NORTH FORK – Sierra National Forest (SNF) officials have announced the temporary closure of several trails in the Ferguson Fire burn area due to safety concerns with changing weather conditions.
The closures include Hite’s Cove Trail, Savage Lundy Trail, and Hite’s Cove OHV Trail on the Bass Lake Ranger District (see map below).
“The purpose of this Order is to provide public safety due to the risk of landslide and rock fall associated with the moderate to high intensity fire effects from the 2018 Ferguson Fire on the soil and vegetation surrounding these trails,” stated SNF officials in a statement released today.
“Within the Ferguson Fire Burned Area Emergency Repair Assessment-Geology Report, dated Aug. 27, these trails were listed as having a high risk of rock fall onto and near these trails due to the unstable nature of soils due to the lack of vegetation on the surrounding hillsides.”
SNF staff has been monitoring these trails since the containment of the Ferguson Fire. Following recent rains, they have documented several sections of the trails where rocks have dislodged from uphill slopes and either crossed and/or impacted the trail itself.
Some sections have had minor landslides which cover the trail tread, say officials, and man-made rock trail walls have also been impacted.
The Ferguson Fire started on Friday, July 13, along Highway 140 in Mariposa County and burned 96,901 acres of the Sierra National Forest, Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and State lands. It was declared fully contained on Aug. 22.
For more information on alternative recreation sites on the Sierra National Forest, please contact any Forest Service Office.
Bass Lake Ranger District Office at 559-877-2218
High Sierra Ranger District Office at 559-855-3533 ext. 3301
Forest Supervisor’s Office at 559-297-0706
More information is available at www.fs.usda.gov/sierra.