FR 523 - Coconino NF north of Humphreys

[garyc57]

I am planning a fall SOBO AZT hike for my son. I'm going to be the "trail angel", hauling water, snacks and food for him. One of the places I'm meeting him at is in Segment #34, San Francisco Peaks, where the trail crosses FR 523, at coordinates 35.455773 -111.692698.

I've driven FR 523 in the distant past, from Hwy 180 to those coordinates and back. But, when I checked Google Maps to make sure I could drive down that road, it sent me another route. Nothing I could do would force Google Maps to make a route down that road. Huh?

In Route Editor (thanks, Joe!), I see the "FR 523" label on the dirt road most of the way west from those coordinates towards Hwy 180. Then, suddenly, the label stops show up, until I'm most of the way to the highway.

Is something "wrong" with FR523? Is it no long open to public travel? Thanks for any insight you may have.

Gary

[The_Eagle]

@garyc57
For what it's worth, the forest service says it's open. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino ... rdb5339811

[garyc57]

The_Eagle,

Thanks for the quick reply. That answers my question.

[chumley]

@garyc57 FR523 is listed as a motor vehicle approved road on the MVUM: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino ... rdb5356224
and as the eagle posted, the current status shows that it is open.

Typically, it would be closed at this time of year due to winter snow / spring snowmelt, which might be a thing that Google Maps automatically "disables" at this time of year. But because it has been such a dry winter and the gates have been open most of the winter, regardless of what Google says (which is unreliable at best anyway), all indications are that you will have no problem using this road to access your resupply point.

It can never hurt to contact the Flagstaff Ranger District for an update: https://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/cocon ... /contactus