USFS: Forestdale Road Opened to Snowmobiles Today

CARSON CITY, Nevada…Today, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is opening Forestdale Road (NFS Road 31013) to over snow motor vehicles to allow access over Forestdale Divide to the Blue Lakes area. All motor vehicles including snowmobiles are required to stay on the road until south of Forestdale Divide.

The Mokelumne Wilderness area is adjacent to Forestdale Road on the west and is always closed to motor vehicles. Snowmobile riders should be aware of all closed areas and ride only in areas with sufficient snow.

“This has been an unusually dry winter,” Dan Morris, District Recreation Officer, said. “Areas that typically have plenty of snow have very thin coverage this spring.”

Forestdale Road is typically opened to over-snow vehicles in the early winter and late spring when insufficient snow exists at the Hope Valley Snopark.

“The timing of the closure of Forestdale Road is determined on an annual basis by the Carson District Ranger based on a review of on-the-ground conditions,” Morris said. “If there isn’t enough snow in the Hope Valley Snopark we try to provide access to other areas.”

Parking is very limited at Forestdale Road. Snowmobilers should consider car-pooling and shuttling from the Snopark if possible. The Hope Valley Snopark is still open for parking, but snowmobile access from the Snopark is closed for the remainder of the season.

Learn more about this release by contacting the Carson Ranger District at 775-882-2766. To learn more about the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest visit our website at www.fs.usda.gov/htnf. Or follow us on Twitter @HumboldtToiyabe.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/htnf/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5361916