Roads and Trail Status

Last updated: January 12, 2023

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

As a visitor to the National Forests, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forests and the natural environment, to ensure the health and safety of visitors, and to promote a pleasant and rewarding outdoor recreation experience for all visitors.

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Accessibility 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:

**FOREST-WIDE OR MULTI DISTRICT CLOSURES**
Road	District	Status
Specific Facilities, Roads & Trails	Mosquito Fire Area	Mosquito Fire Area, Road and Trail Closure Forest Order 03-22-19
Dirt Roads and Trails (native surface, unpaved)	Forestwide	The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect. Extended Closure: Rainfall, soil moisture, road and trail conditions, and weather forecasts are factors that may trigger an extension of the seasonal closure past April 1st. Annual Closure: January through at least March 30. This may be extended depending on forest conditions. 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.
Mormon Emigrant Trail (MET) / Iron Mountain road	Placerville/ Amador	Closed to passenger vehicles. View Forest Order 03-21-04 for Use of a motor vehicle on this road when snow covers the road.
Silver Bear Snowmobile Trail System	Amador	Open.

**STATUS: GEORGETOWN RANGER DISTRICT - WENTWORTH SPRINGS AND HELL HOLE AREAS**
Road	Status
ELD-63 Wentworth Springs Road (from Georgetown to Eleven Pines road)	Open unless inaccessible due to snow. Forest lands north of this road are closed (Mosquito Fire Area, Road and Trail Closure Forest Order 03-22-19). Note: Snow at higher elevations.
14N23 (FR 25) Blacksmith Flat - from Ralston to Forest Road 2	Mosquito Fire Area, Road and Trail Closure Forest Order 03-22-19
14N08 (FR 2) Eleven Pines- from Wentworth Springs road to Hell Hole	Open unless inaccessible due to snow. Note: Snow at higher elevations.
12N34 Forebay Road	Open unless inaccessible due to snow.
Rock Creek - West Zone	FYI: Culvert failure on Rock Creek road at Al Brass Creek. The road is currently impassable and temporary barricades have been setup. From the north, you can not access sites south of the northern intersection of Rock Creek and trail 11E43 (trail 4). From the south, you can not access sites north of the intersection of 12N70G Wet weather closure will remain in effect until there is a 48 hour period of drying weather. The Rock Creek Trails are appropriate for OHVs, bicycles, equestrians and hikers. 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 of drying time in order to re-open. For the most up to date information call the Georgetown Ranger Station at 530-333-4312 or our virtual office number at *530 334-6477*. Updates on the Rock Creek trails status are available on Twitter at twitter.com/eldoradonf/. 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 Order page.) There may be some down trees blocking sections of trails, so please use with caution. If you come to an obstruction, please turn around. Do not go off trail to get around the obstacle, because it causes resource damage.
Rock Creek - Southern Trails (Crossier Loop Critical Deer Winter Range)	For the most up to date information call the Georgetown Ranger Station at 530-333-4312 or our virtual office number at *530 334-6477*. (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).)
Rock Creek - East Zone	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.) Updates on the Rock Creek trails status are available on Twitter at twitter.com/eldoradonf/

**STATUS: PACIFIC RANGER DISTRICT - CRYSTAL BASIN AREA**
Road	Status
ELD-147 (FR 3) Ice House Road (Highway 50 to Loon Lake)	Open unless inaccessible due to snow. SMUD plows intermittently to maintain their facilities.
ELD-63 Wentworth Springs Road (from 14N08 Eleven Pines road intersection on Georgetown District to Ice House road intersection)	Open unless inaccessible due to snow.
ELD-63 Wentworth Springs Road (from Ice House road intersection going to Loon north towards Gerle Creek)	Open unless inaccessible due to snow. SMUD plows intermittently to maintain their facilities.
17N12K Angel Creek Day Use Area	Closed.
xxxxx Gerle Creek and Harvest Trails	Closed.
Ellis Trailhead / Rubicon 4WD Trail	Snow. County road. Check out this web site for current conditions. www.edcgov.us/Government/Rubicon/Pages/rubicon_main_info.aspx For trail conditions on the Rubicon Trail, see www.pirate4X4.com or Eldorado County, ‘Rubicon Trail’ link.
16E21 Barrett Lake Jeep Trail	Closed for the season. Forest Order 03-22-18 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	Open unless inaccessible due to snow.
xxxxx Union Valley Bike trail	Closed.
12N52 Wolf Creek Road (north side of lake) from Westpoint Boatramp to Ice House road	Open unless inaccessible due to snow.
12N30 Bryant Springs - from Peavine Ridge to Westpoint Boatramp on Union Valley Reservoir	Open unless inaccessible due to snow. SMUD plows intermittently to maintain their facilities.
11N99 Granite Springs	The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect. Road inaccessible beyond 11N42 junction due to 2016/17 STORM DAMAGE (washed out). )
11N60 Jaybird Canyon	Closed due to 2016/17 STORM DAMAGE. Impassable.
11N55 Peavine Ridge	Open unless inaccessible due to snow. SMUD plows intermittently to maintain their facilities.
11N52 Lake Shore Drive (north side of Ice House Reservoir)	Open unless inaccessible due to snow.
xxxxx Ice House Bike Trail	Closed
11N38 Weber Mill Road	The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect.
11N37 Ice House/ Wrights Lake Tie	Open unless inaccessible due to snow. Snow.
11N26 Wrights Lake - from Highway 50 to Wrights Lake	Open unless inaccessible due to snow. Snow.

**STATUS: PLACERVILLE RANGER DISTRICT - HIGHWAY 50 SOUTH AREA**
Road	Status
12N59 Slab Creek Road	Closed by SMUD due to public safety concerns.
12N34 Forebay Road	Open unless inaccessible due to snow.
11N53 Alder Creek Picnic	The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect.
11N46 Alder Creek	Closed - The bridge burned in the fire.
11N40 Silver Fork	Open unless inaccessible due to snow.
11N23 Packsaddle Pass	Open unless inaccessible due to snow.
11N16 45 Mile Campground	Open unless inaccessible due to snow.
10N83 North South	North South Road in the Placerville Ranger District has an asphalt washout south of the Caldor OHV staging area. Orange K-rails are being installed to alert the public. This location is approximately 12 miles south of MET (Iron Mountain Road). There is also a small mudslide on North South Road approximately 1.5 miles south of MET.
10N40 Plum Creek	Open unless inaccessible due to snow.
9N45 Caldor	Impassable due to 2016/17 STORM DAMAGE. 150’ washout 1 mile west of the intersection with the 10N83 road.
9N34 Hasse Dairy Road	Impassable due to 2016/17 STORM DAMAGE.
Caples Trail System	Closed. Snow. The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect. The non-equestrian trailhead is Closed. These trails are within the 2021 Caldor wildfire area so proceed with caution. 17E15 Cody Meadows 17E20 Silver Fork 17E22 from Highway 88 north to end 17E49 Strawberry Creek 17E51 Caples Creek 17E53 Kirkwood Lake Loop 17E63 Forgotten Flat 17E71 Old Silver Lake Trail 17E73 Strawberry 4WD Trail 17E74 Spur Bee 4WD Trail.
Elkins Flat*	Closed: the trails were significantly damaged in the fire.
17E73 Strawberry Canyon	Closed. The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect.
17E16 Little Round Top Trail	Closed. The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect.
16E26 Long Canyon 4WD trail	Closed. The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect.
14E31 Plummer Ridge Loop	Impassable due to 2016/17 STORM DAMAGE.
13E19 Pony Express Trail	Open unless inaccessible due to snow. Note: Five bridges were burned in the fire.
13E08 Fleming Trail System	Open unless inaccessible due to snow.
13E04 Cedar Park Trail	Open unless inaccessible due to snow.

**STATUS: AMADOR RANGER DISTRICT - HIGHWAY 88 AREA**
Road	Status
8N50 Salt Springs/ Tiger Creek	Open unless inaccessible due to snow. PG&E handles access to this gate.
8N25 (FR92) Ellis Creek	Open unless inaccessible due to snow.
8N23 Mehrten Springs	Open unless inaccessible due to snow.
8N05 (FR91) Panther Creek	Closed and Impassable due to 2016/17 STORM DAMAGE. Access into the area is limited to Ellis road when not covered by snow. No funding for repairs at this time.
8N03 Bear River	Open unless inaccessible due to snow.
Gold Note*	Closed. The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect.
19E01 Deer Valley	Closed. The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect.
17E79 Mud Lake Road and 17E24 / 16E26 Hungalelti Ridge	Closed. The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect. See Seasonal Road and Trail Closure in Forest Order table at the top of the page.*