Safety and Outdoor Ethics

By knowing the conditions of your destination, you can make sure that you are prepared for your outdoor adventure. Use the tips and resources below to stay up to date on conditions.

Travel with a companion if it's possible.

• Consider leaving a copy of your itinerary with a responsible person. Include such details as the make, year, and license plate of your car, the equipment you're bringing, the weather you've anticipated, and when you plan to return. Do not deviate from your planned itinerary.
• Know your limits, and choose trails and activities that match your experience, fitness and preparedness.
• If in doubt, turn back early.
• Set a comfortable pace as you hike.
• A group trip should be designed for the weakest member of the group.
• Consider any medical conditions a member of your group may have and plan accordingly.
• If you plan to climb or travel to high altitudes, make plans for proper acclimatization to the altitude.
• Hike, bike or ski only on marked trails in wilderness areas unless bushwhacking is allowed and you have excellent navigation skills.

Wear appropriate clothing for the trail conditions and season.

• Always wear appropriate footwear, regardless of the season. Many trails on the Coconino National Forest include slickrock, ledges and steep rock scrambles. Wear shoes designed for technical terrain with superior traction and stability to reduce the risk of slipping.
• Mountain weather is generally cooler, cloudier, and windier than in lowland areas. For every 1,000 feet of elevation, the temperature often drops three to five degrees.
• Polyester clothing worn closest to your skin will trap warm air next to the skin and transfer or wick body moisture away.

Prepare for emergencies.

• Learn basic first aid so you will know how to identify and treat injuries and illnesses, such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hypothermia, and dehydration
• Carry a first aid kit with you.
• Develop an emergency plan before you start your trip.
• Make sure everyone knows what to do if they become lost or a medical emergency arises.
• Know how to fix gear in the field and bring gear repair kits with you.

Use a reliable navigation method.

• Know your route before you go and bring a charged GPS device, spare batteries, a charged phone pre-loaded with offline maps, a paper map, and a compass. Do not rely on cellphone signal.
• Pay close attention to your surroundings and landmarks and relate this to your location on a map.
• Stay calm if you get lost.
• Trust your map and compass, and do not walk aimlessly. If you are on a trail, don't leave it.
• As a last resort, follow a drainage or stream. Head in the direction that makes the most sense - downhill if you were hiking up a hill, or uphill if you were hiking down into a canyon. This can be hard going but will often lead to a trail or road.

Try to avoid traveling during dark.

• If camping, become familiar with nearby terrain and establish shelter before dark.
• If you have to leave camp after dark, stay in areas you have seen in daylight, go with a friend, and always use a good flashlight.
• Alcohol and cliffs don't mix! If you drink, stay away from the cliffs. Judgment, agility, and balance are all reduced by alcohol consumption.

Backcountry water sources can be unreliable.

• Always filter water before drinking it. No matter how clean or pure stream water looks, it's likely to contain water-borne parasites and microorganisms that can cause discomfort and sometimes serious illness.

Bring sunscreen no matter the season.

• At the high elevations of the Coconino National Forest in Arizona's dry air, you can get painful sunburn even in subfreezing temperatures.

Take care of your pets.

• Do not bring dogs into areas they are not allowed, and keep pets properly leashed at all times.
• Bring water for pets and make sure they have name tags.
• Watch for injuries to your dog's footpads in rocky areas, on ice, or in extremely hot terrain.
• Consider bringing a pet rescue sling or booties for your pet's paws.
• Pay attention to local regulations, particularly concerning fire restrictions. Abide by any and all posted restrictions.

Temperatures across the Coconino National Forest vary drastically depending on the season. Summer temperatures in Sedona often exceed 100° Fahrenheit, and winters up on the San Francisco Peaks are cold and snowy.

Visit our Brave the Elements page for more weather-related safety guidance.

Brave the Elements

Using a firearm or bow and arrow for target shooting is allowed on Coconino National Forest. Other national forests may have different rules, but the following are rules that apply to Coconino NF.

It is prohibited to shoot (including bow and arrow):    

• In or within 150 yards from a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation area or occupied area.
• Across or on a national forest or grassland road or body of water.
• In any manner or place where any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such discharge.
• Into or within a cave.
• Firing tracer bullets or incendiary ammunition.
• Exploding targets of any kind.
• Disturbing, injuring, destroying, or in any way damaging any prehistoric, historic, or archaeological resource, structure, site, artifact, property.
• Abandoning any personal property or failing to dispose of all garbage, including targets, paper, cans, bottles, appliances.

In general, you should target shoot only if you:

• Use targets such as cardboard targets, paper targets, and clay pigeons. Refrain from using glass targets, and make sure to clean up all your target debris and shell casings before leaving the area.
• Use a "bullet-proof" earthen or appropriate backstop. Do not to attach your targets to vegetation or structures, such as trees, log decks, slash piles, fences, or water tanks.
• Practice safe gun handling by:
  • Treating every gun as if it is loaded.
  • Never letting the muzzle of a firearm point at anything you do not intend to shoot.
  • Keeping your finger off of the trigger until your sights are on the target and you are ready to shoot.
  • Making sure of your target and what is beyond.
• Are not in possession of alcoholic beverages while discharging a firearm.

Visit www.treadlightly.org/campaigns/respected-access

Remember: You are responsible for your own safety and for the safety of those around you.

Archaeological sites on the Coconino National Forest are the remains of a long occupation of prehistoric, protohistoric and historic cultures. They are a fragile and non-renewable resource. We are all stewards of these treasures. We must preserve these ruins for public enjoyment, education, and for their scientific values. The following will help minimize impacts to archaeological sites:

1. Walls are fragile and continue to deteriorate - that is why they're called ruins. Climbing, sitting, or standing on walls, picking up or moving rocks compromises these sites.
2. Artifacts, where they lay, tell a story. Once they are moved, a piece of the past is forever lost. Removing artifacts or piling them up in a site destroys the story they can tell.
3. Cultural deposits, including the soil on an archaeological site, are important for scientific tests used in reconstructing past environments, such as the kind of plants utilized by the inhabitants of long ago. Adding anything (such as offerings, etc.) to a site destroys the dating potential.
4. Fire destroys prehistoric organic materials and destroys the dating potential of artifacts. It also damages rock art by covering it with soot. Absolutely no fires, candles, smudging or smoking in sites. Camping is not allowed at Palatki or Honanki, and is discouraged at all archaeological sites.
5. Drawing, scratching, carving, painting, and oil from even the cleanest hands can cause deterioration of the drawings. The dating potential is easily destroyed. Please assist those scientists trying to unravel the meaning of the symbols painted and pecked on stone. Refrain from touching the rock art. Mindless graffiti destroys rock art and is disrespectful to contemporary Native Americans.
6. Fragile desert plants and soils that are part of archaeological sites are destroyed when you stray from the trail. Also, snakes and other small desert animals make their homes in the bushes, under rocks and in burrows. Watch where you place your hands and feet and take care not to disturb wildlife. Please stay on trails. Bicycles and motorized vehicles are not allowed beyond the parking lot.
7. Animals damage sites by digging, urinating and defecating in them. They can destroy fragile cultural deposits and frighten other visitors. No pets are allowed in these sites.

All archaeological and historic sites on the Coconino National Forest are protected by the Archaeological Resources Protection Act. These laws prohibit digging, removing artifacts, or damaging and defacing of archaeological resources on public lands. The law provides felony and/or misdemeanor prosecution with imprisonment up to 10 years and fines up to $100,000.

If you see people vandalizing sites, please report it to our dispatch center at 928-527-3552. By following these simple guidelines, you help preserve these unique and fragile remnants of our forest's heritage. Thanks for your cooperation, and we hope you enjoy your visit.

You may camp most anywhere on the Coconino National Forest (unless otherwise posted) according to the following guidelines:

• There is a 14-day per month stay limit on the Coconino National Forest. Please note that there are some exceptions where the limit is less than 14 days. Using national forest land for residency for any amount of time is illegal.
• Groups camping together that number 25 or more people are required to have toilet facilities (portable toilet banks) on site.
• A Special Use Permit is required for groups larger than 75 people, or for any size group which charges a fee to attend an event. More information is available on our permits page.
• No camping or campfires on the forest within city limits.
• Do not camp on private property unless you have the owner's permission.
• No camping within a quarter mile of a wildlife watering tank/hole.
• Please do not camp in or drive through open meadowland due to the scarring effect it causes.
• Down and dead firewood may be gathered around your camping area for use at your campsite, but it is illegal to load wood in a vehicle to take out of the Forest without a special permit. You may not cut standing trees, nor can you cut limbs off of standing trees.
• Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Be sure to check if you are in an area with campfire restrictions, which will be listed under the alerts page on our website.
  • Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
  • Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
  • Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
  • Make sure to bring at least 6 gallons of water (preferably 10 gallons) and a shovel to completely extinguish your campfire.
  • Burn all wood and coals to ash. Extinguish campfires completely by generously dousing with water and stirring with a shovel - view video.
• Never leave a campfire unattended. It is illegal to do so--even for a short amount of time. Most wildland fires are caused by human activity, including campfires that were abandoned without being properly extinguished. You could be held liable for any firefighting/restoration costs that result from your abandoned or unattended campfire. Make certain your campfire is dead out, wet and cold to the touch, before leaving your campsite. Read more tips for putting your campfire safety.
• When dispersed camping (or "car camping") on the National Forest, refer to the designated camping corridors shown on the Motor Vehicle Use Map. In these designated corridors, visitors may drive their vehicles up to 300 feet from the road to car camp. Also, visitors may park alongside any designated road's edge and walk to their campsite anywhere on National Forest System lands, with the exception of areas prohibited and listed under our alerts page. When parking along a designated road, drivers must pull off the travelled portion of the roadway to permit the safe passage of traffic. These rules only affect motor vehicle use. Forest visitors can always hike to campsites at farther distances from the roads.
• Always use the pack-in/pack-out method for the disposal of litter to keep your Forest clean.
• Please use a digging tool to bury all human and pet waste at least 6 to 7 inches deep.
• Pets are welcome in most areas but must be kept leashed at all times.
• Always practice Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics.
• Dispose of all garbage, including any paper, can, sewage, wastewater or material, or rubbish either by removal the site or area, or by depositing it into receptacles or at places provided for such purposes. Failure to do so can result in a fine.

Whether you call it a Drone, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), or Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), the following information applies to unmanned motorized equipment and aerial mechanical transport systems (drones) within Coconino National Forest.

Tips for Drone Operators on National Forests

Individuals and organizations may fly drones for hobby or recreational purposes in compliance with Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) regulations.  Drones may be flown over and within the Coconino National Forest as long as the drone operator follows certain rules:

• Keep your drone within your visual line of sight at all times.
• Do not fly your drone within 5 miles of a towered airport (unless authorization from the Airport Manager is obtained).
• Drones must be flown below 400 feet and remain clear of surrounding obstacles.
• Drones are not permitted to fly in areas that have Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs), in place. Operators are responsible for knowing what TFRs are currently in place.
• Never fly your drone over or in close proximity to any fire operation (wildfire or prescribed burn). It is illegal to do so, and flights over fire operations disrupt aerial firefighting operations, creating hazardous conditions and grounding aerial resources, which means they can't fight the fire any longer. Individuals who fly a drone without authorization over wildfires may be violating federal, state, and/or local laws, regulations, and ordinances, whether a TFR is in place or not. All unauthorized drone flights over wildfires on National Forest System lands will be reported to the FAA and law enforcement agencies. Individuals who have been determined to have endangered manned aircraft or people on the ground with a drone and/or interfered with wildfire suppression may be subject to civil penalties, including fines above $25,000, and potentially criminal prosecution.
• The Forest Service regularly flies aircraft at low altitudes to perform natural resource management. It is the drone operator’s responsibility to be aware of these flights and take the steps necessary to avoid them. Contact our offices or the FAA for scheduled flights in the area.
• Do not fly over or near wildlife as this can create stress that may cause significant harm, and even death. Intentional disturbance of animals during breeding, nesting, rearing of young, or other critical life history functions is not allowed unless approved as research or management.
• Launch your drone more than 100 meters (328 feet) from wildlife.  Do not approach animals or birds vertically with your drone.
• The FAA is the authorizing agency for all U.S. airspace. New regulations regarding UAS (drones) can happen any time, so it's your responsibility to check with the FAA for current specific rules and regulations.
• Wilderness areas have specific regulations, which are below:

Wilderness Areas

Drones cannot launch from, land in, or be operated from a designated Wilderness Area. This does not mean drones cannot fly over a Wilderness Area, but there are a couple of considerations you should take as a drone operator in that case. Designated Wilderness Areas are places people specifically seek out for the solitude and quiet they provide. The FAA's guidelines request that flights maintain a minimum altitude of 2,000 feet above the surface of a Wilderness Area.

Broadcast Media Drone Use

When accredited media wants to use a drone to cover a story on the Coconino National Forest land, they should contact the Public Affairs Officer.  The PAO will coordinate with the Fire & Aviation Air Resource Manager to make sure Fire Dispatch and District personnel are aware of the request and upcoming use.

Any drone use by media to cover a story on a current wildfire will need to be coordinated through the Incident Management Team (IMT) assigned to the wildfire, which has its own public affairs staff and air resource manager. National Forest PAOs can get media representatives connected to the right contacts on IMTs.