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Seasonal Road Closures on Pole Mountain begin Feb. 1
Release Date: Jan 31, 2019
Media Contact: Aaron Voos, (307)745-2323
(LARAMIE, Wyo.) January 31, 2019 – Seasonal road closures on the Pole Mountain unit will go into effect Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 to protect resources in the Medicine Bow National Forest.
Restricted routes consist of all roads on Pole Mountain except Interstate 80, Wyoming Highway 210, Forest Road 700 west of Vedauwoo Campground, Tie City and Happy Jack parking areas, as well as Forest Roads 719 and 719.A. Signage and swinging gates will be used to ensure easy identification of closed areas.
To accommodate non-motorized public access during the closure period, two large parking areas were constructed along Highway 210 this past year. The lots are located at the junction of the highway and Forest Roads 700 (Vedauwoo Road) and 707 (Blair-Wallis Road).
This will be the second year of established, annual, seasonal road closures on the Pole Mountain unit. In prior years, temporary closures were utilized due to misuse and illegal off-roading, which resulted in long-term damage to roadbeds and natural resources.
The seasonal road closures have proven to be an effective way to protect natural resources during a critical time of the year, as well as providing a road system that is sustainable in the long term and will meet the needs of Forest users, for both current and future generations.
The decision to seasonally close roads on Pole Mountain during snowmelt and/or wet conditions is a result of the Pole Mountain Travel Management project decision, signed in July, 2017.
Pole Mountain is still available for use after the closures take effect. Non-motorized access for a wide variety of activities and uses is permitted during the closure period.
The end date of the annual closure is flexible, as it is dependent on weather and road conditions. District staff will monitor and evaluate conditions on Pole Mountain during late spring to facilitate the re-opening of all roads as soon as practical.
It is important to remember that even when roads begin to dry and reopen; motorized users must remain on designated routes and are not permitted to travel off-road.
Located north of Interstate 80 between Laramie and Cheyenne, the Pole Mountain unit encompasses approximately 55,000 acres on the Medicine Bow National Forest. The area experiences heavy year-round usage from the Laramie, Cheyenne and Fort Collins areas.
Those traveling through the National Forest should pay attention to signage and refer to the Pole Mountain Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for details. MVUMs are free and physical copies can be obtained at the Laramie District Office, 2468 Jackson St. in Laramie. Electronic versions of the free map are available online at https://fs.usda.gov/goto/mbr/mvum/maps.
For more information about this closure, contact the Laramie Ranger District at (307) 745-2300. You can also visit https://fs.usda.gov/mbr, or follow us on Twitter, @FS_MBRTB.