Northern Arizona trail to reopen this week after bald eagle breeding attempt

PHOENIX — A national forest in northern Arizona will reopen a trail that has been closed since late last year in an effort to provide protection for nesting bald eagles.

Officials at Prescott National Forest will lift the restrictions on John’s Tank Trail on the east side of Lynx Lake on Friday.

The trail has been closed to the public since December to minimize disturbance to the eagles, but the breeding attempt failed.

Forest spokeswoman Debbie Maneely said the Arizona Game and Fish Department does not believe it will get another opportunity for further nesting tries this year.

Bald eagles have used the lake as a nesting site for the past 11 years and breeding attempts have been successful for the last six.

“Every year is a new opportunity to watch this skilled pair of eagle parents in the midst of one of our most popular recreation sites on the Prescott National Forest,” wildlife biologist Noel Fletcher said in a statement.

“It is a balancing act for resource managers to provide quality recreation experiences while also providing quality wildlife habitat on public lands.”

Parts of Tonto National Forest will continue to be closed through June in order to protect the bald eagles.

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