TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KLIX)- The U.S. Forest Service is ready for campers this upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

The Sawtooth National Forest says there are many campsites  and facilities will be available to campers for the holiday weekend, however some areas may be closed because of late season snow melt. Forest officials ask people to stay off muddy roads so as not to damage them. Most campsites are first come first serve if you don’t reserve them early by going to www.recreation.gov, or call 1-877-444-6777.

Benito Baeza
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Despite the recent wet weather the Forest Service is reminding campers to be sure to fully extinguish campfires. Some lower elevation campsites are dryer. Also, be prepared and take your own water for drinking and washing because many places on the forest do not have drinkable water available or none at all.

Here is a list of places open and available to the public for Memorial Day Weekend:

Minidoka Ranger District

South Hills

  • Schipper, Steer Basin, Lower and Upper Penstemon, Pettit, 3rd Fork, Porcupine Springs (with the exception of D Loop), Bear Gulch, and the north end of FS Flats campgrounds are open. Diamondfield Jack, Father and Son and Bostetter Campgrounds are closed.
  • Campground fees will be in effect.  Bring drinking water and provision for packing trash back home.
  • Roads and Trails are wet so we encourage users to stay on designated roads and trails to prevent damage.

Sublett

  • Sublett and Mill Flat Campgrounds are open – no fees.
  • South Heglar Pass and North Heglar Pass are open for travel.

Raft River (Northern Utah)

  • Clear Creek Campground is open. Dispersed campground sites upstream from Clear Creek Campground are open.  No fees, no water.
  • One Mile Summit is open, stay on designated roads and trails to prevent damage.

Albion

  • Bennett Spring Campground is open and all other developed campgrounds and trailheads are closed due to snowdrifts.
  • Independence Trailhead is still closed due to snow.
  • Road to the top of Mt. Harrison not opened beyond the Pomerelle Ski Area.
  • Oakley – Elba Road is open.
  • Independence Trailhead is not accessible.
  • FS Road 728 is closed due to snow.

Current road and trail conditions can be obtained by calling the Minidoka Ranger District at 208-678-0430.

 

Ketchum Ranger District

Boundary Campground will be open with full service.

  • Full services are available at Boundary Campground.
  • Fees will be charged - $10/night single unit.
  • The District will enforce dog leash and dog waste pickup regulations at Boundary. Campground, Adams Gulch and Trail Creek Trailhead.

Current trail conditions for the Ketchum Ranger District can be found at: www.trails.bcrd.org.

 

Sawtooth National Recreation Area

All of the following campgrounds will be open with full service.

Wood River Valley

  • North Fork
  • Murdock
  • Caribou
  • Wood River
  • Easley

 Alturas Lake Complex 

  • Pettit
  • Smokey Bear Campground due to snow conditions may not be open until June 1
  • Alturas Inlet
  • North Shore
  • Tent Sites

Redfish Lake Complex

  • All Redfish Campgrounds will be open

Salmon River Campgrounds east of Stanley

  • Salmon River
  • Casino Creek
  • Riverside (river side only)
  • Mormon Bend
  • Upper and Lower O’Brien
  • Whiskey Flats will not open until June 15
  • Holman will not open until June 15
  • Stanley Lake
  • Stanley Lake
  • Stanley Lake Inlet

Highway 21 west of Stanley

  • Sheep Trail
  • Trap Creek
  • Elk Creek
  • Grandjean

All dump stations will be opened.  Roads opened May 1, 2015 may continue to be partially closed due to snow and wet conditions. Current conditions for the Sawtooth National Recreation Area can be obtained at 208-727-5013.

Fairfield Ranger District

Roads over Couch, Fleck and Wells Summits are open.  Some higher elevation roads may be closed due to the fact they are snow covered and inaccessible.

The following campgrounds are open and are on a first come first serve basis.  There is a fee for these campgrounds:

  • Chaparral
  • Abbot
  • Baumgartner – CLOSED until July 1, 2016 due to construction
  • Bird
  • Canyon
  • Bowns
  • Willow Creek

The following campgrounds are open with no charges:

  • Five Points
  • Bear Creek Transfer Camp
  • Pioneer Campground
  • Willow Creek Transfer Camp
  • Hunter Transfer Camp

 Trail Closures

  • Currently the Deadwood Creek trail and the Deadwood Creek/Beaver Creek trail Connector are closed.
  • Expect to encounter snow and downed trees on most trails. Trails have not been cleared yet.

The Fairfield Ranger District can be reached at 208-764-3202 for information regarding campgrounds, roads and trails.

 

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