About the Forest

If you haven’t been to the Kaibab National Forest yet, you must come! From canyons to prairies, peaks to plateaus, the Kaibab National Forest offers layers of opportunity for peace, solitude and discovery.

The forest is nestled on the Colorado Plateau. The Mogollon Rim forms the south boundary. Grand Canyon National Park bisects the center of the forest. To the north, the forest extends almost to the border with Utah.

Elevations range from about 3,000 feet to 10,418 feet at the top of Kendrick Mountain. Beginning in low elevation grasslands and sagebrush, the forest steps up through forests of pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine to fir, spruce and aspen. Summer temperatures range from 50°F at night to 80-90° during the day. Summer thunderstorms, known as the monsoon, can build up quickly, especially during July and August. Snow is common from December through March.

Opportunities for recreation abound, including developed facilities such as campgrounds, picnic areas, viewpoints and snow sports. Over 300 miles of trails, some clinging to the rims of the Grand Canyon, allow you to step off the beaten path into uncrowded landscapes. Four designated Wildernesses are managed for challenge and solitude. The Kaibab Plateau-North Rim Scenic Byway winds through meadows and forest ending at Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim.

To view photos and videos of the Kaibab National Forest, please visit our Flickr albums or collections.

In addition, to see more work from the Kaibab National Forest over the past years check out this accomplishments page with links to our reports (.pdf) that went out in print form to the public and our partners.