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Gold Hills Posse 4×4 Club · Folsom, CA

Winter 2017/2018 Seasonal Trail Closures

  1. kris_olof Trailmaster Joined: October 2015
    #112 Jan 2018, 11:51 AM

    (all links have been updated, if one isnt working please let me know) See last posts for latest info

    Currently all local forests are in winter closure mode.  Open trails, such as mormon immigrant, are labeled on the individual forest OHV use maps.  Below is some detail on the individual forests and their planned opening dates.  Note that a forest order may be used to extend a seasonal closure if there is still snow on the ground.

    El Dorado National Forest - (closest to us, includes our trail).  Seasonal closure is in effect until at least March 31st.  Details on main routes can be found at the link below.   FS updates occasionally.  EDNF also has a twitter that is regularly updated with info on Mormon Immigrant Trail.  Note that some of the storm damage from last winter still has not been repaired.

    https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/home/?cid=fsbdev7_019037 

    Tahoe National Forest - (north of EDNF, includes fordyce and signal peak).  Seasonal closure in effect until at least March 31st.  Details on main routes can be found at the link below.  Highway 80 section is probably most relevant. This FS office is terrible at updating their site.  When in doubt, use the info on the maps about closures.

    https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tahoe/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5299395

    Rubicon Trail - (the trails is a county road so it is subject to a totally different management structure). The trail is open most of the year but does close during work, events, and big storms.  The link below is the county conditions report that is the best way to know if it is open. Though the trail doesnt close over winter, it is impassible for most rigs until about may due to snow.  A winter crossing (when there is snow) requires big tires, lots of digging, lots of winching, ~250ft of winch line extensions, tons of extra fuel, etc.  The pirate4x4 link is the best place for up to date trail info.

    https://www.edcgov.us/Government/Rubicon/Trail%20Conditions%20Update/Pages/rubicon_trail_current_condition_updates.aspx

    http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/29-rubicon-trail/

    Tahoe Basin Management Unit - (all areas near tahoe, ellis peak, blackwood canyon, genoa peak )  Seasonal closure in effect.  Re-opening date vary trail to trail.  Most open on either May 15 or June 1.  The link below lists the closure dates for campgrounds and halfway down the page trails and roads are listed.  There is no good place to get info on conditions since this FS office just closes everything seasonally.

    https://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/cs/detail/!ut/p/z1/jVDLCsIwEPyaHOMuvhBvvYn4OKk1F0k1xmhMym4rfr6FivRQq3PbYR7sgIIUVNAPZ3XhYtC-uvdqfOhjjWSC69lsu-ov3wTCrlWwXXwE6h8_fkHyp79DoLrjd6BaK5of_MqYg7I-ZvVcScgGEwuKzNmQoV5JFX0pinwqUGAemc3wOexFsgLPkcq7QGuCIe1lxcuT42PJXK0vkKI-yaOPXJJhmWvrgpU3ciywrekSuYC02QD5fbNJ8Tryj0XyAn1qG_I!/dz/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?position=Feature.Art_ContentLnk&pname=Lake%2520Tahoe%2520Basin%2520Mgt%2520Unit-%2520Home&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&ss=110519&navid=091000000000000&ttype=detail&cid=STELPRDB5291839

    Stanislaus National Forest - (south of EDNF, slickrock trail and southern end of deer valley trail)  Seasonal Closure in effect.  Trails re-open on April 15.  Below is a link to the conditions and access to various campgrounds and sites within the forest.  This office is terrible about updating conditions but doesnt like to extend closures so if the map indicates somehting is open, it likely is.

    https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/stanislaus/recreation

  2. Mike G Subscriber
    #213 Jan 2018, 2:23 AM

    Thanks like always for the great info

    Mike G
  3. Dale Clement Member Joined: June 2015
    #314 Jan 2018, 1:15 AM

    Great info Kris

    Dale Clement
  4. kris_olof started this Trailmaster Joined: October 2015
    #417 Feb 2018, 2:17 AM

    There has been a lot of posting online lately on various sites of people looking for suggestions for open-in-winter areas and even posting of pics and planning trips on closed trails. To help prevent this I have been reviewing trails in the area and have some suggestions. The MVUMs are the rule so all we have open legally in out area is the Rubicon and MET. Tahoe, El Dorado, and Stanislaus have pretty complete winter closures. Plumas and Mendocino NFs are the opposite with few areas under seasonal closures.

    If you want high elevation camping then I recommend the gold lake 4x4 camp outside of Graeagle. This camp is in a small finger of the forest and all trails to the South and west are in Tahoe NF.

    Next would be Plumas NF which extends down to New Bullards Bar Reservoir. There are 2 seperate 4x4 camps and trails start a quick drive off HWY 20 between Marysville and Grass Valley. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/plumas/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=75051&actid=34

    Next option would be Mendocino NF. Pretty much everything Indian valley reservoir up past stoneyford is open. Only downside to Mendocino is it is they charge $4.99 for the trail map.

    And there is always Nevada which is more BLM than NF.

  5. Gilbert & Betty Member Joined: September 2014
    #517 Feb 2018, 11:02 AM

    Thanks for the info Kris your the best

  6. Guy and Lynda Member Joined: May 2015
    #617 Feb 2018, 11:32 PM

    Thanks Kris.  This stuff is great.  U certainly have a lot of good resources and knowledge.

  7. kris_olof started this Trailmaster Joined: October 2015
    #729 Mar 2018, 1:13 AM

    El Dorado NF has extended the winter trail closures until April 15th due to the amount of moisture up the hill. I have not seen other forests release the same info but they are likely to follow suit.

  8. kris_olof started this Trailmaster Joined: October 2015
    #817 Apr 2018, 4:17 AM

    2017/2018 winter closure has officially been lifted from El Dorado NF.  They posted the following.

    "Although the Seasonal Closure has been lifted roads may still be wet at this time of year and vulnerable to damage. It is your responsibility to make good decisions about traveling on a wet road as you may be liable for road damage."

    As of today MET is still gated at the top and there is still snow in most areas.  What this means is use your judgement.  Dont go making mud holes or tearing stuff up.  If it looks too wet or too covered in snow then turn around.  There are also a number of roads still impacted by the storm damage from last year.  Click here for more info: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/home/?cid=fsbdev7_019037

    If you have any specific questions then give the forest service a call, turns out they are friendly.

    Tahoe national forest should be open as well but they aren't as good about posting online so you have to call the ranger district office in the area you want.

    Tahoe basin stuff will be closed till mid May to June depending on the trail per usual.

    Stanislaus NF has re-opened as normal but has yet to survey all roads to know if any will be closed.  Some roads are still closed due to last years storms but most trails should be legally open.  I will post up if anything changes.  Click link for more info: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/stanislaus/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD576298

  9. Guy and Lynda Member Joined: May 2015
    #917 Apr 2018, 4:53 AM

    Thanks for this important information Kris.

  10. Josh Subscriber
    #1021 Apr 2018, 5:46 AM

    Thanks for the update Kris.

    Do you know if the road to HellHole was ever fixed?

    Semper Fi
  11. kris_olof started this Trailmaster Joined: October 2015
    #113 May 2018, 11:13 AM
    Josh said Thanks for the update Kris.  Do you know if the road to HellHole was ever fixed?   

    Kevin remembered to ask about this when we met with Kyle.  I dont remember the name of the road but many of the washed out roads have not been fixed.  Was it 11 Pines Rd? If so it is still closed but they do have a contractor lined up for this year.

  12. Mike G Subscriber
    #123 May 2018, 11:29 AM
    Josh said Thanks for the update Kris.  Do you know if the road to HellHole was ever fixed?   

    Jeff R, dustpan, Dale and I went to hellhole last year for a father's day run not sure the way we went Jeff R was our guide so you can ask him

    Mike G
  13. k-jeep Member Joined: May 2009
    #134 May 2018, 4:06 AM

    There's 4 main ways that I know of to get to Hell Hole.

    1. From Georgetown, take Wentworth Springs to 11 Pines Rd (currently CLOSED) to Hell Hole.

    2. From Foresthill, take Mosquito Ridge Rd to Rubicon Road to Ramsey Crossing Road to Hell Hole. (my favorite, and the fastest if you live on the 80 side. I've done this several times.)

    3. From Foresthill, take Mosquito Ridge Rd to French Meadows Reservoir to Hell Hole. (I think this is how they went last year.)

    4. From Foresthill, take Foresthill Rd to Robinson Flat Rd to French Meadows Reservoir to Hell Hole. (the long way!)

    These are generalized directions. Check your maps accordingly. 🙂

  14. Josh Subscriber
    #148 May 2018, 1:23 PM

    Thanks for the feedback Kevin, Kris, and Mike.

    Semper Fi
  15. kris_olof started this Trailmaster Joined: October 2015
    #1524 May 2018, 4:27 AM

    Deer Valley Update-

    So long as the snow gauge at Blue Lake does not get more than 1" of snow in the next storm (friday night/saturday), Deer Valley is on track to open on Sunday July 1.  (this should be considered a generally early opening considering how strict the environmental decision was.)  The storm forecast per NOAA is "New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible" for friday night and "New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible" for saturday but the low is only forecast at 31 so we should be ok.

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