Tonto National Forest Opening Several Popular Recreation Sites
On Friday, several popular Arizona recreational sites reopened to the public as Gov. Doug Ducey loosened restrictions from the COVID-19 shutdown.
Tonto National Forest officials opened sites at the lower Salt River and Saguaro, Apache, Canyon and Roosevelt lakes. On Saturday, Bartlett Lake sites also reopen.
During the shutdown, the national forests have reported an unprecedented number of visitors. A spokesperson for the forest said opening the popular sites should ease overcrowding.
Park visitors are now required to purchase recreation passes either online before arriving or at designated vendors on site.
Not all recreation sites are open while personal protective gear for forest maintenance crews is still scarce.
Visitors to the national parks are urged to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, maintaining social distancing and limiting group sizes.
Additional recreation sites will open guided by conditions on the ground, seasonal availability and facility conditions. A detailed list of what remains closed, can be found at fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/safety.
Information about all recreation opportunities can be found at fs.usda.gov/tonto and fs.fed.us/ivm.
