Following last weekend’s downpours, Coconino National Forest closed several forest roads west of Sedona due to significant water damage. The Verde Valley has received 2 to 3 inches of rain in the past seven days.
The emergency closures include:
■ Forest Road 525 from State Route 89A to Honanki Heritage Site.
■ Forest Road 152C (Boynton Pass Road) from Aerie Road to FR 525.
■ Diamondback Gulch OHV trail
■ Outlaw OHV trail
The road closures mean that access to Honanki and Palatki Heritage Sites is also closed.
The roads will be closed through this weekend, when more storms are expected.
District Ranger Amy Tinderholt said USFS will assess the roads following this weekend’s precipitation and will have a better idea of how long the closures will last next week.
Tinderholt said USFS needs cooperation from OHV operators and renters to reduce traffic on the roads in the district that are still open.
“This closure places a great strain on our few motorized recreation opportunities in Sedona. We ask OHV operators and renters to not overwhelm Schnebly Hill Road and Broken Arrow, and instead explore some roads throughout the District. Many of our Forest roads provide great day trips, views and a sense of exploration,” Tinderholt wrote in an email.
Coconino National Forest has a free downloadable Motor Vehicle Use Map that can help travelers locate alternate routes here.
