Bark Camp Campground and High Knob Recreation Area are currently closed and will be delayed in opening this season. Water systems are unavailable and repairs are underway. We apologize for the inconvenience. For more information please contact the Clinch Ranger District Office at 276-679-8370
Cane Patch, located in the South Fork section near Pound VA is open for camping with the bathhouse and non electric sites operational. The water at the electric loops is still unavailable but campers can fill up from the potable water spigot at the dump station.
The Tye River Fire is a wildfire on the Glenwood & Pedlar Ranger Districts that began on Thursday May 3. Portions are continuing to burn within Saint Mary’s Wilderness. Current fire information including area and trail closures are available at: www.inciweb.nwcg.gov/incidents/5783 .
Beginning approximately April 30, 2018, sections of the Petites Gap Road (Forest Road #35) will be intermittently closed for road maintenance. The intermittent closure will begin at the end of the State maintained road (SR 781) and run eastward toward the Blue Ridge Parkway for approximately 2 1/2 miles. During culvert replacement, the road may be impassable for several hours. Through traffic should plan on using alternate routes to the Blue Ridge Parkway, such as the Parkers Gap Road (FR #812). During the closure, repairs and maintenance will include repair of road damage from past storm events, installation of new culverts, additional gravel, and grading of the road. This road maintenance should be completed within 60 days. These road and general maintenance activites will improve the long-term sustainability of the road.
A closure order (order) has been issued for the Mountain Valley Pipeline Project right of way and access roads on Forest lands in Monroe County, West VA and Giles and Montgomery Counties, VA. This revised order terminates and supersedes orders number 08-08-11-18-01; 08-08-11-18-02; 08-08-11-18-03; and 08-08-11-18-04. The order prohibits going into or upon National Forest System lands in the proximity of the approved right-of-way, and the use of Mystery Ridge Road (FSR #11080), and Pocahontas Road (FSR #972). The order excludes the tread width of the Appalachian Trail and the entirety of Brush Mountain Road (FSR #188). Please refer to the order for specific details about the areas that are closed.
The order is in effect until March 31, 2019, unless terminated earlier.
Beginning in mid-April the water level in Tomahawk Pond will be lowered approximately 4 feet for repairs to fishing access areas. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries plans to continue stocking trout up to the drawdown date and meet the annual number of stockings for Tomahawk Pond. Fishing will continue to be permitted in non-construction areas such as the dam and areas contractors are not actively working. These improvements are made possible using funds from Forest Stamp purchases by anglers and hunters across the Commonwealth. This is a cooperative project of the US Forest Service and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Due to road damage on private land, adjacent land owners have gated and closed the private land portion of Garden Mountain Road/Round Mountain Road from all public travel. This is no longer a through road; approximately 2.5 miles of the road is inaccessible. The closed private section begins in Burke's Garden on Back Rd/666 and ends after approximately 2 miles. Approximately an additional half mile is closed on the National Forest in order to stop westbound traffic at the last safe turn around.
For additional information, contact the Eastern Divide Ranger District Office at: 540 552 4641.
The Wallace Tract trail bridge (suspension bridge) over the Cowpasture River on Forest Trail #417, in Bath County is temporarily closed due to damage during a high water event following a storm on April 15, 2018.
Forest users should be aware that passage across the Cowpasture River at the Wallace Tract is unavailable at this time.
The USDA Forest Service will delay opening the following Forest Roads (FR), FR 621 Beaverdam Gap, and the eastern section of FR 641 Wallen Ridge from the intersection with Baxley Road east to Highway 23 due to the major storm event experienced by the region in February 2018. This storm event has made these roads unsafe for vehicle travel. The roads will remain closed until further assessment and needed repairs can be made. The remainder of the seasonally closed roads will open normally on March 24, 2018 but users should still use caution on all Forest roads due to flood damage from recent heavy rains.
If you have any questions, please contact the Clinch River Ranger District office in Norton at 276/679-8370.
The USDA Forest Service has issued an emergency road closure order for Forest Road (FR) 69 Jerry’s Run, FR 600 Big Run, FR 366 So Big, FS 277 and 277A Crows Run and Crows Run Spur in Alleghany County due to the major storm event experienced by the region on June 23, 2016. This storm event has made these roads unsafe for vehicle travel.
The road will remail closed until further assessment can be made. If you have any questions, please contact the James River Ranger District office in Covington at 540/962-2214.
The Sandy Flats Shelter on the Iron Mountain Trail in Washington County, Virginia has been completely removed due to damage from a fallen tree. A sunken fire pit and composting privy will remain. The area can continue to be used for camping.
The group camping bathhouse at Sherando Lake Recreation Area is being replaced beginning in the spring of 2018. The current bathhouse is scheduled to be demolished in early May and installation of a new replacement bathhouse will follow. For this reason group camping reservations area presently closed through the end of June. Existing reservations made prior to the closure will be honored at this time.
Due to recent storm events, seasonal road events will be delayed until road conditions are safe. Wildlife Road is open to middle, and this alert will be updated as additional roads are opened. Thank you for your patience in the matter.
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