habitats on the Forest. Is it legal to pick up arrowheads on national forests? Collection of arrow heads is not allowed on National Forests. Doing so destroys the historical significance of the artifacts. The Federal Rules for firearm use is the following: 1) no shooting within a 150 yards from a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, 2) no shooting across a road, trail or body of water, or in any manner or place whereby any person / property is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such discharge, 3) no shooting in a cave. For state law regarding firearm use please contact a state or local office to get the best information. Is "Paintballing" Legal on the Coconino Forest? Paintballing is allowed under the following conditions: you can't shoot across a road, trail or body of water and you can't jeopardize the safety of any person(s) that are not involved in the paintballing. You need to find a remote area to play. You need to pick up any litter and leave the area the way you found it. It is also a violation to shoot any signs or other property with paintballs. Can you provide any information on the "Aquifer" beneath the Mogollon Rim? General information about the aquifer under the Mogollon Rim: The primary groundwater aquifer for wells is the Coconino Sandstone. It stretches from the Mogollon Rim northward to the Grand Canyon and is a reliable water bearing strata between Flagstaff and the Rim. At the rim, the depth to groundwater is about 600-700' and this gradually deepens the further north you go. In the City of Flagstaff area, wells in the Coconino Sandstone and groundwater are 1500'-1800' deep. If you are interested in the aquifer feeding the springs in the Rim area, most of those are fed from localized pockets of water in the fissures of the Kaibab Limestone, which is the geologic layer found on the surface of the Rim and sits on top of the Coconino Sandstone. For more detailed information, please see the USGS publication available online at http://az.water.usgs.gov , click on the recent publication "Hydrogeology of the Mogollon Highlands, Central Arizona..." The document refers to the C aquifer, which is the Coconino Sandstone aquifer. Does Coconino National Forest have a policy on geocaches? No. Currently there is no official policy related to geocaching on this national forest. There are, however, federal rules and regulations that pertain directly to geocashing on National Forest lands. [More]
What will be the effect of a long term drought on the pine forests? The models are pretty consistent in predicting increased temperature and increased greenhouse gasses over the next 40 to 50 years but there aren't any good predictive models for precipitation. That makes it impossible to predict what may happen to the pine forest. One thing to remember is that we regularly experience drought and have experienced severe, prolonged droughts in the past and the pine forest is still here. If the drought persists, we expect to see increased mortality due to bark beetles and some pine trees dying from lack of moisture. We don't foresee losing the entire pine forest. A good resource for information is the Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS) at the University of Arizona. Their web address is http://www.ispe.arizona.edu/climas/index.shtml. I've heard the forest is for sale. Where do I get information on available parcels? The FY 2007 President's budget proposes to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program for another five years. To help fund this initiative, the Administration recommends selling a limited number of acres of National Forest System lands around the nation. Lands that are potentially eligible have been identified. Please [click here] for more information. If you choose to use some of our constructed trails part of the time for access we have very few that prohibit equestrian use. They are Humphreys Trail, the Inner Basin Trail in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness, and Elden Lookout Trail. We also have a horse campground called Little Elden Springs Horse Camp, which is open until October 16th. A few sites are "first-come-first-serve" and the rest you can reserve by calling 1-877-444-6777. The campground has an 8 person, 4 horse maximum per site and features hitch rails, highlines, water, tables, firerings, trash service, and toilet, as well as "ride from camp" access. The overnight camping fee is $15 per night and if using the reservation service an additional $9 is charged per reservation (not per night). Hunting units 11M and 7 are fairly high density recreation areas, especially when the fall colors are out, so stay alert. Units 5BN, 5BS, 6A, 5A, and the north end of 6B are much lower density and elk plentiful. These areas also have very good opportunities to "disperse camp" with horses. We ask that all campers, including horse campers, use Leave No Trace camping techniques. For people with horses this includes: using certified weed/seed-free feed, using highlines, hobbles, pickets, or portable corrals (which ever your animals are used to) for containing livestock when not being ridden; raking soil and natural forest litter (kicked up by people and horses) back into place when pulling out of camp; scattering manure piles and remnant hay so they break down naturally and leave the camp ready for the next group; don't tie your horse up to trees for more than 5-15 minutes, especially if your animals have a tendency to paw at the ground or chew on the trees; use a portable toilet or the "cat hole method" for the humans in the group; only collect dead and down wood for campfires and wood stoves or bring wood with you; etc. Also, haul plenty of water as many of our stock tanks are dry. See also "Tips for Minimizing Impacts in Horse Camps" (a 19 kb .pdf file) What do I Have to do to mine (prospect) on the Coconino? The Coconino National Forest is situated on mainly volcanic geology with very few streams. Gems and other valuable minerals (such as gold) are not known to commonly occur in this area. The few live streams we do have are mostly withdrawn from mineral entry to protect other resources. All prospecting and mining activity on the National Forests is governed by Forest Service regulations 36 CFR 228. Generally, activities that do not cause surface disturbance (such as picking up rock samples) are allowed without any requirement to notify the Forest Service. For activities that cause surface disturbance (such as hole digging) or that use mechanized equipment (such as suction dredges), you may file a "Notice of Intent" with the local Ranger District. Some activities also require a “Plan of Operation”. You should allow at least 15 days for a response for a Notice of Intent and 30 days for an approval of a Plan of Operations. Can I use a Credit Card to pay for camping? Campgrounds on the district take cash or Arizona checks, sorry, no credit cards. If you make reservations via the National Reservation System (Recreation.Gov) you can use a credit card. IS THE SIGN CORRECT AT BELL TRAIL? (SAYS NO TRAILERS)? Can I gather wood near my campsite for a campfire? Down and dead firewood may be gathered around your camping area for use at your campsite but it is illegal to load wood in a vehicle to take out of the Forest without a special permit. (You may not cut standing trees nor can you cut limbs off of standing trees.) Can I visit the fire tower lookouts? In general, visits from the public are up to each lookout. For the most part, they're all pretty receptive to the public's visits. Generally, they'll allow people to climb up, show them around, but, if they're busy or want to spend their down-time alone, they may not allow visitors. Some post their "visitation hours" at the gates at the bottom of the road, but a good rule of thumb is that if the gate is closed, it's a "No-Go". Also, when the lookouts aren't staffed, the towers are off-limits to the public. |
U.S. Forest Service - Coconino National Forest
Last Modified: Wednesday, 22 October 2008