July 4th Forest Service Campground Update for Utah

Flooding in Guinavah-Malibu campground June 29, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY, June 30, 2011 – Campgrounds in the five Utah National Forests are expected to be busy over the 4th of July. Most campgrounds have first-come-first serve area available, but they fill up quickly on holidays.

Forest visitors need to adhere to road closure signage or blockades, DO NOT create routes around these closures. This creates an illegal route and damages the resource, and creates a safety hazard for visitors.

Recreation users who plan to take their All Terrain-Vehicles (ATV’s) should contact local Ranger District offices for current information on open roads and trails. Riders should be properly trained and remember to protect the fragile surroundings. Always keep your ATV on designated roads and trails.

Photo of ATV that rolled off a road that was closed due to wet and muddy conditions on the Spanish Fork Ranger District

Higher elevation trails and roads are still wet, muddy and snow covered above 8,000 feet.

When hiking, dress appropriately and be aware of snow bridges and hidden moats on higher elevation trails. Carry extra water, food and take along a coat and matches in case the weather turns bad. Always let someone know where you are hiking and approximately when you will return and never hike alone.

Please keep campfires in the designated fire pits and make sure they are out cold before leaving them unattended. ABSOLUTELY NO FIREWORKS ON NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE SYSTEM LANDS. Have a great holiday on your National Forest and please be safe.

The following is a listing of Forest Service campgrounds that will be open for the Fourth of July holiday:

ASHLEY NATIONAL FOREST (435) 789-1181 or www.fs.fed.us/r4/ashley
Duchesne Ranger District (435) 738-2482
All campgrounds are open with water and fees, except Yellowstone, Bridge and Riverview campgrounds which are closed due to flooding. Please call the District for the most current information.

 All campgrounds are open with water and fees, except Skull Creek, Red Springs and Spirit Lake which are closed due to standing water and snow.

If staying in a developed campground in the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, you are not required to pay the use fee. Day passes are $5.00, 7 day passes are $15.00 and annual passes are $35.00. Passes are available in Manila, Utah and in Evanston, Rock Springs and Green River, Wyoming and local businesses in and around the Flaming Gorge area.

Roosevelt Ranger District (435) 722-5018
 Moon Lake campground is open with water and fees. Please call for the most current information pertaining to all other campgrounds in the Roosevelt Ranger District.

Vernal Ranger District (435) 789-1181
All campgrounds are open with water and fees, except Lodgepole campground, which is still closed.

DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST (435) 865-3700 or www.fs.fed.us/r4/dixie

Cedar City Ranger District (435) 865-3200
 All campgrounds are open with water and fees, except Yankee Meadows campground which is open with fees, but no water.

Escalante Ranger District (435) 826-5400
All campgrounds are open with water and fees.

Pine Valley Ranger District (435) 652-3100
 All campgrounds are open with water and fees, except Oak Grove campground which will be open with fees but no water all season.

Powell Ranger District (435) 676-9300
All campgrounds are open with water and fees.

FISHLAKE NATIONAL FOREST (435) 896-9233 or www.fs.fed.us/r4/fishlake

Beaver Ranger District (435) 438-2436
All campgrounds are open with water and fees, except LeBaron Lake which is open with fees but no water. Big John Flat will not be open.

Fillmore Ranger District (435) 743-5721
 All campgrounds are open with water and fees, except Oak Creek which will be open with fees and no water.

Fremont Ranger District (435) 836-2811
 All campgrounds are open with water and fees.

Richfield Ranger District (435) 896-9233
 All campgrounds are open with water and fees.

MANTI-LASAL NATIONAL FOREST (435) 637-2817 or www.fs.fed.us/4/mantilasal

Ferron/Price Ranger District (435) 637-2817 or (435) 384-2372
 All campgrounds are open with water and fees except Flat Canyon campground, which is open but with no water. Trough Spring area will not be open for the weekend. Reeder Canyon Trail is closed.

Moab Ranger District (435) 259-7155
All campgrounds are open fees, but no water.

Monticello Ranger District (435) 587-2041
 All campgrounds are open with water and fees.

SanPete Ranger District (435) 283-4151
 All campgrounds are open with water and fees, except 12 Mile which is closed due to snow. Manti Community which will be open with no water but fees will be charged. Maple Canyon campground will be open with fees and does not have a water system. South Skyline Drive is still closed due to snow and 12 Mile Canyon Road is open, but only to the six mile cutoff.

UINTA-WASATCH-CACHE NATIONAL FOREST (801) 236-3400 OR (801) 342-5100 http://fs.usda.gov/uwcnf

Heber-Kamas Ranger District (435) 654-0470 or (435) 783-4338
 Smith Morehouse and the lower loop in Ledgefork campground located along the Weber River drainage are open with water and fees. Ponderosa group, Yellow Pine, Pine Valley group, Soapstone, Shady Dell and Cobble Rest campgrounds located along the Mirror Lake Highway are open with water and fees. Cedar Hollow ATV trail system is open. The Mirror Lake Highway (Utah State Route 150) is open from Kamas to Evanston. Trial Lake, Lily Lake, Lost Lake, Washington Lake, Mirror Lake, Moosehorn, and Butterfly Lake campgrounds, are closed due to snow and Lower Provo and Taylors Fork campgrounds will remain closed due to flooding. Solider Creek, Strawberry Bay, Renegade, Aspen Grove and Current Creek campgrounds are open with water and fees. Lodgepole campground, Loop B is open with water and fees, Loop A is open with fees, but no water. Mill Hollow campground  and reservoir will remain closed due to wet and snowy conditions.

Photo taken on June 23, 2011 of the mud slide on the Farmington Canyon Road

Evanston/Mt. View Ranger District (307) 789-3194 or (307) 782-6555
 East Fork and Bear River campgrounds will be closed, due to flooding. Hayden Fork, Christmas Meadows and Beaver View are open with water and fees. Sulpher campground is open with fees, but no water. The Lilly Lake Dump Station will be CLOSED for the July 4th weekend. Whitney Reservoir is accessible, but use caution, roads and trails are still wet and muddy. Upper Wolverine ATV trail is closed due to flooding. The North Slope road is open to Mckenzie Creek, approximately7 1/2 miles from the Mirror Lake Highway. East Fork of the Bear is open and accessible. The Bear River Ranger Station located on the Mirror Lake Highway is open Thursday through Monday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (435) 642-6662.

Visitors parked or camping along the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway must display a fee pass. 3 Day passes are $6.00, 7-day passes are $12.00 and annual passes are $45.00. Passes can be purchased at Forest Service Offices in Kamas, Utah, Evanston, Wyoming and local business in Kamas and Evanston. These passes are also valid in the American Fork Canyon area.

Little Lyman and Stateline campgrounds are open with fees, but no water. Meeks Cabin, Bridger, Marsh and Hoop Lake campgrounds are open with water and fees. Deadhorse ATV trail is open and accessible. Henry’s Fork is accessible to Henry’s Fork Basin, approximately 5 ½ miles from the trailhead, beyond the basin there is standing water and snow and the river is running extremely high.

From Gunsight Pass into Kings Peak will require snowshoes.

Pleasant Grove Ranger District (801) 785-3563
Little Mill campground is open with a fee, but no water. Granite Flat, Mt. Timpanogos and Hope campgrounds are open with water and fees. The majority of the units in Timpooneke campground are open. Altamont and Theater-in-the Pines group sites are open. Rock Canyon campground is closed due to an avalanche. The Silver Lake Flat Road is open to the trailhead. Squaw Peak Road is open approximately 2.5 miles past Hope campground. Mineral Basin, Shaffer, Timpooneke and the North Fork of American Fork Canyon are closed, due to wet and muddy conditions. Cascade Springs is accessible from the Solider Hollow/Midway side ONLY.

A recreation pass is required for the American Fork Canyon-Alpine Scenic Loop area and is available at local Forest Service offices or at the entrance stations to the Scenic Loop. The special use fee is $6.00 for a three-day pass per vehicle, $12.00 for a 7 day pass and $45.00 for the annual pass. These passes are also valid in the Mirror Lake Area.

Spanish Fork Ranger District (801) 798-3571:
All campgrounds are open with water and fees. Maple Bench and Maple Lake campgrounds will be closed through mid-summer due to campground renovation and construction. The Mona Pole road is closed due to snow. The Nebo Loop road is open on the north side to Blackhawk campground and is open on the south side to the junction with Salt Creek Road, while construction crews are repairing the Red Creek slump. Santaquin Canyon road is open from Santaquin to the Nebo Loop Road.

Ogden Ranger District (801) 625-5306
 All campgrounds are open with water and fees, except Jefferson Hunt, due to flooding, and Monte Cristo, due to snow. No ATV trails are accessible on the Ogden Ranger District. All trails within the Wheeler Creek Complex will be open on July 1, 2011.

Logan Ranger District (435) 755-3620
 Box Elder, Spring Hollow, Lodge, and Sunrise campgrounds are open with water and fees. Lewis M. Turner, Friendship and Spring campgrounds are open with fees, but no water. Tony Grove campground is closed due to snow. High Creek, Cowley Canyon/Herd Hollow, West Hodges, Temple Fork, Smithfield Canyon, Millville Peak, Twin Creek, Temple Fork, Dip Hollow-Long Hollow, Marie Springs and Left Hand Fork 4X4 roads are all closed. Worm Fence ATV trail area also closed. All higher elevation roads are still closed due to snow, wet, and muddy conditions. Please contact the Logan Ranger District office for the most current information pertaining to what roads and trails are open.

Salt Lake Ranger District (801) 466-6411Jordan Pines, Spruces and Tanners Flat campgrounds are open with water and fees. Silver Lake Visitor Center is open and only half of the boardwalk is accessible. Little Cottonwood Creek Trail is closed. Redman and Albion Basin campgrounds are closed due to snow. All picnic areas are open with fees. Intake, Cottonwood and Boy Scout campgrounds in South Willow Canyon are open with fees, but no water. Medina Flat picnic area is also open. South Willow Canyon is still closed just above the Boy Scout campground. Lower and Upper Narrow and Loop campgrounds are closed. Ward Canyon Road is open to the intersection with Skyline Drive and Sessions roads. Skyline and Sessions roads will remain closed until conditions support opening them. Farmington Canyon road remains closed due to a major rock slide and may not be accessible until mid to late July. Hikers need to be extra cautious while hiking on higher elevations trails in Mill Creek, and Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, due to wet and muddy conditions.

Remember Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons are Salt Lake City Municipal Watersheds and dogs are not allowed in these canyons.

Tips to Get Prepared for This Year’s Rifle Buck Deer Hunt

Photo courtesy of Dustin Stettler

If you’re one of the lucky hunters who obtained a permit for the hunt, getting prepared now—by gathering materials and gaining knowledge—are the key to a safe and successful hunt. And while taking a deer is usually the highlight of any deer hunt, make sure you take advantage of all the experiences deer hunting offers. Utah’s most popular hunt—the general rifle buck deer hunt—begins Oct. 23.

“Don’t be so focused on taking a deer that you miss out on everything deer hunting has to offer,” says Gary Cook, hunter education coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “Camping with your family and friends and enjoying Utah’s wildlife and the beautiful state we live in are all things you can enjoy during your time afield.”

Cook provides the following tips for an enjoyable and safe hunt:

Personal preparation:
* be familiar with the area you’re going to hunt. If possible, scout the area before the hunt. “Knowing the area and the habits and patterns of the deer that live in the area is vital for success,” Cook says.

* put a survival kit together. The kit should include:

1) a small first aid kit;

2) three ways to make a fire (e.g. matches, a cigarette lighter, fire starters);

3) quick-energy snack foods;

4) a cord or rope;

5) a compass;

6) a flashlight;

7) an extra knife and;

8) a small pad of paper and a pencil (so if you become lost, you can leave information at your last location about yourself and the direction you’re traveling).


Preparing your firearm:
* be as familiar as possible with your firearm—know how to load and unload it, and where the safety is and how to operate it.

* make sure the barrel of your firearm doesn’t have any obstructions in it.

* make sure you have the correct ammunition for your firearm.

* sight-in your firearm before the hunt.


Firearm safety:
* controlling your firearm’s muzzle is the most important part of firearm safety. Never let the muzzle of your firearm point at anything you do not intend to shoot. That includes not pointing the muzzle at yourself.

* never carry a loaded firearm in your vehicle.

* don’t put your finger on the trigger until your firearm’s sights are on the target.

* before shooting, make sure of your target and what’s beyond it.


Vehicle preparation:
* make sure your vehicle is in good mechanical condition.

* make sure you have a shovel, an ax, tire chains, jumper cables and a tow chain in your vehicle.

* if you experience mechanical problems with your vehicle or become snowed in, stay with your vehicle—don’t leave it.


Before leaving on your trip:
* let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return.


While in the field:
* never hunt alone.

* wear proper safety clothing: 400 square inches of hunter orange on your back, chest and head.


Field dressing your animal:
* use a sharp knife. A sharp knife does a better job of cutting than a dull knife does and is safer to use.

* cut away from you—never bring a knife blade towards you while cutting.


Your physical well-being:
* know your physical limitations, and don’t exceed them.

* prepare yourself for weather changes by dressing in layers. Dressing in layers allows you to regulate your body temperature by adding or removing clothes as needed.

* drink plenty of water, no matter how cold it is. “You can become dehydrated, even in cold weather,” Cook says.

* hypothermia (the loss of body temperature) can occur in temperatures as warm as 50 degrees.

Be aware of the signs of hypothermia. Some of the first signs are violent shivering, stumbling or becoming disoriented. “When you notice these signs, sit down immediately and build a fire,” Cook says. “Get yourself warm and dry.”

* frostbite. If you’re hunting in cold weather, watch for signs that you’re getting frostbite. White spots on your skin are the first sign. Check your face, feet and hands regularly. You’ll notice the first signs of frostbite on your face sooner if you’re hunting with a companion who can alert you.

If you get lost:

* don’t panic. Sit down and build a fire, even if it isn’t cold. “A fire is soothing. Building a fire will help you relax and think clearly,” Cook says.

After calming down, try to get your bearings and think your way out of the situation. If you think you know which direction you need to travel, get the pad of paper and pencil out of your survival kit and leave a note at your location. Indicate on the note who you are and the direction you’re traveling. If you find other hunters, don’t be embarrassed to ask them for directions and help.

If you don’t know which direction you should travel, stay at your camp and build a shelter several hours before sundown, if possible. Build a smoky fire (this type of fire can be spotted from the air) or build three fires (a distress signal that can also be spotted from the air).

Remaining at your camp is usually a good option. “If you have to, you can live without food and water for several days,” Cook says.

Alcohol and firearms don’t mix!

* do not handle a firearm if you’ve been drinking alcohol.

* do not give alcohol to someone who’s cold. Instead of warming the person, alcohol will actually make them colder.

OHV Riders reminded to stay on Trails during Hunts

Salt Lake City -- As hunters venture out this fall, Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Specialist Ann Evans offers the following tips to reduce OHV impacts, protect big game and habitat, and improve hunting and recreation experiences.

- Know vehicle use regulations for your hunting area. Contact the local land management agency for OHV travel regulations and information before the hunt.

- Stay on roads and trails designated for OHV use. Do not contribute to resource damage, stress to big game, or habitat destruction by creating illegal travel paths, which others may follow.

- Have respect for other users. Slow down or stop the OHV when approaching others on the trail. When meeting equestrians, approach slowly, pull over and stop, turn off the engine, remove your helmet and ask how best to proceed.

- Limit OHV use in and around campgrounds. Be respectful of other campers’ desires for quiet.

For more information on OHV safety tips and education, please call 800-OHV-RIDE or visit http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/

Youth Off-Highway Vehicle and Personal Watercraft Education Courses now Available Online

Salt Lake City – In an effort to meet growing demand for off-highway vehicle (OHV) and personal watercraft (PWC) youth education courses, Utah State Parks now offers online courses at http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/.

OHV course fees are $30 and cover ATVs, off-highway motorcycles and side-by-side ATVs. PWC courses, which cover JetSki and SeaDoo-type boats, are $34.95, which include a $5 certification fee. Upon successful completion of coursework, students print temporary certificates valid for 60 days and later receive permanent certificates by mail.

Students are strongly encouraged to thoroughly study all materials prior to testing. If they do not pass the course, they must pay a second registration fee to retake the test.

“Safety is our number one concern. We want to reduce accidents by educating youth to operate ATVs and PWC safely, wear safety equipment, and follow laws and rules,” stated OHV/PWC Education Coordinator Ann Evans. “Online courses provide easier access to education courses and allow students to learn at their own pace.”

Utah law requires youth eight to 16 to complete the Utah State Parks Know Before You Go! OHV Education Course before operating a machine on public lands, roads or trails. It is illegal for any child under age eight to operate an OHV on public land.

Utah youth, 12 to 17 years of age, are required to complete and pass the Utah PWC Education Course in order to operate these types of boats without an adult on board. Children younger than 12, may not operate a PWC without a responsible adult on board.

Since the creation of the education courses, approximately 22,000 students have completed the PWC course and more than 60,000 students have taken the OHV course.

For more information, visit http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/, call (800) OHV-RIDE or (800) RIDE PWC.

Update on High Waters in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests

SALT LAKE CITY, June 11, 2010 – Areas on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest still affected by high water include Little Cottonwood Canyon, American Fork Canyon, North Slope of the High Uintas, Mirror Lake Highway, Stansbury Mountain Range and the Weber River area near Kamas.

Forest visitors need adhere to road closure signage or blockades. Travelers should not attempt to cross roads where water is flowing across. Visitors should use extreme caution when recreating around fast moving streams or rivers. Also, parents should keep children and pets close-by and insure they understand the dangers of fast moving water.

There are a limited number of campgrounds, picnic areas trails and roads that are under emergency closures to protect public health and safety due to the high water and run-off.

These are:

Salt Lake Ranger District:
 Little Cottonwood Creek Trail – Closed
 Upper Narrows and Lower Narrows Loop Campgrounds, South Willow Canyon, Stansbury Mountains – Closed
 South Willow Canyon Road from Boy Scout Campground to Loop Campground - Closed

Pleasant Grove Ranger District:
 Sawmill Picnic Area, American Fork Canyon – Closed
 Mineral Basin Road closed just above Baker Fork in American Fork Canyon – Closed
 Portions of the trail around Tibble Fork Reservoir are still impassable due to water.

Heber-Kamas Ranger District:
 Ledgefork Campground, Weber River Area near Kamas – Closed
 Lower Provo River Campground, Mirror Lake Highway – Closed
 Soapstone Campground, Mirror Lake Highway – the lower loop is Closed

Evanston/Mt. View Ranger District:
 Bear River Campground, North Slope of Uintas – Closed
 West Fork of the Bear, North Slope of the Uintas -Closed
 East Fork of the Blacks Fork going to Hewinta - Closed
 East Fork of the Blacks Fork, south of Uinta Junction, North Slope of the Uintas – Closed to Sedans
 Bridger Lake Campground, North Slope of Uintas – Closed
 West Marsh Lake Campground, North Slope of Uintas - Closed
 Hoop Lake Campground, North Slope of Uintas - Closed
 Access road to Hoop Lake Campground, North Slope of the Uintas - Closed
 The Middle Beaver Creek Road to West Beaver Creek on the North Slope of the Uintas - Closed

Information on emergency closures will be updated as information becomes available. Forinformation on the North Slope road closures, contact the Evanston-Mt. View Ranger District at307-789-3194 or 307-782-6555.

Please note: The US Forest Service is responsible for managing National Forest System (NFS) roads. Closures on state or county roads crossing NFS lands are managed by their respective jurisdictions.

For information on specific campground closures, contact campground concessionaire American Land & Leisure at (801) 226-3564.

Interest in Poisonous Snakes is Growing

Under the proposed rule change, the midget faded rattlesnake is one of two species that an individual could catch in the wild and breed in a home.

Photo courtesy of Ron Stewart

DWR proposes new safety rules
Did you know that the number of Utahns who want to catch and keep a poisonous snake in their home is growing?

To make sure this activity is done safely, the Division of Wildlife Resources is proposing several changes to the state law that governs it.

Utah’s five public Regional Advisory Councils want your thoughts about the DWR’s ideas. You can read the agency’s ideas at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings/info/2010-02-03.pdf   on the Web.

“The desire to catch venomous snakes in the wild and then breed them in captivity is growing among herpetologists in Utah,” says Krissy Wilson, native aquatic species coordinator for the DWR.

(Herpetologists are people who enjoy catching and raising snakes.)

Wilson says six rattlesnake species live in Utah. The DWR is proposing that enthusiasts be allowed to catch and keep only the two most common rattlesnakes in the state—the midget faded rattlesnake and the Great Basin rattlesnake.

To keep those snakes, snake enthusiasts would have to follow a number of safety rules. “Public safety is our main concern,” Wilson says. “We don’t want a snake to escape from someone’s home.”

The requirements the DWR is proposing would also limit the number of snakes people could catch in the wild and the number of young the snakes could produce each year.

“Snake enthusiasts would also be required to follow all city or county laws related to keeping and raising poisonous snakes,” Wilson says.


Two ways to share your ideas
After reading the DWR’s ideas at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings/info/2010-02-03.pdf , you can share your thoughts with your RAC chairman one of two ways.

(Your chairman will take the input he receives to the Utah Wildlife Board when it meets March 3 and 4 in Salt Lake City. Board members will use the input to help them set snake collection and possession rules in Utah.)

E-mail
You can provide your comments to your RAC via e-mail. E-mail addresses for your RAC members are available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings  .

RAC meetings
Five Regional Advisory Council meetings will be held across Utah. You can participate and provide your input at any of the following meetings:

Southern Region
Feb. 9 at 7 p.m.
Hurricane High School
345 W. 100 S., Hurricane

Southeastern Region
Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m.
John Wesley Powell Museum
1765 E. Main St., Green River


Northeastern Region
Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Uintah Basin Applied Technology College
450 N. 2000 W., Vernal

Central Region
Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m.
Central Region Conference Center
1115 N. Main St., Springville


Northern Region
Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.
Student Union Building, Room 404A
Weber State University
3848 Harrison Blvd., Ogden


For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.