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The South Kaibab is further divided into
two forests, the Tusayan Ranger District and the Williams
Ranger District. The Grand Canyon is a natural boundary between
the North Kaibab and the South Kaibab. The South Kaibab covers 1,422
square miles and the North Kaibab stretches over 1,010 square miles.
Elevations vary on the forest from 5,500 feet in the southwest corner
to 10,418 feet at the summit of Kendrick Peak on the Williams Ranger
District.
The Kaibab Plateau is an island
surrounded by lower elevations. The plateau, with elevation up to
9,000 feet is bordered on the south by the Grand Canyon, on the east
and the west by tributary canyons of the Colorado River, and on the
North by tiers of uplifted cliffs.
The North Kaibab Ranger District was
part of the lands withdrawn from the public domain in 1893 and
included in the Grand Canyon Forest Reserve. President Theodore
Roosevelt created the Grand Canyon Game Preserve in 1906.
The game preserve which includes
612,736 acres of the Kaibab National Forest, is "set a side for
the protection of game animals and birds," and is "to be
recognized as a breeding place therefore."
in 1908, the Forest Reserve north of
the Grand Canyon, including the game preserve, was renamed Kaibab
Nation Forest.
In 1919, the Grand Canyon National
Park was created from the forest service lands surrounding the Grand
Canyon.
In 1934, the Tusayan National Forest
south of the Grand Canyon was consolidated into the Kaibab National
Forest, forming the present forest boundaries. The forest area north
of the canyon became the North Kaibab Ranger District. The
headquarters for the Kaibab National Forest is in Williams, Arizona.
The South Kaibab includes the Tusayan
Ranger District and the Williams Ranger District.
Vegetation in the forest varies by
elevation and exposure. Principal tree species are ponderosa pine,
Douglas-fir, Engelmann spruce, aspen, blue spruce, oak, pinyon pine,
and juniper. Among other things, they enhance the beauty of the
landscape, hold soil in place, and provide cover and food for
wildlife. As elevation decreases, trees give way to bitter brush,
Gambel oak, sagebrush, and cliffrose. Within the forest, there are
irregular areas entirely free of tree growth.
Commonly seen large wild animals
iclude mule deer, elk, antelope, turkey and coyote. Mountain lion,
bobcat, and black bear are seen less frequently.
Common small animals in Kaibab
National Forest include chipmunks, ground squirrels and Abert's
squirrels. Less common are porcupines, small lizards, and
rattlesnakes. Most common birds are bluebirds, robins, Steller's jays,
nuthatches, flickers and other woodpeckers, crows, various
hummingbirds, ravens, and a variety of hawks. Bats also occupy the
park.
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