High-elevation roads, campgrounds may be closed for Memorial Day; check snow level before you go

Riding to Kirkwood or Pittsburg Landing would be a good call this weekend ...
See this page for more information ... 

Typical scenario that you may encounter this weekend on high-elevation forest roads. 

Don't get stuck out there - you might end up with a costly towing bill. 

Fire closure area in the Ketchum Ranger District. (Click to enlarge)

Fire closure areas in Mountain Home Ranger District. (Click to enlarge)

Hi all,

Many trails, roads and campgrounds are open for Memorial Day at elevations below 6,500 to 7,000 feet in the southern Idaho, but the higher-elevation locations are likely to be covered with snow, according to national forest officials. Most camping locations, trails and roads should be open on Bureau of Land Management locations throughout southern Idaho because they are at lower-elevations.

In North Idaho, the snowmelt is going slower. The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest reported snow levels are at 3,500 to 5,000 feet in the Powell and Lochsa ranger district areas, and the Panhandle National Forests report snow levels at approximately 4,500 feet.

Here's a roundup of trail conditions from the Idaho's national forests ...

Boise National Forest - Visitors will experience deeper snow conditions on Memorial Day weekend compared with previous years. Water levels in rivers and streams are beginning to rise with the warmer spring temperatures although the snow melt has been slow. Most trails, roads and campgrounds will be open within the national forest with the exception of those above 6,000 feet.

“It is easy to think you can keep driving once you reach the snow line, but that snow typically just gets deeper,” said David Olson, Boise National Forest Public Affairs Officer. “Forest roads are not plowed and persons getting stuck have the strong potential for expensive tows or long walks to get help.”

Here's a link to the Boise road, trail and camping condition report. 

Payette National Forest - Snow levels are at about 6,500 feet. North of Payette Lake, you can reach Upper Payette Lake but Secesh Summit is closed by more than 2 feet of snow. That means you can't reach Burgdorf Hot Springs without a snowmmobile or skis. Lick Creek Road is closed by snow. Hazard Lake is not accessible either. Call local ranger districts for more information.

Sawtooth National Forest - The Sawtooth National Forest encourages everyone to get out this Memorial Day weekend and enjoy your National Forest. People planning on recreating on the Sawtooth National Forest over the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend will find a number of facilities open and operating, however, due to the lingering snowpack at the higher elevations, a number of roads and trails will be closed.

Snow levels are hovering at about 6,900 feet, depending on slope aspect.

We would like to remind visitors to avoid driving or riding on muddy roads and trails to avoid damaging the running surface. Please check with your local Forest Service office for current road and trail conditions.

Here's the link to the Sawtooth condition report. 

Caribou-Targhee National Forest - Springtime brings spectacular wildflowers, scenic drives, camping and long hikes.  Memorial Day weekend signals the start of the camping and recreating season in this part of the world. Before traveling to the forest, officials remind visitors to keep in mind the following information.

This year, the forest road and trail maintenance funds are still less than average compared to previous years.  Road maintenance will be improved over last but less than what we have experienced in the past.  The condition forest roads are in during springtime may very well be the condition they remain in all summer.

Please be aware of muddy conditions and do not travel in areas where the conditions are so muddy that ruts are created by your motor vehicles whether it is a bike or a car.  Do not drive around snowdrifts crossing the roads.

Here's a link to the Caribou-Targhee condition report. 

Salmon-Challis National Forest - Snow levels are at approximately 5,500 feet. The news release put out by the Salmon-Challis is about general camping information. Call ranger districts for more specific information. More information here. 

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest - Snow-laden landscapes are giving way to green grass and wildflowers – a sure sign that spring has finally arrived. An early season getaway to the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is the perfect way to celebrate the long Memorial Day Weekend. 

Snow levels are much lower than in southern Idaho - 4,000 to 5,000 feet in the Lochsa and Selway river areas. The Lolo Motorway, also known as the #500 Road, will not open until late June, forest officials said. 

Here's a link to the Nez Perce-Clearwater condition report. 

Panhandle National Forests - Snow level is at approximately 4,500 feet and up. Most campgrounds are open. High-elevations would be questionable. Low-elevation trails should be fine. Contact local ranger districts for site-specific conditions.  

See our Where to Ride page for specific ride ideas this weekend. See also Idaho Park & Recreation's interactive statewide trail map for researching trails, roads and loop rides.  

Ride safe and have fun! 

OHV riders urged to head for low- to mid-elevation trails for the 4th of July weekend

Deep snow is keeping many high-elevation roads and trails inaccessible.

June 30, 2011

NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steve Stuebner, Idaho OHV Public Outreach Campaign, 208-484-0295
sstuebner@cableone.net

Before heading out to go trail-riding and camping for the 4th of July weekend, national forest officials recommend that Idahoans call first to check on the status of their favorite trails, particularly if they are located in high-mountain elevations.

"Know before you go," forest officials said. Check for the latest trail and road conditions on national forest web sites, and call ranger districts for site-specific information. The Idaho OHV Public Outreach Campaign's web site has contact information for all of the national forest, BLM, and state park offices statewide.

As a general rule, lower-elevation and mid-elevation trails will be the best bet for OHV recreation over the 4th of July weekend until warm temperatures melt the remaining snow in the high country throughout Idaho, forest officials said. OHV users are encouraged to refrain from using wet, muddy and snowy trails to prevent long-term damage.

Although work crews continue to make progress clearing trails and roads, shady areas and high elevations still may have several feet of snow, making vehicle travel on some roadways tricky, national forest officials said. Vehicles can break through snow’s crust and leave travelers "stuck." Cell phone coverage may not be available to contact emergency responders, so it’s best to avoid the temptation to plow on through in snowy areas. It could get worse the farther you go.

As of June 28, snow levels ranged from 5,500-foot elevation in the Nez Perce, Clearwater and Panhandle national forest areas, to 6,500-foot and 7,000-foot elevation in much of Central and Southern Idaho. South slopes are open up to 8,500 feet, such as at 8,701-foot Galena Summit, north of Ketchum. North-facing slopes and shady areas will have dramatically more snow than south slopes.

Bureau of Land Management lands are typically free of snow below 7,000-foot elevation, officials said. BLM officials did not report any restrictions for the 4th of July.

Most of the OHV trails around Bayhorse in the Land of the Yankee Fork near Challis are open, including the Lombard Trail from Challis to Bayhorse. The Bayhorse Lakes are inaccessible now due to the road washing out, the Custer Motorway is still blocked by snow, and high passes are still snowed in.

"It's tough when you are above 8,500 feet and in the shade," said Dan Smith, manager of the Land of the Yankee Fork State Park in Challis. "We’re telling folks to come ride, but be ready to back-track if you hit a big snowdrift."

Statewide, some popular national forest roads that are still closed because of snow include:

• Forest Road #486, the Magruder Road Corridor between Elk City and Darby, Mont.
• Forest Road #222 from Dixie Guard Station to Mackay Bar on the Salmon River.
• Forest Road #500, the Lolo Motorway along the Lewis & Clark Trail on the north side of the Lochsa River.
• The road over Hoodoo Pass into Montana.
• Elk Summit Road near Powell Junction.
• Lick Creek Road near McCall.
• Scott Mountain Road to Deadwood Reservoir.
• The 4th of July Road in the White Cloud Mountains is partially open to 3.5 miles past Champion Creek.

Popular roads and trails that are open include:

• South Fork Salmon River Road. Note: Chinook salmon season is now open.
• Warren Wagon Road to Burgdorf Hot Springs and Warren.
• Mud Flat Road, the Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway, in Owyhee County.
• Forest Road #446 to the top of Snowbank Mountain near Cascade is open.
• The Railroad Right of Way ATV trail from Warm River to West Yellowstone is open.
• The Kirkham Ridge Trail near Lowman is open, but users should expect to encounter snow on north-facing slopes above 6,000 feet.
• Trails in the Minidoka district of the Sawtooth National Forest (South Hills, south of Twin Falls).
• China Peak near Pocatello.
• Palisades Ranger District trails near Kelly Canyon Ski Area.
• Forest Road #156 from Featherville to Rocky Bar, Phifer Creek to Atlanta.

Check out the http://www.stayontrails.comweb site and click on where to ride for other ideas on where to ride over the 4th of July weekend.

Here are links to the latest press releases and road information from Idaho's national forests:

• Payette National Forest
• Boise National Forest
• Sawtooth National Forest
• Panhandle National Forest
• Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forests

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