Eldorado
 
 

Roads and Trail Status

Last updated: September 13, 2018

Accessiblity of the various roads and trails on the forest depends on the time of year and the weather. Some road conditions can be predicted, others can not. Unpredictable events of nature can produce road hazards which may not be cleared upon your arrival. Be flexible and enjoy the journey!

Seasonal Road and Trail Closures:

The Eldorado National Forest has several versions of these:

Forestwide (except Rock Creek OHV area):

​All native surface (dirt, unpaved) roads and trails are seasonally closed from January 1 through March 31st. During these winter and spring months vehicle use on dirt roads and trails is prohibited.

  • A Forest Order would be issued to go into the closure early or extend the closure based on forest conditions at the time.

Rock Creek OHV area:

Rock Creek Wet Weather Closure

Rock Creek OHV Trails are temporarily closed due to wet weather when 1.5 inches or more of precipitation is measured. The trails will open after a 48 hour period of drying weather. (Map and trail list is available on the Forest Order page.)

  • Why does Rock Creek have a separate closure? Rock Creek's trail monitoring and closure system was already in place when Travel Management analysis occured in in 2005 and works well for the area. Snow Zone Closure - the eastern portion of the Rock Creek system is closed when 2 inches of snow is measured until the snow has completely melted from the Bald Mountain Staging area. (Map and trail list is available on the Forest Order page.)

Winter Deer Range Closure

From November 10 to May 1st the southern portion of the trail system is closed for wildlife needs. (Map and trail list is available on the Forest Order page.)

Forest Rules, Regulations, and Forest Specific Forest Orders (regulations)

FOREST-WIDE OR MULTI DISTRICT CLOSURES

Road

District

Status

STORM DAMAGE

Forestwide

Roads closed due to storm damage.

Check the storm damage web page for the roads that were damaged over the winter and may be closed until repairs are made.

Dirt Roads and Trails (native surface, unpaved)

Forestwide

The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS NOT in effect. 

December 1 through at least March 30

During the winter and spring months vehicle use on dirt roads and trails is prohibited. Use of soaked roads and trails contributes to sedimentation of streams and costly trail damage that can be prevented by avoiding use when trails are holding water. By allowing roads and trails to dry sufficiently, users will ensure quality trail opportunities in the future.

42 Route Meadow Closure

Project Web Page

Closed until repaired.

Reduced to 3 routes closed.

Amador Ranger District

  • Allen Camp Trail

  • 17E24 Carson Emigrant Trail beyond Mud Lake. (Mud Lake section of the Carson Emigrant Trail is now open up to Mud Lake, 17E32, and Allen’s Camp.)

  • 17E28 Long Valley

Pacific Ranger District

  • All affected roads have been completed.

Placerville Ranger District

  • All affected roads have been completed.

FR 5
Mormon Emigrant Trail/ Iron Mountain road

AMA/PVL

Open.

STATUS: GEORGETOWN RANGER DISTRICT - WENTWORTH SPRINGS AND HELL HOLE AREAS

Road

Status

FR 1/CR 63
Wentworth Springs - from Georgetown to Uncle Toms Cabin

Open.

17N02 (FR 22)
French Meadows Reservoir to French House

Open.

14N23 (FR 25)
Blacksmith Flat - from Ralston to Forest Road 2

STORM DAMAGE: Closed due to damage in the Blacksmith Flat area. – Black Smith Flat repairs in progress.  Expected opening is late September.

14N08 (FR 2)
Eleven Pines- from Wentworth Springs road to Hell Hole

STORM DAMAGE: Road is closed due to multiple slides and road failure.This road goes through the King Fire area.

Repairs in progress. Expected opening is late September 2018.

13N42
Pigeon Roost

STORM DAMAGE: Impassable

Rock Creek - East & West Trails**

For the most up to date information call the Georgetown Ranger Station at 530-333-4312.

Rock Creek has it's own wet weather closure plan and does not fall under the forest-wide seasonal closure.(Map and trail list is available on the Forest Orderpage.)

Rock Creek - Southern Trails
(Crossier Loop Critical Deer Winter Range)***

Seasonal closure is NOT in effect at this time: November 10 through May 1. ***

Call the Georgetown District Office at 530-333-4312 for current information. (Map and trail list is available on the Forest Order page.)

Rock Creek - East side portion

Snow Zone Closure is NOT in effect.

The eastern portion of the Rock Creek system is closed when 2 inches of snow is measured until the snow has completely melted from the Bald Mountain Staging area. (Map and trail list is available on the Forest Order page.)

STATUS: PACIFIC RANGER DISTRICT - CRYSTAL BASIN AREA

Road

Status
17N12 (FR 3/ CR 147)
Ice House		 Open.
FR 1/ CR 63
Wentworth Springs - from Uncle Toms to Ice House		 Open. 

Ellis Trailhead / Rubicon 4WD Trail

County road. Check out this web site for current conditions.

http://bit.ly/2wFztg2

16E21
Barrett Lake Jeep Trail

Open. For more information go to the Hi-Landers web page as they maintain the trail under the Adopt-A-Trail program. http://hi-landers.com/BLT/BLT.html 
12N78
Union Valley Road

Closed for construction September 4, 2018 through December 31, 2019

Forest Order 03-18-17
12N52
Wolf Creek Road (north side of lake) from Westpoint Boatramp to Ice House road

Closed for construction September 4, 2018 through December 31, 2019

Forest Order 03-18-17

12N30
Bryant Springs - from Peavine Ridge to Westpoint Boatramp on Union Valley Reservoir

Closed for construction from its intersection with 12N52 (Wolf Creek road), then south to its intersection with 12N30R (Westpoint Campground road).

Forest Order 03-18-17

September 4, 2018 through December 31, 2019
11N99
Granite Springs		 STORM DAMAGE: Impassable. Granite Springs is not passable 4 miles in from Ice House Rd.  The damage continues for another 2 to 3 miles toward Wrights Rd.  There are major slumps and landslides.  Barricades and signs have been placed accordingly.  

11N60
Jaybird Canyon

STORM DAMAGE: Temporarily closed.

11N55
Peavine Ridge

Open
11N52
Lake Shore Drive (north side of Ice House Reservoir)

Closed for construction September 4, 2018 through December 31, 2019

Forest Order 03-18-17

11N38
Weber Mill Road

Passable. A few new damage sites (mainly erosion) occurred during this past winter (2018).  The road is passable to high clearance vehicles, not to passenger cars.  High clearance vehicles should exercise caution.
11N37
Ice House/ Wrights Lake Tie		 Open. 

11N26
Wrights Lake - from Highway 50 to Wrights Lake

Open. 

STATUS: PLACERVILLE RANGER DISTRICT - HIGHWAY 50 SOUTH AREA

Road

Status

12N59
Slab Creek Road

STORM DAMAGE: Impassable

11N53
Alder Creek Picnic

Open.

11N46
Alder Creek

STORM DAMAGE: Passable but drive with caution. 

11N40
Silver Fork

Open.

11N34
Forebay

SMUD has said Forebay road is safe to trave

11N23D
Packsaddle Pass

Open.

11N16
45 Mile Campground

Open.

10N83
North South

Open.

10N40
Plum Creek

STORM DAMAGE: Impassable

9N45
Caldor

STORM DAMAGE: Impassable. Large section of road eroded away.

Caples Trail System

Open.
Elkins Flat*

Open.

See Seasonal Road and Trail Closure in Forest Order table at the top of the page.*

17E73
Strawberry Canyon

Open.

17E16
Little Round Top Trail

Open.

16E26
Long Canyon 4WD trail

Open.

13E19
Pony Express Trail

The Trail Bridge 1/2 mile west of Kyburz landfill has been destroyed by winter storms. A ford has been created on a slight re-route.

13E08
Fleming Trail System

Open.

13E04
Cedar Park Trail

Open.

STATUS: AMADOR RANGER DISTRICT - HIGHWAY 88 AREA

Road

Status

CR 35
Omo Ranch

Open.

10N13
Schneider Cow Camp

Open.

10N11
Kirkwood Lake

Open.

10N01
Woods Lake

Open.

09N01
Blue Lakes

Open.

8N50
Salt Springs/Tiger Creek

STORM DAMAGE: Due to  road damage from the last 2 winters, access into the area is limited.

  • Ellis road is OPEN.

  • Panther Creek road is closed due to damage. No funding for repairs at this time.

  • Tiger Creek road is being handled by PGE and is still unstable. Their engineers are working on a solution.

8N25 (FR92)
Ellis Creek

STORM DAMAGE: Due to  road damage from the last 2 winters, access into the area is limited. A PG&E contractor made an intermediate fix to the damaged area, allowing for safe passage to the North Fork Mokelumne River. Please be alert to driving dangers.

  • Ellis road is OPEN.

  • Panther Creek road is closed due to damage. No funding for repairs at this time.

  • Tiger Creek road is being handled by PGE and is still unstable. Their engineers are working on a solution.

8N23
Mehrten Springs

Open.

8N05 (FR91)
Panther Creek

STORM DAMAGE:

  • Ellis road is OPEN.

  • Panther Creek road is closed due to damage. No funding for repairs at this time.

  • Tiger Creek road is being handled by PGE and is still unstable. Their engineers are working on a solution.

8N03
Bear River

Open.

Gold Note*

Open.

See Seasonal Road and Trail Closure in Forest Order table at the top of the page.*

 

19E01
Deer Valley

Open.

17E79
Mud Lake Road and 17E24 / 16E26 Ridge

Partially Open.

The Mud Lake section of the Carson Emigrant Trail 17E24 is open from Highway 88 up to Mud Lake, 17E32, and Allen’s Camp 17E19 when not in seasonal road closure.

(The rest of this trail is closed for repair. See 42 Route Meadow Project.)

**Rock Creek Wet Weather Closure: During the Winter season (and other parts of the year as applies) as we get a total of 1.5" of rain or 2.0" of snow, we automatically close our Rock Creek trails. The closure of the trails applies to Off-Highway Vehicles, Bicycles and Equestrians to prevent resource damage to the trails in wet condition. We allow 48 hours drying time in order to re-open.

***Using any type of motor vehicle or bicycle on a forest development road or trail is prohibited between the days of November 10 and May 1, except Darling Ridge Road (12N80), Mosquito Road (12N60), Rock Creek Road (12N70), Slate Mountain Mine Road (12N83), Slate Mountain Road (12N76) and Lower Rock Creek Trail (Trail No. 23-25). Forest Order 03-00-03.