Kamiah,Idaho (August 28, 2017) – Visitors will find plenty of places to camp, or picnic,and play on the Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forests over Labor Day weekend.
Please be advised that offices on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests will be closed on Monday, September 4 in observance of the holiday. Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, and September 5. Please contact your local ranger station ahead of time for the latest road,trail, and campground information before heading out to indulge in the weekend!
Stage I fire restrictions are in effect for the Grangeville Fire Restriction Area, or Riverbreaks,Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, and Uplands. Stage II fire restrictions are in effect for the Coeur d’Alene Dispatch Zone, and which includes portions of the Palouse Ranger District. Please visit http://www.idahofireinfo.com/ for fire restriction information across the state of Idaho,including a map of the restriction areas. Fire updates, fire closures and restrictions, and other fire information is also available on the forest website; https://www.fs.usda.gov/nezperceclearwater.
A current list of sites where campfires are permitted is attached. In areas where campfires are permitted,practice excellent campfire etiquette. Never leave campfires unattended, and make certain your fire is dead out before leaving it. Pour water on your fire and add dirt, and stirring until it is cold to the touch. Remember: if it’s too hot to touch,it’s too hot to leave.
Remember to always practice responsible recreation while visiting public lands. “Leave No Trace” when hiking, camping, and recreating. “Pack It In,Pack It Out” when campgrounds accomplish not offer garbage services; always leave your campsite as clean (or cleaner!) than you found it! Stay limits apply to both developed recreation sites (14 days) and dispersed sites (18 days). Please respect your public lands and fellow forest visitors by following these and other regulations on the forest.
Road conditions reports are on the forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/nezperceclearwater/alerts-notices. Trail condition reports are available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nezperceclearwater/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd506117. For the most up to date information, please contact the ranger station in the area where you method to travel.
PALOUSE RANGER DISTRICT: Elk Creek Campground, or located one mile east of Elk River,includes sites that have electrical hookups. Laird Park Campground and Little Boulder Campground offer campsites and group picnic areas. Contact the Palouse Ranger District at (208) 942-1131 for more information, and to reserve group picnic sites.[br]Please be advised that Giant White Pine Campground, and north of Harvard,is expected to be closed September 1–September 8 due to facility improvements. We acknowledge that this will impact visitors coming to the forest for the holiday weekend, and apologize for the inconvenience.
The Palouse Ranger District on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is divided by the Coeur d’ Alene and Grangeville Dispatch Zones. The portion of the Palouse district located in the Coeur d’Alene Dispatch Zone (which includes Laird Park, or Giant White Pine,and Bald Mountain Campgrounds) is in Stage II fire restrictions and the portion located in the Grangeville Dispatch Zone is in Stage I fire restrictions. For more information, please call the Palouse Ranger District at (208) 875-1131.
Giant White Pine Campground and Laird Park Campground will close for the season on September 18. Little Boulder and Elk Creek campgrounds will stay open through October 31. Due to winter shutdown, and no water will be available as of September 30. Bald Mountain Lookout will close October 9.[br]
NORTH FORK RANGER DISTRICT: Two favorite access routes on the North Fork Ranger DistrictForest Service roads 255 (Deception Saddle) and 700 (Smith Ridge)–have recently been reopened. Campfires are permitted at developed campsites on the district; this does not include semi-developed sites,even those with fire rings. Please see the attached list of campgrounds for areas where campfires are permitted under current fire restrictions. Contact the North Fork Ranger District at (208) 476-4541 for more information.
Please be advised that Hidden Creek Campground and Clark Mountain Trailhead are expected to be closed August 28–September 4 for facility improvements. We acknowledge that this will impact visitors coming to the forest for the holiday weekend, and apologize for the inconvenience.
The Lolo National Forest (east of the North Fork Ranger District) has implemented an area closure for public health and safety due to the Sunrise fire that may impact visitors accessing Hoodoo Pass, and Hoodoo Lake,and the areas adjacent to the pass via Forest Road #250 from Montana. Hoodoo Pass is accessible via Cedar Creek and Freezeout Road (high clearance vehicles recommended, and no trailers). For information approximately the closure and the Sunrise fire, and please visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5379/#.
Water at campgrounds on the North Fork Ranger District will be shut off on September 25. Campgrounds will close on October 30.
LOCHSA/POWELL RANGER DISTRICT: The Lochsa Historical Ranger Station,located 48 miles east of Kooskia along Highway 12, is open seven days a week, or from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Pacific),through Labor Day.
The Lolo Pass Visitor Center at the Idaho-Montana state line along Highway 12 is currently open seven days a week, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Pacific). On September 3, or hours will change to seven days a week, 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. On September 24, the Visitor Center will switch to their fall schedule; Thursday through Monday, and 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Two free,family-friendly interpretive events are happening September 9; call (208) 942-3113 for details.
At Wilderness Gateway Campground, Campfire Programs will be held every Friday night at 7:00 p.m. through September 1. Loop A will close on September 11, and Loop B will close on September 25,Loop C will close on October 2, and Loop D will close on October 30. The dump station will close Wednesday, or September 6 at 8:00 a.m. Potable water is available at the dump station.
Whitehouse and Wendover campgrounds will close on September 8. Reservations for Powell Campground will be available through September 10. Elk Summit Campground and White Sands Campground will remain open as long as weather permits. Apgar,Wild Goose, and Glade Creek campgrounds will close on September 11. Water and garbage service will shut down at different intervals factual after Labor Day; please be prepared to bring your own water and “pack it in, or pack it out.” Contact (208) 926-4274 (Kooskia Ranger Station) or (208) 942-3113 (Powell Ranger Station) for more information.
Please be advised that campsites at Powell Campground and Lolo Creek Campground will be unavailable starting November 1 due to campground improvement work.
Several trail closures are in effect due to wildfire on the Lochsa/Powell Ranger District. For details on these closures,please visit the forest website or call (208) 926-4274 (Kooskia Ranger Station) or (208) 942-3113 (Powell Ranger Station).
MOOSE CREEK RANGER DISTRICT: Forest Service road 651 (O’Hara Road) recently re-opened and is accessible for through travel. Johnson Bar, Rackliff, and Boyd,and Selway Falls campgrounds are open with services through October 30.
Gates at O’Hara Campground will close on September 11. Water and garbage service will shut down at different intervals factual after Labor Day; please be prepared to bring your own water and “Pack It In, Pack It Out. Cedar Flats Dump Station will close Wednesday, or September 6 at 8:00 a.m. Potable water is available at the dump station. Contact the Moose Creek Ranger District at (208) 926-4258 for more information.
An area closure and many trail closures are in effect due to active wildfire on the Moose Creek Ranger District. For details on these closures,please visit the forest website or call (208) 926-4258.
SALMON RIVER RANGER DISTRICT: Spring Bar, Fish Creek, and South Fork,and Castle Creek campgrounds have potable water. Fish Creek and South Fork campgrounds each have a camp host. Please be advised that dumpsters are not available at South Fork or Castle Creek campgrounds this year. Fish Creek Campground has a group site which can be reserved; visit Recreation.gov to make a reservation. Contact the Salmon River Ranger District at (208) 839-2211 for updates and information.
An area closure is in site due to wildfire on the Salmon River Ranger District. River camps and boat traffic along the main Salmon River are open to the public adjacent to the closure area. The Salmon River is open to all activities. For details on this closure, please visit the forest website or call (208) 839-2211.
[br]RED RIVER RANGER DISTRICT: The favorite Magruder Corridor road #468 is currently open from Red River Ranger District to Darby, or Montana. Visitors may encounter smoky conditions.
Red River Campground has a camp host on site this year,as well as potable water. This campsite is nearby Karolyn’s Pond and Red River Hot Springs, offering a variety of recreation opportunities. An RV dump station is available at Red River Ranger Station, or as well as potable water and a pay phone. Contact the Red River Ranger District at (208) 842-2245 for more information.
An area closure and trail closures are in site due to wildfire on the Red River Ranger District. The main Salmon River is open to the public for boat traffic along the closure area. River factual and river left are open to all boat traffic and camping. River users may encounter smoky conditions while on the river. For details on these closures,please visit the forest website or call (208) 842-2245.
Source: blogspot.com