Some Roads Open on the Western Divide Ranger District
Release Date: Apr 13, 2015
Contact(s): Denise Alonzo
Springville, California, April 13, 2015 – Many roads accessing recreation sites on the Western Divide Ranger District in Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest opened early this year. Late last week Tulare County cleared and opened the Western Divide Highway and Parker Pass, which provide road access through the mountains between Porterville, California Hot Springs, and Johnsondale. The popular Trail of 100 Giants is now open, but restrooms and trash pickup are not available until Forest Service concessionaire California Land Management is fully operational.
All campgrounds are expected to be open by Memorial Day. In order to ensure a camping spot, advanced reservations are recommended through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) phone: 1-877-444-6777 or on the World Wide Web at www.recreation.gov. The following campgrounds on the Western Divide Ranger District have sites reservable as of May 22, 2015: Coy Flat, Belknap, Quaking Aspen, Redwood Meadow, Holey Meadow, Long Meadow Group Camp, White River and Wishon (open year-round).
Lower Peppermint, a developed campground along the Lloyd Meadow Road and Leavis Flat Campground, located near California Hot Springs, are expected to be open in time for holiday visitors, first come first served. Dispersed camping is available anywhere on the National Forest unless otherwise posted. Upper Peppermint is a popular site for dispersed camping, and is currently open with no services. Visitors are expected to “pack it in, pack it out” when disperse camping and are limited to 14 nights.
The North Road (21S50) and Lloyd Meadow Roads (22S82) are both open, providing backpackers access to the Golden Trout Wilderness from Lewis Camp or Jerky Meadow Trailheads. Other Forest Roads on the District will be open when they have dried out enough to prevent resource damage from tires. After last week’s storm, visitors should expect snow covered trails at the higher elevations.
With continued dry weather, campfire restrictions will be in effect early this summer. Plan your trip accordingly by picking up a campfire permit, free of charge, at any Forest Service, CALFIRE, or Bureau of Land Management office or by visiting the Sequoia National Forest website and downloading a copy of the permit at www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia. Off-highway vehicle use is restricted to roads within the Giant Sequoia National Monument. Mountain-bike use is restricted to trails and roads. Trails where mountain-bike use is prohibited are signed.
The Western Divide Ranger District office in Springville is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. This office will be closed on Monday May 25th. For more information about the Western Divide Ranger District, please call (559) 539-2607.