Lockett Meadow Road Reopening 9/15/12

[Al_HikesAZ]

It was re-opened and now it is being re-closed

Lockett Meadow Road, the one heading into the basin inside the San Francisco Peaks, is closed into mid-July for heavy construction work.

Bikers, hikers and drivers will all be prohibited from using the road while the heavy construction equipment working there works to rebuild Flagstaff’s water pipeline.

Hikers, bikers and horseback riders can access Inner Basin via other trails and by going off-trail.

The Flagstaff Ranger Station is fielding questions at 526-0866.

— Sun staff report
Read more: http://azdailysun.com/news/local/no-dri ... z1uU9joWHC

[BunsbertMontcroff]

Son of a biscuit.

Was planning on going up Saturday just for the Inner Basin trail. Couldn't make it up last summer because of the fire restrictions, and now it will be closed again. What are the other routes they're referring to? The Weatherford Trail or Abineau/Bear Jaw? I am not too comfortable going off trail.

[hippiepunkpirate]

@BunsbertMontcroff
The shortest route on-trail would be starting at the Freidlein Prairie Trailhead, using the Kachina Connector and part of the Kachina Trail (.3 miles and .4 miles respectively), and then 5.7 miles up the Weatherford Trail to the upper reaches of the Inner Basin Trail. From Snowbowl up the Humphrey's Summit Trail to the saddle, and then taking Weatherford Trail for 2.5 miles to where Weatherford meets the upper end of Inner Basin Trail is a slightly longer approach. The Humphrey's Summit Approach is 7 miles, so only about a half a mile longer, but the Weatherford is a more scenic and less heavily used trail anyway, so I definitely recommend going up Weatherford. Do consider the additional distance of whatever hiking you do once you reach Inner Basin Trail. It's two miles one way from the Weatherford-Inner Basin Trail junction to the popular "meadow" in the middle of Inner Basin. At a minimum I would estimate you are talking about a 17 mile with 3200 feet of elevation gain at least. If you are a backpacker, you might consider overnighting at Fremont Saddle, and then day hiking into Inner Basin, going over 1-2 nights.

[PatrickL]

I've been wanting to do the Inner Basin Trail, but didn't know when to. I guess that's finally settled.

Is it possible to start at the Bear Jaw area and swing around into the basin with the Waterline Trail, or is that closed, too?

[Al_HikesAZ]

I've been wanting to do the Inner Basin Trail, but didn't know when to. I guess that's finally settled.

Is it possible to start at the Bear Jaw area and swing around into the basin with the Waterline Trail, or is that closed, too?

According to the HAZ Terms of Service, looks like you just volunteered to call the Ranger Station to find out and report back to us.

[hippiepunkpirate]

Bear Jaw to Waterline is a possibility though I think the other two options are way more scenic. The Waterline for 5 miles each way would be pretty boring. I didn't mention it earlier because I dont recommend it, although those trails are certainly open

[chumley]

Waterline also looked like there were plenty of remaining snow-drifts as of last weekend. At least on the Abineau end. Doesn't look impassible by any means, just something to be aware of.
http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=257530

[hikerdw]

Was planning to hike the Inner Basin next weekend. Looks like i need to check if the road will be open.

[chumley]

There haven't been any recent updates so you may want to call the Peaks Ranger District, but I think you can assume it is still closed since what is posted says "until further notice". I expect that they will post something when it is opened again.

It is important to note that the closure affects ALL use (including hiking, biking, and equestrian), not just motor vehicle use.

[hikerdw]

I called the Peaks Ranger office and the Ranger I spoke to confirmed that Lockett Meadow Road is still closed with no re-open date known at this time.

[BobP]

Was planning to hike the Inner Basin next weekend. Looks like i need to check if the road will be open.

You can also access the Inner Basin from Abineau/Bear Jaw or from the Waterline Trail.

[hikerdw]

The Waterline Trail is also closed. Per the FS trail description. "Waterline Trail is closed and the Waterline Road is closed as well. The city of Flagstaff will be working on it this summer with no opening date yet set. Pretty much every drainage is blown out and impassable." I assume that applies to hikers as well.

[BobP]

When I hiked down from Humphrey's...there was a guy and his dog on the Inner Basin trail. I assumed he came from the Waterline which is closed to unauthorized vehicles but I think it is open to hikers. There was new equipment at the pumphouse and there were lots of people that had signed the sign in register that week.

Edit...saw the website that its closed....I didn't see any close signs near Schultz Pass

[BobP]

http://www.redrockcountry.org/about-us/ ... 1-13-r.pdf

[oceanwithin]

Do any Flagstaffers know if the Lockett road is open yet?

[hikeaz]

Do any Flagstaffers know if the Lockett road is open yet?

This > http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/cocon ... width=full

or..

Directly > (928) 527-3600

[chumley]

Lockett Meadow Road will FINALLY open at 8am Saturday 9/15.
Press-Release here:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/ ... RDB5389934

[cactuscat]

In time for changing aspens and bugling elk - yay!

[PatrickL]

This has been so high on my list of things to do.

[BunsbertMontcroff]

YES!!!

Have been waiting forever! Have the leaves started to change up there? Thinking of going weekend of the 30th.