​National Forest officials are working to close several unauthorized dirt roads throughout the Coconino County Forest.

Forest spokesman George Jozens said the roads are near authorized roads in the area.

"Those roads that are out there were sometimes shortcuts across an area where you could easily go from one road to another anyway. They could be roads where there’s protected wildlife or protected habitat," Jozens said.

Jozens says several years ago, the forest was told to close roads it could not maintain or were not being used. He says a map of authorized roads is available on the Coconino County Forest website or at any district office.