BLM: Mary Jane Trailhead Closures to Begin Wednesday, March 14, 2012

During the week of March 11, 2012, construction will begin on one of eleven significant Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) projects in the Forest Services’ Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (SMNRA).  Most recreation facilities in the SMNRA, known to locals as Mt. Charleston, will be experiencing major renovations courtesy of SNPLMA funds, through the end of 2014. 

SNPLMA became law in October 1998. The Act allows the Bureau of Land Management to sell public land within a specific boundary around Las Vegas, Nevada and use the revenue derived to fund the State of Nevada General Education Fund (5%), the Southern Nevada Water Authority (10%), and a special account available to the Secretary of the Interior for use in performing a variety of improvements to public lands in Nevada.  More information concerning SNPLMA is available at: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/detail/htnf/news-events/?cid=nv/en/snplma.html.

work planned for the mary jane trailhead access road and parking area will require closure of the facilities for renovations starting wednesday, march 14, 2012.  construction work will involve adding new gravel surfacing to the access road between echo drive and the parking area near the trailhead, redesign of the parking lot, installation of a new restroom facility and new way-finding signs, drainage work, and minor road realignment. 

the closure is expected to occur intermittently, beginning march 14 through august 31, 2012.   no vehicle or pedestrian access will be allowed on the mary jane access road or parking area during periods of closure.  when construction activity is idle, the access road and trailhead parking area will be open for normal use.

in 2012, the expected closure dates for the access road and parking area are:

march 15 - march 21
march 29 - april 4
april 11 - april 18
april 24 - may 2
may 9 - may 16

up-to-date closure information can be obtained from the forest website at: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/htnf/smnra_construction or by calling the construction hotline at (702) 515-5447.  Closure dates are subject to frequent change, so please check the website or the hotline regularly for the most accurate information. 

The Trail Canyon Trail, Echo Trail, and Cathedral Rock Trail will remain open while the Mary Jane Trailhead is closed.  Please contact Suzanne Shelp, Trails Manager for the SMNRA, at 702-515-5148 for additional hiking information in the Spring Mountains.