CLOSED: Coconino, Kaibab, Apache-Sitgreaves, Prescott, Tonto national forests

Multiple national forests are closing to visitors due to increased fire danger.

The Coconino and Kaibab national forests closed to the public on Wednesday because of the "fire danger, dry conditions, and persistent wildfire activity during a time when firefighting resources are sparse," according to the Forest Service.

"A full forest closure means that the public is prohibited from entering any part of Coconino National Forest at any time. Only those with private inholdings will be allowed access to their property, as well as personnel providing utility support where necessary, and firefighters performing their duties," a news release said.

The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest announced Tuesday, due to extreme fire danger and dry conditions during a time when firefighting resources are stretched thin, the entire forest will close for public safety, beginning Thursday, June 24 at 6 a.m.

Prescott National Forest will close for the same reasons beginning Friday, June 25 at 8 a.m.

The entire forest is closed, except for the following areas and roads:

OPEN Areas:

• Lynx Lake – Road access to Lynx Lake remains open. Access to day-use recreation facilities on the North Shore of Lynx lake will be open through Forest Road 611. Forest Road 611 will remain open between County Road 57 (Walker Road) and North Shore day-use recreation facilities. Forest Road 623 will remain open between County Road 57 (Walker Road) and South Shore day-use recreation facilities. FS Trail – 311, which circumnavigates the Lynx Lake allowing access to the shoreline, will remain open. FS Trail 311 is directly accessible from North Shore and South Shore day-use facilities.
• Granite Basin Lake –Forest Road 374 will remain open from County Road 10 (Iron Springs Road to Granite Basin Lake. Road 374 provides direct access to day-use picnic areas and boat launch. Access to the shoreline around the lake will remain open for recreation.
• Goldwater Lake – Forest Road 9713E will remain open from County Road 56 (Senator Highway). Forest Road 9713E provides direct public access to City of Prescott parking recreation facilities on the east side of Goldwater Lake. The majority of Goldwater Lake is on City of Prescott property, and access to parts of Goldwater Lake on City of Prescott lands is not restricted by this order. The section of Upper Goldwater Lake that is located on Forest Service lands is the southwestern quarter of the lake. Public hiking access to the lake will be permitted to the shoreline of parts of the lake where it intersects Forest Service lands.

Tonto National Forest said Tuesday they will be implementing a Stage 3 Forest Closure on Friday but some areas will remain accessible.

Currently, there are at least 15 wildfires in Arizona with more than 400,000 acres actively burning, including the Rafael Fire, west of Sedona. Several of these wildfires have current evacuations in place.

Anyone camping or visiting the national forests should leave before the closure goes into effect. Forest personnel will attempt to reach as many people to inform them of the closure, officials said.

Anyone with plans to visit the forests over the next "several weeks," should cancel their plans, officials said. The closure will remain in place until wildfire danger subsides.

"This closure will not be rescinded until sufficient precipitation is received to adequately reduce the risk of wildfire, and hot, dry weather conditions are no longer forecast to continue," a news release said. "In short, this closure will continue until conditions are such that the closure can be lifted."

Violating the closure and fire restrictions could lead to a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months in prison, or both.

Arizona Snowbowl announced Monday it would temporarily close at the end of the day Tuesday, June 22, due to Coconino County's current fire danger.

Slide Rock State Park, near Sedona, and Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, near Payson, both part of the Arizona State Parks & Trails, are also closed due to nearby wildfires.