Tonto National Forest officials say that even with closures and fire restrictions, the forest will be open for business on July 4. There are still plenty of recreational opportunities, from playing in the water at one of the lakes or rivers to camping in a cool pine forest.
But everyone who plans to visit public lands this weekend needs to know that fireworks are strictly prohibited on national forests. Recreational shooting is also banned throughout the forest under current restrictions. Officials say there have been six fire starts since April related to recreational shooting activities.
Only charcoal cooking fires are allowed in fire grills and grates provided by the Forest Service in developed recreation sites on the Cave Creek, Mesa and Tonto Basin Districts. No wood or charcoal fires are allowed anywhere else on the forest.
There are two closure areas on the Tonto National Forest. One is on the northern boundaries of the forest and includes the towns of Pine and Strawberry. The other closure area is bound by Sunflower, Punkin Center, and Roosevelt and Saguaro lakes. Closure and restriction orders and maps are available on the Tonto National Forest website.
But plenty of campsites are open and tubing, rafting and boating is available at most Arizona lakes.
For more information call 602-225-5200.
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