Boise National Forest visitors may experience heavier snowpack conditions on Memorial Day weekend compared with previous years -- plus, water levels in rivers and streams will be running high and very cold, according to Forest officials.
Many trails, roads and campgrounds may be open if they are located below 7,000 feet in elevation.
Recreationalists planning on going to higher elevations should contact Ranger District offices, or the Interagency Visitor Center to get current information about road conditions and facilities. Many roads will likely have continuous snow, or snow drifts that will potentially be deep enough for a vehicle to become stuck.
“It is not too early in the season to be extra careful with campfires,” said Susan Blake, Boise National Forest Acting Public Affairs Officer. “Also, do not try to drive through a snow drift, because you may get stuck and cell phone coverage is not available in many areas of the Forest.”
Here’s what the Ranger Districts are anticipating for campground conditions for the Memorial Weekend:
OPEN CAMPGROUNDS
• All campgrounds along State Highway 21 -- South Fork Payette River are OPEN with full services.
• Park Creek Campground is OPEN.
• The road to Grandjean is OPEN.
CLOSED CAMPGROUNDS
At this time ALL access roads to Deadwood Reservoir are CLOSED. You cannot get to Deadwood Reservoir from any access roads because of snow, Forest officials said.
The Stanley/Landmark Road - National Forest System (NFS) road 579 from State Highway 21 is CLOSED to the Elk Creek Guard Station, Bear Valley and Dagger Falls.
--Bull Trout Campground is CLOSED due to snow.
--Scott Mountain Road (NFS road 555) is CLOSED due to snow.
--The Clear Creek Road (NFS road 582) is CLOSED due to snow.
Emmett Ranger District (208-365-7000)
Garden Valley Guard Station (208-462-3241)
All Payette River recreation sites are open. There is a $3.00 day-use fee for visitors who have not purchased a 2016 Payette River Pass. Passes are available at Forest offices and vendors.
OPEN CAMPGROUNDS
--All campgrounds adjacent to State Highway 55 along the North Fork Payette River between Banks and Smiths Ferry are OPEN.
--Campgrounds along the Middle Fork Payette River Road (NFS road 698) including Boiling Springs, Hardscrabble, Rattlesnake, Trail Creek and Tie Creek are OPEN.
--Hot Springs campground is OPEN.
--Third Fork and Boiling Springs Cabins are OPEN with reservations at: http://www.recreation.gov/ Deadwood Lookout opens on June 25.
--National Forest System (NFS roads 671 and 698) are OPEN with access to the Silver Creek Plunge area. Peace Valley Group Campground is OPEN. Silver Creek Campground is OPEN. All campgrounds around ----Sage Hen Reservoir are OPEN.
Mountain Home Ranger District (208-587-7961)
OPEN CAMPGROUNDS
• The Danskin ATV/OHV Trail systems is OPEN.
• The Mountain Home Ranger District plans to have all lower elevation campgrounds OPEN by Memorial Weekend.
• Fee collections and all services will be in place at Pine Airport, Curlew Creek, and Elks Flat Campgrounds Group site reservations can be made at: www.recreation.gov.
• Anderson Ranch reservoir open and there are concrete ramps available. Please use caution as floating debris has been spotted in the reservoir.
• Water levels in the Anderson Ranch Reservoir are controlled by the Bureau of Reclamation. Call the Bureau of Reclamation at 208-334-9134 for the current river and reservoir water levels. View image and more information about reservoir water levels at: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/ramps/anderson/anderson.html
• Call the Elmore County Highway District for current updates on county roads. Their number is: 208-587-3211.
CLOSED CAMPGROUNDS AND AREAS:
• All Campgrounds in the Trinity Recreation area (normally they open July 15 or when conditions permit) are CLOSED due to snow. Closed Campgrounds include: Big Trinity, Little Trinity, Big Roaring and Little Roaring Campgrounds.
• Shafer Butte Campground is CLOSED, it normally opens June 15. Call the District for updates.
• BURNED AREA CLOSURE REMAINS IN EFFECT – Dog Creek, Evans Creek, Spillway, and Tailwater Campgrounds, and the Wilson OHV/ATV trail systems. The area closure for the Elk/Pony Complex Fire is still in effect and the affected area description can be viewed on the Boise National Forest website Alerts and Notices. (REVISED Elk & Pony Fires - Area and Trail Closure Version #7.)
• The area along the South Fork Boise River from Danskin Bridge to Castle Creek Campground is day-use only, with the exception of the following areas: Castle Creek, Village, Reclamation Village, Cow Creek and several designated spur roads. These are identified on the Boise National Forest website Alerts and Notices (REVISED Elk & Pony Fires - Area and Trail Closure Version #7.)
• Trail Closure – The National Forest System Trail 045 (Roaring River Trail) and National Forest System Trail 122 (William Pogue Trail) have a trail closure. See the Boise National Forest website Alerts and Notices (Order number: 0402-01-59).
Cascade Ranger District (208-382-7400)
OPEN CAMPGROUNDS
--All campgrounds and trails are anticipated to OPEN by May 22, with the exception of those above snow levels of 7,000 feet. Call the District for updates.
--Campgrounds along the west side of Cascade Lake are scheduled to OPEN by the Memorial weekend.
--Shoreline, South Fork Salmon River, Warm Lake and Picnic Point Campgrounds are scheduled to be OPEN.
--The Stolle Rental Cabin is OPEN and access NFS road 474.
--South Fork Salmon River NFS road 474 is OPEN to Yellow Pine.
--The Johnson Creek Corridor Campgrounds are OPEN and the access roads are open.
--Johnson Guard Station Cabin is OPEN for reservations beginning May 26.
--Summit Lake, Pen Basin and Buck Mountain Campgrounds are OPEN. Road conditions may be muddy.
CLOSED CAMPGROUNDS
--At this time all access roads to Deadwood Reservoir are CLOSED. You cannot get to Deadwood Reservoir from any access roads because of snow.
--Snowbank Mountain Road NFS road 446 is gated and seasonally CLOSED until May 31.]
Idaho City Ranger District (208-392-6681)
OPEN CAMPGROUNDS
All campgrounds within the Idaho Ranger District are anticipated to open by Memorial Day weekend.
• Campgrounds OPEN - Edna Creek, Ten Mile, Willow Creek, Whoop-em-up, Grayback Gulch Bad Bear, Black Rock and Hayfork.
• Idaho City Cabins will be OPEN with the exception of Graham Cabin. Graham cabin will on June 1. Cabins are available for reservation through: http://www.recreation.gov/
The campgrounds near Atlanta will OPEN May 22, including Queens River, Power Plant, and Riverside.
CLOSED CAMPGROUNDS
--The road to the Graham Guard Station Cabin providing access to the Graham is currently CLOSED due to snow.
