Home » Ahwahnee » Dead Trees Keep Some Campgrounds Closed Over Holiday Weekend
Tree mortality near Bass Lake - photo by Don Grove

Dead Trees Keep Some Campgrounds Closed Over Holiday Weekend

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Memorial Day is next week, and due to the unprecedented number of hazard trees present, and the associated risk to the public, the Sierra National Forest (SNF) will delay the opening of a number of campgrounds.

Keeping things in perspective, forces have been working virtually non-stop since last fall on this problem, and the majority of the campgrounds on the Forest will open on schedule this summer season.

SNF officials say every effort was made to have those campgrounds — which typically open on Memorial Day weekend — ready to go, and to meet that schedule. Due to the extremely large volume of tree mortality particularly in the 3000-6500 ft. elevation range however, not all have been treated in time for public use this upcoming holiday weekend.

The response to the mortality crisis has truly been a team effort, with the U.S. Forest Service, state, county, tribal community, homeowners and industry all responding together to address the issue in and around the Sierra National Forest.

“We will be working continuously on these campgrounds, adjacent roads, trails and fuel breaks throughout the entire season to reduce the risk to public safety,” says the SNF in a statement released today.

The following campgrounds which normally open for Memorial Day, will not be available;

Bass Lake Ranger District

  • Wishon Point Campground
  • Fish Creek Campground
  • Lakeside Picnic/Amphitheater
  • Recreation Point Camp/Picnic
  • Spring Cove Campground
  • Crane Valley Group Campground
  • Little Denver Church
  • Pine Slope
  • Jerseydale Campground
  • Rock Creek Campground
  • Placer Campground
  • Mammoth Pool Campground

High Sierra Ranger District

  • Dorabelle Campground
  • Gigantea Campground

Ross Cabin is a historical site that is located approximately 300 ft. off of Forest Road 4S81. This site is surrounded with dead trees that are a hazard to the public and is also closed.

Other campgrounds are still available and can be reserved at www.recreation.gov. For more information on the current status of the Sierra National Forest campgrounds, please contact your local ranger station or visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/sierra/home/?cid=stelprdb5321770&width=full

Forest restoration is occurring throughout the forest and on several roads, which are subject to heavy equipment traffic. All of the following roads should be traveled on with caution.

  • 07S011X from Road 426 to the end
  • 07S086 from Road 222 to County Road 222 (It’s a loop road)
  • 07S062Y from Road 222 to the end
  • 07S023 from Road 223 to the end

Public access to road segment 07S024 from Road 426 to the junction of 07S022IA, will be restricted into July due to the one-lane sloped area and heavy equipment traffic.

Watch Out - Tree hazard

Leave a Reply

Sierra News Online

Sierra News Online