Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Now in Effect Across the North Kaibab — No Campfires Through Sept. 30

Campfires are now off-limits across the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, the stretch of high-country forest that wraps the AZ-67 corridor on the way to the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. The U.S. Forest Service moved the district into Stage 2 fire restrictions at 6 a.m. on Thursday, June 18, 2026, and the order holds through Sept. 30, 2026 unless rescinded sooner.

Stage 2 is the tighter of the two restriction levels the Forest Service uses, and it reaches well beyond the usual no-campfire rule. According to the Kaibab National Forest alert, the order bans building, attending, or using any fire, campfire, or stove fire — including charcoal, coal, and briquettes — anywhere on National Forest System lands in the district.

What’s restricted

The order applies to the entire North Kaibab Ranger District, which is administered from the Forest Service office in Fredonia. If you’re heading up the plateau this summer, here’s what changes:

• No fires of any kind — campfires, charcoal grills, and briquettes are all prohibited. Plan on a propane or liquid-fuel stove with an on/off valve if you need to cook.
• Smoking is limited to enclosed vehicles or buildings, developed recreation sites, or a cleared spot at least three feet across.
• Stay on the road. Motor vehicles must remain on forest roads and trails — off-road travel is allowed only for parking in a vegetation-free area within 10 feet of the roadway or in a designated lot.
• Equipment hours apply. Chainsaws, generators, welding gear, and similar internal-combustion or spark-producing equipment can’t run between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., the hottest and driest part of the day.

Why it matters for North Rim travelers

The North Kaibab is the gateway to the North Rim, and AZ-67 from Jacob Lake is the only paved route in. Stage 2 restrictions in mid-June are a strong signal that the plateau is running dry early, and they tend to be the first move before any seasonal road or area closures if fire danger climbs further. If you’re planning a trip through the Kaibab National Forest or camping along the corridor, build your plans around a flame-free camp from the start rather than hoping for a lifted order.

The restrictions are seasonal and tied to summer fire danger, so expect this pattern most years on the high plateau — Stage 1 or Stage 2 orders are common from late spring into early fall until monsoon moisture arrives. They typically don’t touch developed sites or the national park itself, but they do govern dispersed camping on Forest Service land, which is where many North Rim visitors pitch a tent for free.

Travelers piecing together a wider loop through the region should fold the same caution into nearby public lands. The fire season that prompts these orders runs across the whole Arizona Strip, from the rims above Toroweap to the high desert near the Vermilion Cliffs — conditions on one plateau usually mean elevated danger on the next.

Before you go

Fire orders can change quickly. Check the Kaibab National Forest alerts page for the current status before you leave cell service, and call the North Kaibab Ranger District at (928) 635-5600 with questions about a specific road, campsite, or activity. Violating a federal fire restriction carries fines and, if a fire results, liability for suppression costs — so when in doubt, leave the matches in the truck.

For trip ideas that don’t depend on a fire ring, browse our recreation guides to the Strip’s hikes, scenic drives, and overlooks while the high country stays under restriction.