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  • Sections of Virginia Creeper Trail closed due to Hurricane Helene damage

    A section of the Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail (Forest Service Trail #4575) is closed past Trestle #17 in the Town of Damascus east to Whitetop Station and the North Carolina line. This section of the trail is on the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. 

    See the Virginia Creeper Trail Hurricane Helene Information page for more information about restoration efforts on the Virginia Creeper Trail. 

Alert Start Date: December 13th, 2024

Alert End Date: October 25th, 2025

Rec Sites Affected:

Order Number: 08-08-00-25-4

Forest Order

 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE

GEORGE WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON NATIONAL FORESTS

CLINCH RANGER DISTRICT AND THE MOUNT ROGERS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA FOREST ORDER NO. 08-08-00-25-4

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE

GEORGE WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON NATIONAL FORESTS FOREST ORDER NO. 08-08-00-25-4

Pursuant to Title 16 U.S.C. § 551, and Title 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), for the protection of public health and safety the following acts are prohibited on the Clinch Ranger District and Mount Rogers National Recreation Area of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. This Forest Order is effective from the date signed by the Forest Supervisor until October 1, 2025 or until terminated by an authorized Forest Service official, whichever occurs first.

1. Being on any National Forest System road listed in Exhibit B occurring on the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area 36 CFR § 261.54 (e).

2 Entering or using developed recreation sites listed in Exhibit B occurring on Mount Rogers National Recreation Area 36 C.F.R. §261.58(b).

3. Being on any National Forest System trail listed in Exhibit B occurring on Mount Rogers National Recreation Area 36 C.F.R.§ 26 l .55(a).

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

1. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized response and/or rescue team in performance of official duty.

2 Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use ofRoads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.

  1. Owners or lessees of land and residents of such private landholdings, to the extent necessary to access their land.

    These prohibitions are in addition to:

    1. the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. §§ 261.1-261.23 (Subpart A);
    2. all other Forest Orders currently in effect, 36 C.F.R. §§ 261.50-261.58 (Subpart B); and
    3. all other Regional Orders currently in effect, 36 C.F.R. §§ 261.70 (Subpart C).

Executed in Roanoke, VA, this 13th day of December 2024.

Joby P. Timm, Forest Supervisor

George Washington and Jefferson National Forests

Violations of these prohibitions set forth above are punishable by fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than (6) six months, or both. 16U.S.C. §551 and 18U.S.C. §§ 3559and3571.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE

GEORGE WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON NATIONAL FORESTS

CLINCH RANGER DISTRICT AND THE MOUNT ROGERS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA FOREST ORDER NO. 08-08-00-25-4

Exhibit A. Map of Closure Area

Exhibit B. List of Closed National Forest System Roads, Developed Recreation Sites, and National Forest System Trails

National Forest System Trails (FST)

Clinch Ranger District

BARK CAMP LAKE TRIAL-FST 211 CHIEF BENGE SCOUT1RAIL-FST 401

 

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

RAVEN CLIFF FURNACE TRAIL-PST 4616 VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL- FST 4575 WHITETOP LAUREL FISHING TRAIL - FST 4645

National Forest System Roads (FSR)

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

DRY RUN ROAD- FSR/FST 14 is closed from its eastern terminus in Noble Furnace to a point east of Hussy Mountain Horse Camp, due to a washed-out culvert. There it is barricaded. Forest Service Road 14 will be open from Federal Highway 21, south of Speedwell, to Hussy Mountain Horse Camp. Horse trailers will not be able to tum around if they attempt to access Hussy Mountain Horse Cainp from the east at Noble Furnace.

Developed Recreation Sites

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

CREEK JUNCTION TRAILHEAD STRAIGHT BRANCH TRAILHEAD

Contact Name:

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

Contact Number:

276-783-5196

Last updated March 17th, 2025