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I just tried to drive up the Big Lake Highway (261), since I heard Big Lake is open. But Big Lake Highway is closed. A sign told me to go via 273, from Sunrise. So, might do that later this weekend. But 261 is still closed. Looked pretty torched up in there, just where the roadblock is set up today. I hope they let us go and see pretty soon.

So, if you want to go to Big Lake, take 273, until further notice.

And be aware you will only be camping in a campground, and fishing. You will not be hiking, since most of the forest lands around there, including Mt. Baldy, are still closed. If you want to hike, go over to Pinetop or Show Low.

Also, I mentioned elsewhere, 191 is open all the way to Clifton, so you can go check out what you can see, but from the highway only, around Hannagan. They will not let you turn off onto the Sprucedale Rd, FR 26, without a paper saying you have a reservation to stay in one of the resorts back in there. No hiking there, either, unless on their private property.

It is raining every day now, so I fully expect they will let us into Mt. Baldy Wilderness pretty soon.

Thanks for the update, friend is/was staying at Showlow Lake. They bought a large toy hauler (not for toys but a large family) and was headed to Big Lake when the fire broke out. There summer plans was to park the camper stay for two weeks ( or what ever is allowed) and move to another area and spend the summer doing this. He said they like Showlow Lake better than Fools Hollow.

Show Low Lake probably has a mellower vibe. I have camped there. It was very memorable. 3 little kids in a tent, pouring rain for hours. I had chinese checkers, books, crayons, paper, playing cards, etc., but still had trouble keeping them occupied and keeping the two boys from killing each other and their little sister. We ended up at the Thunderbird Motel the following nights!

Now they are 26, 27 and 30. Those were the days...