U.S.D.A. FOREST SERVICE KETCHUM RANGER DISTRICT 206 SUN VALLEY ROAD P.O. BOX 2356 KETCHUM, ID 83340 (208) 622-5371 Road and Trail Report 05/25/2015 Trail and Road conditions remain much the same as last week high intensity rainfall has saturated soils leaving some roads and trails very vulnerable to damage. Small mudslides have been reported on Bald Mountain and more mudslides are expected in Deer Creek and within the Beaver Creek Fire Perimeter. With that said, if you are lucky enough to time your hike or ride between down pours, some trails are drying VERY fast and it is possible to find near perfect tacky conditions that will not transform you or your four legged friend into a mud pup. Just apply the basic rule: If you can travel on the trail and leave less than ½ inch track you can proceed. If the majority of the trail is solid and you encounter short (50 ft or less) muddy sections, please help minimize trail damage by staying in the center of the trail. NEW THIS WEEK: A new log and plank foot bridge on Chocolate Gulch Trail replaces the old crib style foot bridge. The Old Choclolate Bridge was decayed and had several gaps in the cribbing (above left). It was replaced by a log stringer and wood plank bridge this past week by the KRD trail crew (above right).
The following message is posted on trails at Greenhorn, Adams Gulch and Fox Creek to emphasize the need to use good judgement before using trails once again..thanks for your patience in allowing time for the trails to dry to prevent rutting and widening. Last Updated: May 22,2015 Until the rain stops! Many Trails are TOO MUDDY to use without causing damage. PLEASE DO NOT USE TRAILS IF YOU LEAVE MORE THAN a ½ inch RUT OR TRACK. Trails should dry after a day or two of sunny weather THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE! For more information on trail conditions visit http://summertrailink.bcrd.org/ or contact:ketchum Ranger District (208) 622-5317 Ketchum Ranger District Trail Conditions as of 5/24/2015: Adam s Gulch Trailhead: Open o Lake Creek Connector Trail #321 is open.
o Sunnyside-Lanes Trail #316 is open all the way to Citizens Trail #143. o Citizens Trail #143 is open. o Old Adams Gulch Road Trail #146 is open. o Adams Rib Trail #142 ( Porkchop section) is open to connect with Harpers Trail. Upper section leading to Fox Peak has not been cleared. o Shadyside Trail #317 is open. o Eves Gulch#146 is partially open: it still logs on the upper section. o Forbidden Fruit Trail #159 is open and cleared. THANKS to Marc Driver and Wood River Bike Coalition Volunteers! o Griffin Butte Connector Trail #839 is open. Trail Creek Trailhead: Open. o Trail Creek Trail #305 is open. o Corral Creek Trail #325 is open. o Proctor Trail #119 is open * reminder: Hiking Only. o Aspen Loop Trail #841 is open. o Corral Creek Road: o Pioneer-Cabin Creek Trail #122 is partially open and cleared to 1 mile beyond the junction with Johnstone Creek Trail. Patchy snow at the highest elevations. o Long Gulch Trail #123 is open but not cleared, likely to have patchy snow at the highest elevations. Lake Creek: west of Hwy 75 o Harpers Trail #323 is open - you can access Lake Creek Connector Trail #321 and Adams Gulch Porkchop Trail #142. Lake Creek Road: east of Hwy 75 o Taylor Canyon Trail #324: open but not yet cleared. Fox Creek Trailhead: o Fox Loop Trail #149 is open. o North Fork of Fox Ck Trail #303 is open. o Oregon Fox Connector Trail #311 is open and cleared. Oregon Gulch Trailhead and Chocolate Gulch: o Oregon Gulch Trail #183 is open. Several very small snow patches at the top. East Fork Baker Road is still closed by snow. Saddle Trail #326 is open Chocolate Gulch #312 is open. Greenhorn Trailhead: Cow Creek Trail # 180 is open. o Cow Creek Short Cut Trail #930 is open. o Mahoney Ridge Trail (Cow Connector) #153 is open. o Lodgepole Trail #310 is open but expect to hike across short soft muddy patches near the junction with upper Mahoney Ridge/Red Warrior Trail. Upper trail is cleared. o Mahoney Lodgepole Connector Trail #819 is open and cleared but expect to hike across short muddy patches. Not recommended for equestrians and motorbikes yet. o Greenhorn Trail #156 is open. o Greenhorn-Mahoney Trail #156 - #821 is partially open: (Please note due to changes in the FS trail inventory this trail is temporarily signed as Greenhorn-Mahoney Trail #156; a new replacement sign will bear the correct trail number of #821). Cleared of logs. o Imperial Trail #315 is open check out the new rerouted section!
East Fork Big Wood Area: Bear-Parker Gulch Trail #121 is open from Hyndman Road #203 (off the East Fork of Big Wood Road)., not yet cleared. Johnston Creek Trail #206 is not yet cleared. Hyndman Ck Trailhead: o Hyndman Ck Trail #166 partially open, not yet cleared, Hyndman Peak is still holding snow. o North Fork Hyndman Trail #165 is partially open, cleared of logs for 2 miles, expect small patches of snow past 3 miles. Bald Mountain Area Trails: o The Baldy Trail #201 is open. You can hike up past the Frenchmen's drainage to the wood deck lookout and beyond, turn around where you reach wet or muddy conditions. There is no closed sign please use good judgment and turn around where conditions dictate. o The River Run-Warm Springs Trail #330 is open. It can be used to access the Traverse Trail. People can climb higher on the cat-track Traverse Trail and descend down the Warm Springs side of the trail. o Bald Mountain Perimeter Trail#328 CLOSED to protect elk calving area until July 1. Warm Springs Area: o Red Warrior Trail #152 open and cleared. NOTE: Warm Springs Creek is still too high to safely ford. o Warfield Trail #151 open and cleared. NOTE: Warm Springs Creek is still too high to safely ford. Ketchum Ranger District Road Conditions: due to recent rainfall most roads are currently very muddy and easily damaged please turn back before you create ruts that are expensive to repair THANKS!! Deer Creek: CLOSED just above Wolftone. Greenhorn Gulch Road: Open East Fork of The Big Wood River Road: CLOSED ½ mile above Federal Gulch Campground. Oregon Gulch: Open Fox Creek Trailhead Rd: Open Hyndman Creek Rd: open to the Trailhead. Parker Gulch: Open. Independence: Open Corral Creek Rd: Open Lake Creek: Open. Taylor Canyon: Open Panther Creek: Open Eagle Creek Road: Open. Trail Creek: Open. Park Creek Road: Partially Open for 2.3 miles. Warm Springs Rd: Partially open to 1 mile beyond South Fork of Warm Springs. Single vehicle turnaround only recommended that you turn around at the South Fork of Warm Springs junction. Cove Creek Rd: Open. Caution: muddy and trenched. 4X4 high clearance vehicles only. Baker Creek Rd: Open to the Trailhead Norton Creek Road: Open to the Trailhead.
East Fork Baker Rd. Partially open for about 2 miles, (closed ½ mile past the first gate). West Fork Warm Springs: partially open 1.2 miles. Copper Creek: Open. Mormon Hill Road: Open. For this week if rainfall persists, please wait several days (following heavy rainfall) for the trails to dry out THANKS!: South Valley Best Bet: The BLM, BCRD, and students and teachers from the Sage School in Hailey recently completed some maintenance work on the Bullion Connector Trail. The most convenient access to this trail is at the BLM Croy Trailhead. The Bullion Connector Trail and the Hidden Valley Trail are in good condition. Mid-Valley Best Bet: Greenhorn Trailhead: The Greenhorn-Imperial loop is open. Following this route will take you over the latest reroute on Imperial that was just completed by the KRD trail crew. The reroute was a collaborative effort between the KRD and volunteers, including big work efforts by the Wood River Bicycle Coalition and the Sage School. CAUTION various trail signs in Greenhorn were burned in the Beaver Creek fire replacement signs will be installed in June/July. North Valley Best Bet: Adams Gulch Trailhead: The Griffin Butte Connector Trail #839 is open as is the popular Griffin Butte Loop route *The KRD has partnered with the BCRD to help keep our enthusiastic trail users up to date on current trail conditions and information. The new website, launched last summer is: http://summertrailink.bcrd.org/. While the KRD will continue to publish our text version of the bi-weekly trail updates throughout the summer, users who want a more interactive experience that includes maps, photos and trail descriptions should check out the above link.