Roads and Trail Status
Last updated: January 12, 2023
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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.
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:
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.
Why does Rock Creek have a separate closure? Rock Creek's trail monitoring and closure system was already in place when Travel Management analysis occurred in 2005 and works well for the 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.)
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.)
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.
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. |
Road | Status |
---|---|
ELD-63 |
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) |
Mosquito Fire Area, Road and Trail Closure Forest Order 03-22-19 |
14N08 (FR 2) |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. Note: Snow at higher elevations. |
12N34 |
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.
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.
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 |
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.)
|
Road | Status |
---|---|
ELD-147 (FR 3) |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. SMUD plows intermittently to maintain their facilities. |
ELD-63 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow.
|
ELD-63 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. SMUD plows intermittently to maintain their facilities. |
17N12K |
Closed. |
xxxxx |
Closed. |
Ellis Trailhead / Rubicon 4WD Trail |
Snow.
|
16E21 |
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 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. |
xxxxx |
Closed. |
12N52 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. |
12N30 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. SMUD plows intermittently to maintain their facilities. |
11N99 |
The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect. |
11N60 |
Closed due to 2016/17 STORM DAMAGE. Impassable. |
11N55 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. SMUD plows intermittently to maintain their facilities. |
11N52 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. |
xxxxx |
Closed |
11N38 |
The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect. |
11N37 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. Snow. |
11N26 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. Snow. |
Road | Status |
---|---|
12N59 |
Closed by SMUD due to public safety concerns. |
12N34 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. |
11N53 |
The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect. |
11N46 |
Closed - The bridge burned in the fire. |
11N40 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. |
11N23 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. |
11N16 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. |
10N83 |
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 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. |
9N45 |
Impassable due to 2016/17 STORM DAMAGE. 150’ washout 1 mile west of the intersection with the 10N83 road. |
9N34 |
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.
|
Elkins Flat* |
Closed: the trails were significantly damaged in the fire. |
17E73 |
Closed. The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect. |
17E16 |
Closed. The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect. |
16E26 |
Closed. The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect. |
14E31 |
Impassable due to 2016/17 STORM DAMAGE. |
13E19 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. Note: Five bridges were burned in the fire. |
13E08 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. |
13E04 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. |
Road | Status |
---|---|
8N50 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. PG&E handles access to this gate. |
8N25 (FR92) |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. |
8N23 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. |
8N05 (FR91) |
Closed and Impassable due to 2016/17 STORM DAMAGE. |
8N03 |
Open unless inaccessible due to snow. |
Gold Note* |
Closed. The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect. |
19E01 |
Closed. The Seasonal Road and Trail closure IS in effect. |
17E79 |
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.* |