Granite Mountain Over Snow Vehicle Closure

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50 (a), the following is prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands in the Granite Mountain Area in the New Meadows Ranger District, Payette National Forest, described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the “Described Area”). This area complies with 36 CFR part 220.6(d)(1), orders issued to provide short-term protection of public safety. No extraordinary circumstances were identified.

1. Possessing or using an over-snow vehicle in the Described Area from January 15
   to March 31. 36 C.F.R. § 261.56.

EXEMPTIONS 

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

1. 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).
2. Personnel of Brundage Mountain Ski Area operating an over-snow vehicle as authorized in the special use authorization for the Brundage Mountain ski area in the performance of their employment duties.
3. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
4. Federal or State administrative personnel in the performance of an official duty. 

DESCRIBED AREA

The Described Area in the New Meadows Ranger District, Payette National Forest, Adams County, Idaho, and in Township 20 North, Range 2 East, Boise Meridian, within the following boundaries: 

• Beginning at the southwest corner of Goose Lake and continuing south approximately 0.25 miles to the intersection with NFS Trail #172;  
• Then following west along NFS Trail #172 to the intersection of Six Mile Creek;  
• Then following west along Six Mile Creek to the point where Six Mile Creek turns south in Section 20;  
• Then following northwest approximately 0.5 miles to the intersection of NFS Road #50294;  
• Then following north along NFS Road #50294 to the intersection with the unnamed creek that crosses NFS Road #50294 from the east side of the road in Section 5;  
• Then following east along the south side of the unnamed creek through Sections 4 and 5;
• Then following southeast through Section 4 to the section corner between Sections 3, 4, 9, and 10;
• Then following southeast along the top of the ridge extending through Section 10 to the West boundary of Section 11;  
• Then following north approximately 0.5 miles along a line just west of the boundary between Sections 10 and 11;
• Then following northeast approximately 0.25 miles to a point approximately one eighth of a mile east of the boundary between Sections 10 and 11;
• Then following north along a line just east of the boundary between Sections 10 and 11 and Sections 2 and 3 to the intersection with NFS Trail #165 in Section 2;
• Then following east along NFS Trail #165, approximately 0.75 miles to the 7000' elevation line;  
• Then following southeast approximately 0.5 miles to the northwest corner of Goose Lake;
• Then following south along the western shoreline of Goose Lake back to the starting point at the southwest corner of Goose Lake.  

The Described Area does not include the shared snowmobile and cat-grooming route, known as the Boulevard, which extends 0.8 miles to the west from Goose Lake. 

PURPOSE 

The purpose of this Order is to protect public safety during commercial cat skiing and grooming operations.

IMPLEMENTATION 

1. This Order shall be in effect from December 15, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. through December 15, 2030, at 11:59 p.m., unless rescinded.
2. A map identifying the Described Area and Roads 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/r04/payette/alerts
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 Payette National Forest Supervisor's Office located in McCall, Idaho, (208) 634-0700 or the New Meadows District Ranger Office located in New Meadows, ID, (208) 347-0300, for more information about this Order.
6. This Order supersedes Order #0412-595 and any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area.