Stanislaus National Forest extends high-country road closure

SONORA, California – Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor Jason Kuiken signed forest order STF-16-2019-11, amending the forest areas closed due to the significant amount of snow that fell last winter. The new closure order is scheduled to expire July 31, 2019, or until conditions allow the roads to reopen.

Mi-Wok and Summit District Ranger Sarah LaPlante said that the heavy snowfall is beginning to melt in the higher elevations, but cooler temperatures have delayed the spring melt. “It’s been a long time since our roads have remained impassible due to snow this late. Our maintenance teams are finding conditions improving, but there was a lot of snow up there. We ask visitors to be patient and know we are opening roads and facilities as quickly as we can.”

The forest order and accompanying maps can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xUvWQ.

The roads that remain closed are:

• Forest Road No. 4N12 (Herring Creek Road) from its intersection with 18EV463
• Forest Road No. 5N0 I (Eagle Meadow Road) from its intersection with 5NO1S
• Forest Road No. 4N34 (Gooseberry Road)
• Forest Road No. 4N47

Allowing vehicles to travel these roadways would put vehicle occupants at risk, would damage the forest's road infrastructure and surfaces, and could result in increased sedimentation in Eagle and Herring Creeks and other unnamed drainages.