U.S.D.A. FOREST SERVICE

KETCHUM RANGER DISTRICT 

206 SUN VALLEY ROAD

P.O. BOX 2356

KETCHUM, ID 83340 

(208) 622-5371

(208) 622-3923 FAX

                                      

SEASONAL TRAIL, ROAD AND SHEEP UPDATE – July 25 – August 8, 2008

 

Most trails within the Ketchum Ranger District are now open, although a few have patches of snow at elevations over 9000 ft that may have to be negotiated.   

The following trails within the Castle Rock Fire Area remain closed for the season to all uses except hiking: 1. Rooks Creek, 2. The west “leg” of Red Warrior (otherwise known as ‘Roots” or the downhill only section) **please note the that the east “leg” of Red Warrior trail (connecting Lodgepole to Red Warrior) is open so riding from Greenhorn to Warm Springs on this route is possible, 3. Warfield, 4. Eves Gulch (Eve Gulch is temporarily open to hikers only).

 

Trails that are open but are under reconstruction during the last week of July and first week of August : 

1. Greenhorn Area: – The Lodgepole – Mahoney Creek connector trail – crews will be working on realigning several turns and reducing ruts on a newly opened reroute.  Cow Creek to Lodgepole connector trail – crews will be constructing a turnpike in a spring area and will be improving the tread.
2. Easley Gulch Trail (“Curlies”) - crews will be putting in a reroute to add several sweeping turns towards the bottom of the trail.
3. Kinsey Creek Trail (open to ATV”s) and lower Eves Gulch- a mini bulldozer will be filling in trenches and installing drainage, July 26 – July 29. 

 

****NOTE: PLEASE HELP US PRESERVE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED TRAILS****

MOTORCYCLISTS AND MOUNTAIN BIKERS: PLEASE KEEP SPEEDS LOW AND ACCELERATE AS SLOWLY AND SMOOTHLY AS POSSIBLE THROUGH NEWLY CONSTRUCTED TURNS – SOILS ARE POWDER DRY AND ARE HIGHLY EROSIVE! PLEASE TAKE EXTRA CARE AND TRAVEL SLOWLY ON NEWLY CONSTRUCTED PORTIONS OF THE MAHONEY-LODGEPOLE TRAIL, ON A NEW REROUTE ON MAIN DEER CREEK AND ON THE NEW REROUTE ACCESSING WARM SPRINGS RIDGE AND ADAMS GULCH TRAIL FROM THE EAST BAKER CREEK ROAD. THANKS AND ENJOY! 
 

RECENTLY OPENED ROADS

West Fork of Warm Springs Road has been recently graded & repaired & is now open.

Warm Springs Road #227 over Dollarhide.

East Fork Baker Road.   

CLOSED ROADS:

Rooks Creek Road (closed due to surface damage) 

 

SUGGESTED RIDES AND HIKES: Now is the time to get some elevation and see the wildflowers still on display over 8000 ft,  Pioneer Cabin is prime for hiking and the long loop of Adams Gulch trail has been recently maintained and is in great condition, remember to ride slowly through the turns on the newly rerouted portion of this trail just off of the East Baker Creek Road. 
 

SHEEP REPORT: 

The Deer Creek Band will be trailing in the North Fork of Deer Creek area. 

The Baker Creek Band will be traveling northward in Baker Creek in the last week of July and beginning of August. 

A Band will be moving through the mouth of Johnstone Creek.  

The Elkhorn/Corral Creek band will be moving through Independence Gulch and Parker Creek. 

The Shaw Mountain Band will be moving trough the Packer Gulch area. 

In the Galena Area, a band will be in the Cherry Creek drainage. 

SAWTOOTH NATIONAL FOREST 4^TH OF JULY RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES 
 

      TWIN FALLS, ID…The majority of recreation facilities on the Sawtooth National Forest will be open for the 4^th of July holiday.  Fireworks and forests do not mix.  Visitors are reminded that fireworks are prohibited on National Forests and other public lands, including having fireworks in your possession.

       Visitors are reminded to never leave a campfire unattended.  Please ensure that your campfires are completely out before abandoning them.  Safety tips include keeping your campfire small, drowning the fire with water and stirring the remains.  You should be able to feel the campfire materials with your bare hand if the fire is properly extinguished.  A little extra care takes only a few minutes of your time and it could prevent a wildfire.

      The snow fall from this past winter and spring has delayed access for Forest trail maintenance crews.  Trail crews are just now getting into areas of the backcountry and are making progress at clearing trails of downed trees.   A few trails remain blocked by snow at elevations over 8,000 feet and in shaded areas.  Visitors should drive cautiously on all Forest roads and be prepared to encounter fallen trees, snow, and wash outs on some trails in addition to damaged sections of road.  When traveling on the Forest, check with the district office nearest your destination for the latest road and weather conditions.  For more information about all Forest campgrounds, including some fee information, visit the recreation areas page on the Forest website and click on the district you plan to visit:  http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/sawtooth/recreation/recareasmap.htm.

      All campgrounds on the Cassia Division of the Minidoka Ranger District are open.  Visitors may encounter snow and/or high water in creeks.  The District would appreciate visitors notifying the District of downed trees on roads and trails or of other access issues so that such problems can be quickly addressed. 

      All campgrounds on the Fairfield Ranger District are open.  The Dollarhide Summit of the Ketchum-Featherville Road may be impassible and will be dependent upon weather conditions. 

      Most trails within the Ketchum Ranger District are now open.  The Bald Mountain Perimeter trail will remain closed until July 1^s. Lifts will begin operating on June 28^th for hikers and on July 1^st for bikers.  The following trails within the Castle Rock Fire Area will remain closed for the season to all uses except hiking: 1. Rooks Creek; 2. the west fork “leg” of Red Warrior (otherwise known as ‘Roots” or the downhill only section; 3. Warfield; 4. Eves Gulch; and 5. West Fork of Warm Springs.  The Ketchum Trail Report can be found at http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/sawtooth/recreation/d3_trail_report.pdf.  Visitors can also call 208-622-5371 for daily trail updates.

      Visitors on the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (Sawtooth NRA) should expect to encounter many downed trees on trails as a result of fires, avalanches, wind, and snow.  Although Fisher Creek Trail is open, there are some washouts and downed trees on Fisher Creek Road and trail. Point Campground is closed.  Upper and Lower O’Brien campgrounds are closed and will remain closed until the Robinson Bar Bridge is repaired. Sawtooth NRA campgrounds do not have hookups or electricity. Dispersed camping is allowed in Iron Creek in designated sites, however some rules have changed.  Campfires should be started only in Forest Service provided metal fire rings and the length of stays has been reduced from 16 days to 7 days.  These actions have been taken to reduce resource damage and to provide a greater level of fire safety.  There are 33 developed campgrounds in the Sawtooth NRA and 50% of the sites can be reserved while the other 50% remain on the first-come first-served list.  The Sawtooth NRA Recreation Report can be found at http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/sawtooth/recreation/recreport.htm.

      To make a reservation for Sawtooth National Forest campgrounds call the NRRS (National Reservation System) at 1-877-444-6777 or go online at www.recreation.gov. Reservations cannot be made at local Forest Service offices.  

      The Redfish Lake Visitors Center will conduct interpretive programs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through the summer season.  The presentations occur at specific times throughout the day.  Presentations this weekend include:

• Friday, June 27, 2:00 p.m., “Nature Exploration” at Wood River Amphitheater
• Friday, June 27, 9:00 p.m., “Pacific Salmon” at Wood River Amphitheater
• Friday, June 27, 1:00 p.m., ”Amazing Animals” at Redfish Lake Visitor Center
• Saturday, June 28, 2:00 p.m., “What Lives Here? A Scavenger Hunt” at Wood River Amphitheater
• Saturday, June 28, 9:00 p.m., “A Natural History of Local Trees” at Wood River Amphitheater
• Saturday, June 28, 9:30 a.m., “Animal Habitat” at Stanley Lake Overlook

 

• Saturday, June 28, 10:00 a.m., Book Signing & Flower Walk with E. Scott Earle at Redfish Lake Visitor Center
• Saturday, June 28, 11:30 a.m., “About Wolves” at Redfish Lake Visitor Center
• Saturday,  June 28, 1:00 p.m., “All About Bears” at Redfish Lake Visitor Center
• Sunday, June 29, 10:00 a.m., “Fire Ecology at the Castle Rock Fire” at Adams Gulch Trail Head

For more information regarding these and future interpretive programs, call 208-774-3376.

      The “Sawtooth Forum and Lecture Series 2008” in Stanley, Idaho will run through August 29. Attendance is free and open to the public. All lectures will begin at 3:00 p.m. and held at the Stanley Museum. The lectures will be repeated as campfire programs at 8:30 p.m. at the Redfish Lake Amphitheater.  Future presentations include:

• Friday, June 27, Tom Blanchard will speak on “Mining in Idaho Today and Yesterday.’
• Friday, July 4, Clark Heglar will present “Them Were the Days” by the Oldest Man in Idaho
• Friday, July 11, Will Reed & Randy Thompson will present “Idaho’s First Resident and Flint Mapping Demonstration

 

      Have a safe and pleasant stay on the Sawtooth National Forest, but keep hazards in mind.  Be prepared for unexpected weather changes and/or medical emergencies.  It is advisable to take extra food and clothing and let someone know your planned route of travel, and time of departure and return.  Recreational activities safety tips can be found on the Sawtooth National Forest website at:  http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/sawtooth/recreation/safety.htm

      To obtain the latest information regarding recreational activities, road, and weather conditions, contact the following Sawtooth National Forest offices:

Forest Supervisor’s Office - 208-737-3200 - Monday-Friday 8:00 – 5:00

Minidoka Ranger District - 208-678-0430 - Monday-Friday 8:00 – 5:00

Fairfield Ranger District - 208-764-3202 - Monday-Friday – 8:00 – 5:00

SNRA HQ Visitor Center - 727-5013 - Monday-Saturday - 8:30 - 5:00 
Stanley Ranger Station - 774-3000 - Monday-Friday - 8:30 -12:00 1:00-4:30 
Redfish Lake Visitor Center - 774-3376 Friday, Saturday, Sunday 9:30 – 5:00 
Ketchum Ranger Station - 622-5371 - Monday- Friday - 8:30 - 5:00