A missing closure sign is not a green light for a drive into the Kaibab National Forest after the latest storms.
In a storm-damage alert updated Nov. 4, the Forest Service urges visitors to avoid potentially damaged areas even where a formal closure has not been posted. Crews are still assessing flood damage, and road- or site-specific restrictions will be added as information becomes available.
The agency reports 4 to 5 inches of precipitation in the Williams area south of Interstate 40 during the weekend storms. North of I-40 in the Williams area, and on the North Kaibab, it reports 3 to 4 inches.
The warning leaves travelers with an important distinction: a route that is normally available may not be safe today. The alert does not provide an all-clear date or a complete list of damaged roads.
Check the route, not just the destination
Before leaving town, consult the Kaibab’s current alerts for restrictions affecting the trip. The Forest Service asks visitors to obey barriers and posted signs, choose another route when necessary and never move a barrier or cut a lock to gain access.
Use the forest’s current-conditions page for weather links covering its separate ranger districts. Conditions can vary across the forest, and winter snow and ice can make roads dangerous or impassable. For state-highway travel, the same page points to Arizona’s 511 road-condition service.
Planning a tree-cutting trip?
The seasonal guidance on the Kaibab Christmas-tree permit page is useful here: check the weather, carry food, water and warm clothing, and tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Cell service may be unreliable.
That guidance also directs drivers to stay on open roads and avoid travel on wet, muddy roads, where vehicles can cause erosion and lasting damage. A permit should be paired with the current access information for the district being visited.
Questions about forest access can be directed to the Kaibab National Forest at 928-635-5600. Check the alert again close to departure; the damage assessment is still underway.