The past several weekends the Tonto National Forest saw forestwide crowding at day use sites, parking areas, and along state highways within the forest.
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The past several weekends the Tonto National Forest saw forestwide crowding at day use sites, parking areas, and along state highways within the forest. We ask that the public adhere to CDC and state, local city, and forest guidelines regarding physical distancing and group limits to keep public spaces safe and accessible to everyone.
“Easter weekend is often one of our busiest times at recreation sites on the forest,” Tonto National Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth said. “This year we are asking you to recreate responsibly, avoid crowded spaces and stay home if you feel sick."
For visitors that do choose to recreate on the Tonto National Forest, we ask that you recreate responsibly and urge everyone to take the precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), such as practicing social distancing and limiting group sizes.
“Our first priority is the safety and well-being of our employees, our communities and our visitors,” Bosworth said.
As a reminder, many day-use sites, restrooms and other developed recreation facilities remain shut down. However, there are other recreation opportunities forestwide that allow for social distancing. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/tonto.
If you choose to visit the Tonto National Forest this weekend, or any time soon, please keep in mind the following:
Before you plan a trip to the Tonto National Forest, visit the Interactive Visitor Map at https://www.fs.fed.us/ivm/ for more information on available activities and what sites are open for recreational use.
For additional information on COVID-19, go to https://www.coronavirus.gov. Information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is available at: www.usda.gov/coronavirus. Updates on the Tonto National Forest response to COVID-19 will also be posted on the website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/tonto along with our social media sites.