Kaibab National Forest — Attraction in Tusayan

What a lovely drive through the forest and meadows. The Kaibab Forest is on both the North and South side of the Grand Canyon. On the North from Jacob Lake to the North Rim the drive includes a few campgrounds and marvelous open meadows. Depending on your luck and the time of year you may see Buffalo, deer and elk. I still remember vividly a few years back when we came past a herd of several hundred elk. It was stunning. When walking in the forest be sure to be on the lookout for the Kaibab White Tailed Squirrel. I saw two this year and is was wonderful to see an animal that I never knew existed till I did some research. It's main habitat is on the North Rim forest with the higher altitude. Now off to the south section of the Kaibab Forest that stretches from Flagstaff almost to Globe. The forest goes on and on. I really liked taking the less traveled road through Payson. There are lots and lots of campgrounds and facilities as you come down the highway. It is as if there are cities in the forest. And there are! The trees wain a bit at the south end of the forest. All in all the forest is way to big to wrap it all up in a review. There is something for everyone, especially for the outdoor types. Enjoy it...

If I could give 100 stars, I would. I can't explain the rush of emotion that flows through me when I start driving through the pines on I-40. My anticipation always gets to me. The quite sounds of the forest, the fresh smell of the trees, bbqing some steaks. I love this place!!

If you want to camp here, you can stay in one spot up to 14 days, free. You have to keep your vehicles within 20-40 feet of the main road ( It's either 20, 30 or 40 ft, I can't recall at the moment). You do want to abide by this rule as the Ranger has shown up with a measure tape before.

Also, there is one Ranger, can't remember his name but, he has a reputation of entering someones camp site unannounced. He scared the bejeezus out of my friend at 3am. He started banging on his trailer until he answered and said he was too far off the road and needed to move, now, at 3 a.m.! So, follow this rule.

They post fire hazards along the forest entrys, and they enforce this as well. My last trip, about 4 weeks ago, they had no fires allowed, only propane fire rings. You also could not shoot firearms unless you were engaged in a lawful hunt. Check with the ranger station in Williams for current info and free maps. Enjoy and please...

Lots of nice areas to camp, there is an upper area and a lower area closer to the lake.

We prefer the lower area, which is not far from the lake. By the lake there is a pay campground. And a day use picnic site right on the lake.

There are pit toilets in the picnic area and at the boat launch area. I do not know about the pay campground as far as amenities go as we have never used it.

It is generally a good and quiet area to camp during the week, it can get noisy on weekends somewhat. Be aware that due to prolonged drauht conditions it is very dusty on the roads, and "some" OHV users seem to like throwing up great clouds of dust.

One reason we like the lower camping areas is that you cam get farther from the road, and hence less dust. But the mountain wind can blow dust up on any of the camp area.

There are some areas in the upper (first camp sites) that are away from the road, but every time we have went through they are always taken by large rv's. But you could get lucky. 😉

The lake is low like pretty much every lake here in AZ, but I watched a guy pull a nice 2lb trout out of it. It is the Dog town lake. You take the Dog Town road to...