FLAGSTAFF, Arizona — Coconino National Forest officials are in the process of opening a number of forest trails as warmer weather hardens the surface and makes the roads more suitable for motor vehicle travel.

Many forest roads in each district will be open by the end of this week, but some remain closed due to rain and muddy conditions.

Flagstaff Ranger District, Ashurst Lake Road (Forest Road [FR] 82E), Marshall Lake Road (FR 128), and Kinikinik Lake Road (FR 125) are all open today. All campgrounds in the district except Dairy and Double Springs and Lockett Meadow opened on his April 28th. Concessionaire-managed Coconino National Forest day-use sites are currently $12 per vehicle, and campground rates range from $24 to $30 per night. Group campground rates range from $95 to $175 per night. Rates have been updated on recreation.gov accordingly.

Lake Mary Narrows Boat Launch and Picnic Area and Upper Lake Mary Boat Launch and Picnic Area are free through May 26th. Forest will start collecting a fee of $10 per day after that date. Local and interagency passes, such as annual passes for America the Beautiful and Red Rock, are also available at these sites.

The Mogollon Rim Ranger District opened forest roads along the north and west sides of State Route (SR) 87 and the east side of the Lake Mary Road corridor on April 28. All forest roads south and east of SR 87 and up to Rim Road (FR300) will remain closed until dry for safe travel. The Elks Group campground also opened his April 28th, with additional campgrounds scheduled to open his first week of May.

Motorists should be prepared to encounter wet spots, snowbanks and snowdrifts on newly opened roads. Use caution before camping off the main road and avoid deep ruts on areas of the road that are still wet.

Abnormal humidity and high winds have knocked down a significant number of trees and made roads impassable throughout the Flagstaff and Mogollon Rim Ranger districts.

Personnel will continue to monitor closed roads and reopen them as soon as conditions permit.

Many of the lower elevation roads are mostly open, such as those in the Red Rock Ranger District. This does not include roads that have been affected by recent severe flooding or Fossil Creek Road (FR 708) which is being repaved.

Before planning a forest excursion, visitors to the forest visit the Coconino National Forest Forest Road Conditions webpage to find out which highways in the forest are open or closed. Please check the details.

Remember that the public should only stay on permitted roads as indicated on the Motorized Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). MVUM is available free of charge at any ranger station or can be downloaded from the Coconino National Forest website.

Information provided by CNF.