The Coconino National Forest has decided to halt the proposed Flagstaff Ranger District Prospectus for Outfitter and Guide Services, which aimed to issue longer-term special use permits for guided hiking, biking, motorized tours, and rock climbing across the district. The decision was made after a thorough review of more than 200 public, tribal, and internal comments that were received during a public comment period held earlier in 2023.
District Ranger Matt McGrath stated that the forest needs to do more work to determine how to balance the demand for outfitter and guide services with the interests of the community. The district plans to engage stakeholders, partners, and the community in a broader discussion about forest management in the coming months.
As a result, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process initiated as part of the permit-issuance process has been canceled. There is no estimated timeline for it to resume.
