Recreation

From canyons to prairies, peaks to plateaus, the Kaibab National Forest, which is nestled on the Colorado Plateau, offers layers of opportunity for discovery. The Mogollon Rim forms the southern boundary while extending to the north almost to the Utah border. Meanwhile, the majestic Grand Canyon National Park bisects the center of the forest.

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° F 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.

In all, the entire Kaibab National Forest is approximately 1.6 million acres. This includes four designated wilderness areas totaling about 114,845 acres that 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. Opportunities for recreation including developed facilities such as campgrounds, picnic areas and viewpoints are plentiful.

A downloadable PDF of the North Kaibab Ranger District Recreation Site Map is available here.

Note: A short list of campgrounds, cabins, overlooks, etc... is briefly listed below in the "Conditions Report", however, for a full list of trails on the forest please either search by using "Select an Activity" or "Find An Area" that is listed by district under Recreation Areas.

Also, if you zoom into the Recreation Map below you will see more details with trails and other activities marked with icons in the forest area of interest.

Current Recreation Conditions