Ashton Island Park Ranger District Area and Road Closure

Order Number: #04-15-26-310

U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service 
Caribou-Targhee National Forest 
Ashton Island Park Ranger District

Area and Road Closure

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following are prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands and roads in the Ashton Island Park Ranger District, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (“Described Area” and “Described Roads”):

1. Being in the Described Area. 36 C.F.R. § 261.53(e)
2. Being on the Described Road. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e)

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. The construction contractor and their employees and subcontractors.
2. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2).
3. Any Federal, State or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of their official duty.

DESCRIBED AREA AND ROADS

The Described Area includes all NFS lands within ¼ mile of the Mesa Falls Visitor Center (T.10N., R.43E., Sec. 13 Boise Meridian, ID). Also, the Upper Mesa Falls Road is closed from the upper gate through the Mesa Falls Visitor Center area. See attached Exhibit A.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Order is to protect property and the public during construction activities.

IMPLEMENTATION

1. This Order shall be in effect from August 13, 2026, 0900, through December 31,

   2026, unless rescinded.

2. A map identifying the Described closure area is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibit A, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/R4 /alerts-notices.
3. Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined by their plain language definitions.

4. A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C.

   §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.

5. Contact the Ashton Island Park Ranger District in Ashton, Idaho, 208-652-7442, and Caribou Targhee National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Idaho Falls, 208-557-5900 for more information about this Order.
6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area or on the same Described Roads.

Signed and issued on August 13, 2026.
KIM PIERSON
Forest Supervisor
Caribou-Targhee National Forest