Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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PHOENIX - Though conditions remain very dry and several major wildfires continue to burn in our state, some lakes remain open and many have been stocked by the Arizona Game and Fish Department with trout or catfish for anglers to enjoy this weekend. Lakes that are currently accessible are: Show Low as well as Show Low Creek in the Pinetop/Show Low area Goldwater, Lynx, Granite Basin, Watson and Fain lakes in the Prescott area Mormon Lodge Pond south of Flagstaff and Frances Short Pond in... Full story
Now that the weather is cooler, the fishing is starting to heat up! It's that time of year when cold water fishing really starts to take off, so make sure you have your gear in order. Whether you are new to fishing or are a seasoned angler, here are a few tips to make sure your gear is ready for the fall. If you are new to fishing and are looking for a rod and reel for cold water fishing, I would recommend a 7-foot, medium-power, fast-action spinning rod with a 2500-size spinning reel. This rod... Full story
Enjoy this seasonal tradition of taking family and friends to forest areas to find and cut your own perfect Christmas tree. Christmas Tree Permits The selection and cutting of a special tree from the forest for the holidays has been a treasured tradition for generations of residents. The Tonto National Forest offers personal-use Christmas Tree Permits for the cutting of a tree on National Forest land. Christmas Tree Permits cost $15 per tree, are for personal use only (not for resale). I... Full story
Talk about a huge win for fish and wildlife conservation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently proposed that the Apache trout - Arizona's state fish - be removed from the federal list of Endangered and Threatened Species. PHOENIX - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) announcement proposing that Apache trout be removed from the federal list of Endangered and Threatened Species is a huge win for fish and wildlife conservation. If delisted, it would be the first native trout species... Full story
Don McDowell Outdoors is hosted by Don McDowell with a slew of guests from politicians, members of the AZ Game & Fish, avid hunters and anglers and so many more! Each Sunday you can be sure to hear great insight into current events both around the country and locally as well as the perfect guides for the current state of hunting, fishing, and conservation. Meet Don McDowell Don McDowell, Arizona native, is an avid outdoorsman and has been an active bass pro fisherman for over 22 years and in... Full story
Size: 1089 acres Start Date: August 16, 2023 Cause: Lightning Completion: 35% Total personnel: 200 Location: 11 miles northeast of Young, Arizona and 27 miles east of Payson, Arizona Fuels: Ponderosa Pine, Hardwood litter and timber Highlights: Gila County Sheriff's Office announced yesterday that the communities of Ponderosa Estates and Colcord Estates have been placed into SET status. This decision was made by Forest Officials, the Fire Management Team, and Gila County Sheriff's Office for... Full story
Recently, small brush fires have started popping up around the valley. In late June, a five-acre brush fire exploded into a 2,500-acre wildfire in a matter of hours. This wildfire, now known as the Diamond Fire, borders McDowell Mountain Regional Park, which is managed by Maricopa County. " ... working closely with Scottsdale Fire Department, we evacuated and closed McDowell Mountain Regional Park to protect visitors and staff," said Maricopa County Supervisor Thomas Galvin, who represents... Full story
Who's ready to enjoy a free night's stay in one of Maricopa County's regional parks? Starting October 1, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department is bringing back its popular Buy One, Get One camping promotion! The promotion allows park visitors who pay the camping fee for one night, or more, at a participating desert mountain county park to receive one night of equal or lesser value for free during that same stay. "This Buy One, Get One camping promotion allows our residents to... Full story
PHOENIX, August 29, 2022 – In observance of the Labor Day holiday, Tonto National Forest district ranger offices along with the Supervisor's Office will be closed Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. Ranger district offices will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, Sept. 6 along with the Supervisor's Office. Note, the Supervisor's Office is only open Tuesdays and Thursdays due to a staffing shortage. The Forest Service offers the following tips to help visitors safely enjoy their visit: Campfires c... Full story
Arizona's bald eagles are back, and they will soon be preparing for the next generation of eagles at breeding sites statewide. To assist with the state's continued bald eagle population growth, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) encourages outdoor recreationists, aircraft pilots, drone operators and motorized paragliders to do their part by not disturbing the state's 93 eagle breeding areas. Hope For A Productive Breeding Season To protect breeding attempts, some portions of public... Full story
Cut Your Own Christmas Tree With some restrictions, you are allowed to go out in the following forests, find your perfect Christmas tree and cut down with your own hands. The outing is often a great family and friends event. It's a great time to enjoy the cooler weather, get outdoors, and celebrate the season. Christmas tree permits are available over the counter at many Forest Service offices. Supplies are limited. Since not all offices offer Christmas tree permits, and some offices may be... Full story
PHOENIX – November 8, 2021 — The Tonto National Forest Supervisor's Office along with all ranger district offices will be closed Thursday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. Ranger district offices will resume normal business hours on Friday, November 12. The Supervisor's Office remains temporarily closed to the public. People visiting the Tonto on November 11 also can enjoy many day-use recreation sites -- such as picnic grounds, shorelines, and boat launches operated by the Tonto --... Full story
PHOENIX, October 5, 2021 — Tonto National Forest officials signed the Final Record of Decision for the forest's Travel Management Plan today. Today's release of the Final Record of Decision is the culmination of a Forest-wide, multi-year planning effort that designates a more sustainable motorized transportation system for recreation, administrative and emergency response access. Following several years of public input and analyzing comments and objections, Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth is r... Full story
Apache Lake Marina and Burnt Corral Campground will close to the public Friday, 8 a.m. PHOENIX, July 1, 2021 — Firefighters are responding to a wildfire, named the Painted Fire, on the Tonto National Forest east of Forest Road 80 near Horse Mesa Dam and Apache Lake. The Painted Fire was reported late Wednesday afternoon and is burning approximately 3 miles west of Apache Lake Marina. The lightning-caused fire has burned approximately 835 acres in dry thick brush and grass. Visitors to the f... Full story
Forest Service News Release Public Affairs Contact: John Scaggs (602) 702-0597 john.scaggs@usda.gov www.fs.usda.gov/tonto Tonto to waive day-use fees for upcoming National Get Outdoors Day PHOENIX, June 10, 2021 – Visitors to the Tonto National Forest (Tonto) will be able to enjoy many day-use recreation sites – such as picnic grounds, shorelines, and boat launches operated by the Tonto – without having to purchase a pass on June 12 in celebration of National Get Outdoors Day. Fees charg... Full story
'Know Before You Go' Tonto National Forest Has Initiated Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Current drought conditions in central Arizona resulted in the Tonto National Forest (Tonto) entering Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on May 14 beginning at 8 a.m. in an effort to protect public health by reducing the number of preventable, human-caused wildfires. Restrictions will remain in effect until forest officials determine that conditions have changed sufficiently to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires.... Full story
The state's backcountry is the perfect place for experienced hikers to expand their trail horizons. Excerpts From Visit Arizona [admin@visitarizona.com] The following adventures and lesser-known hiking gems range from moderate to difficult, but they share several qualities in common: getting away from the crowds and immersing yourself in the most diverse ecosystems, wildlife and scenic beauty that Arizona has to offer. Note: Backcountry trails are, by definition, remote and isolated, often... Full story
'Pick a trail and lace up your shoes.' From Arizona State Parks And Trails Attention Arizona hikers! If you're looking for a great way to get outdoors any time of year with friends or the family, here are some insider tips about the best hiking trails in Arizona's state parks. Explore these diverse options throughout this amazingly beautiful state, and cross these hikes off your bucket list! From Arizona's hiking trails you will come across a variety of amazing sights and experiences that range... Full story
With some restrictions, you are allowed to go out in the following forests, find your perfect Christmas tree and cut down with your own hands. The outing is often a great family and friends event. Christmas tree permits are available over the counter at many Forest Service offices. Supplies are limited. Since not all offices offer Christmas tree permits, and some offices may be sold out, call ahead for more details and to be sure the local office responsible for the area in which you are... Full story
Arizona's public lands are one of state's greatest attractions. A question that comes up from time to time, particularly during hunting seasons, is who has the right-of-way when recreating outdoors on Arizona's 50 million acres of public land? It's a one-word answer: Everybody. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) reminds all outdoor user groups that the state's vast and treasured public lands sustain multiple uses for enjoyment by hunters, hikers, anglers, mountain bikers, wildlife... Full story
EVENING UPDATE: Sears Fire - Oct. 1 PHOENIX, Oct. 1, 2020 -Firefighters continue to patrol, monitor and mop up hotspots along the perimeter of the Sears Fire. The fire remains at 14,476 acres and is now 48 percent contained. Higher temperatures today caused an increase in fire activity which resulted in an unburned pocket of vegetation to ignite within the fire's interior, however there was no threat of it spotting over containment lines. Fire crews continue to monitor and protect critical... Full story
There Are Beautiful Drives Near Alpine And Springerville If you're looking to get out of the heat and see some gorgeous country where it's cool and green, I've got the perfect road trip for you. If you've ever been to Alpine or Springerville, you already know how pretty the Apache-Sitgreaves Forest is, and I've got a couple of back-road drives for you that don't require 4WD. In fact, we saw a lot of RV's on the second part of our road trip. The First Leg The first leg of our trip starts just... Full story
If you're planning to head outdoors for the holiday weekend, check out these tips from the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). Whether you're new to outdoor recreation or looking for a quick refresher, these tips will help you enjoy your time outside safely and responsibly. Always Have A Plan Check the status of the area you want to visit, including the traffic conditions for your trip, before heading out. Have an alternative in mind in case conditions or crowding become an issue. Think...
As of May 15, many of the Tonto National Forest's developed recreation sites have opened for use. This includes all developed sites for the lower Salt River and Saguaro Lake, most developed sites at Apache, Canyon, and Roosevelt Lakes. Bartlett Lake sites are also open. "In conjunction with Governor Ducey's phased reopening of Arizona, we are opening many popular sites on the forest for public use and enjoyment," Tonto National Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth said. "We recognize the importance... Full story
Tonto Has Implemented Stage 2 Fire Restrictions The Tonto National Forest has begun Stage 2 Fire Restrictions in conjunction with other federal and state land management agencies in Arizona. According to Tonto National Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth, rising temperatures and an increase in drying trends of grass fuel loads resulting from above average winter moisture prompted the decision to implement these fire restrictions. "Arizona's wet winter has created a carpet of grasses which are now cu... Full story
