Tonto Open for Business This Holiday Weekend

PHOENIX With forest closures and fire restrictions limiting some recreation opportunities on the Tonto National Forest, forest officials are advising people to look ahead when making weekend plans. We want people to know that the Tonto is open for business, and so are the towns and businesses that cater to our visitors, said Forest Supervisor Gene Blankenbaker. From playing in the water at one of the lakes or rivers or camping in a cool pine forest, there are plenty of opportunities for folks to share the holiday weekend with us. The first rule for anyone who plans to visit public lands this weekend to know is that fireworks are strictly prohibited on national forests. Fireworks are banned year round on National Forest System lands, not just during fire season, said Blankenbaker. But the Independence Day holiday always provides that additional temptation to break out the firecrackers and bottle rockets. Put simply, we will not tolerate the use of fireworks on the Tonto National Forest, and people who break the law will receive hefty fines, and maybe some jail time. Two closure areas on the Tonto place some limitations on where people can go. A closure focused on the Mogollon Rim has closed some of the popular high country campgrounds, including, Canyon Creek, Airplane Flat and Valentine Ridge. Popular campgrounds along Arizona Highway 260, including Tonto Creek, Christopher Creek, Sharp Creek, have been exempted from this closure order. They are open but campers will not be able to leave the campgrounds to enter the surrounding forest. A closure affecting the Pinal Mountains south of Globe has closed off more popular campgrounds, such as Pinal, Sulphide Del Ray and Kellner. Outside these two closures, there are still ample opportunities to find a campsite in a cool pine forest. Near Payson, both the Ponderosa and Houston Mesa campgrounds offer developed camping opportunities, while more primitive campsites are found along Houston Mesa Road. Numerous campgrounds can be found along Arizona Highway 288, leading from Roosevelt Lake to the Town of Young. North of Young, both the Alderwood and Haigler Canyon campgrounds are open. Fire restrictions remain in effect at all of these locations, so camp stoves or other alternatives to wood and charcoal will have to be used for cooking and heating. Those wanting to camp or picnic at one of the Tontos six lakes or two rivers have even more opportunities. On Roosevelt and Apache lakes there are 1,150 campsites available. The Lower Salt River Recreation Area can host thousands of picnickers, not to mention the tubing, rafting and boating available on Saguaro and Canyon lakes. Bartlett Lake and the Needle Rock Recreation Area near Cave Creek provide more camping and picnicking opportunities. And, unlike the Tontos higher elevation recreation sites, the developed campground and day use sites on the Tontos chain of lakes all have some exemptions to the fire restrictions. Campfire and charcoal use is permitted at these sites in designated, developed locations. If a fire ring is provided at your campsite on Roosevelt Lake, then go ahead and roast your marshmallows. If there is a pedestal grill near your picnic table at Needle Rock, then feel free to light your charcoal. While we do allow charcoal and fire use in these developed recreation sites, the exemptions are very specific, said Blankenbaker. People cant bring their own charcoal grill and use it next to one of our provided pedestal grills, only the pedestal grills already on site are exempt from restrictions. Building a campfire anywhere on the Lower Salt River or at Needle Rock is also not permitted, only the use of the provided pedestal grills is OK. I advise people to bring a camp stove with them even if they are going to an exempted site, that way if all of the provided grills are already taken they can still cook their food without risking a violation notice and fine. For more information about recreation opportunities on the Tonto, call 602.225.5200 or visit the forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto.