WHEELED MOTOR VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS

GEORGETOWN RANGER DISTRICT

Address: 7600 Wentworth Springs Road, Georgetown, CA 95634
Primary Contact: Maynard Batchelder     Backup: Leslye Cabodi
Phone: (530) 333-4312 TTY is down.
Office Hours: Open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. TOP

Campgrounds:

·        Dru Barner is open year-round.

·        French Meadows Campground is on the Tahoe National Forest.  Call for updates (530) 367-2224.

Events: None

Roads:

·        The 4WD road at the end of Volcanoville Road leading to Cache Rock Road, on the Middle Fork American River, condition is unknown.

·        Mosquito Ridge Road /Route 96:  Check with Foresthill Ranger Station for closures at (530) 367-2224.

·        Forest Route 22, 17N12 to French Meadows Reservoir.  Please check with the Foresthill Ranger Station on the Tahoe National Forest, for updated road information into French Meadows Reservoir.

·        Wentworth Springs Road is closed at Quintette.

OHV Riding:

·        A Green or Red sticker license is required for any non-street-legal vehicle to ride on the Eldorado National Forest.  On the Eldorado National Forest, Red and green stickers may ride in the Mace Mill-Rock Creek OHV Area year around.  They may also ride on all other designated OHV roads of the Forest year-round.

·        OHV Maps:  Rock Creek OHV Maps are available and are sold at any Forest District office.  The price is $3.22.  If you would like one mailed, please send a check to our District address above and make the check out to ENFIA.  Please indicate OHV map on your check.

·        Rubicon Jeep Trail:  Call Pacific Ranger District (530) 644-2349.  For more information, contact Jeepers Jamboree USA at (530) 333-4777 or Jeepers Jamboree, Inc. at (530) 333-4771.

Trails:

·        The Georgetown Ranger District is proposing to construct 18 trail re-routes and re-construct 2 trails to meet Regional standards for all-terrain vehicles.  For further information contact Jon Jue at (530) 333-4312.

·        Volunteers:  The Forest Service invites volunteers interested in working on trail maintenance projects.  If interested please contact Jon Jue at (530) 333-5550 or send an e-mail to jjue@fs.fed.us.

·        E-mail Lists:  We are now are able to contact the public regarding Trails Status through our OHV e-mailing list.  If you are interested please call in your e-mail address at (530) 333-5580.

PACIFIC RANGER DISTRICT
Address: 7887 Highway 50, Pollock Pines, CA   95726
Primary Contact:  Donna-Lee DeCantillon    Backup: Shirley Butticci
Phone:  Front Desk - (530) 644-2349; Visitors Information Services Desk - (530) 647-5415.  TTY (530) 647-5407 (not available)
Office hours:  Open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. seven days a week.  Please check back often or call for office hours.  Office will be closed Federal holidays.  TOP

Boat Ramps:  

·        West Point Boat Ramp – accessible; closed gate past campground.

·        Ice House Boat Ramp is accessible.

·        Loon Lake is still frozen over.  There is a snow berm before the dam.

Campgrounds:

Please see the Eldorado Forest website for information at, www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado.  On the left hand side of the introduction screen, click Publications; then click Recreational Opportunity Guides.  Select the campground you are interested in and double click to open Guide.

There are no fees at Strawberry Point and Northwind.  Camping is allowed but there are no services.  Please pack out all garbage.  As of this date, they are not accessible due to snow.

West Point is open with no services; bring water and pack out all garbage.

The gate is closed at Sunset.

Airport Flat is accessible.

Picnic Areas:

All Picnic areas are closed.

Private Resorts:

·        Ice House Resort is closed for the season.

·        Echo Lake Chalet and the boat shuttle are closed for the season.

·        Robbs Valley Resort is closed for the season.

Trailheads:

·        The parking lot at Twin Bridges/Pyramid Creek Trailhead is closed.  Restrooms are not open.  Parking along the highway may result in a California Highway Patrol citation and/or towing.

Rentals:

·        Reservations for Robbs Hut, Loon Lake Chalet or Van Vleck Bunkhouse may be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777 from 4 to 180 days in advance of your first night’s stay.  Please remember to secure a campfire permit.

·        At Robbs Hut the lower gate is locked.  Remember to back your vehicle in and bring your shovel with you to the Hut during winter months.  Depending on terrain conditions and weather, the trip can take between 2 to 6 hours from the trailhead to the Hut.  Elevation gain is 1,000 feet in 3 miles.  Depart from the trailhead no later than noon. 

·        Depending on terrain conditions and the weather, the trip can take between 3 to 7 hours from the trailhead to the Van Vleck Bunkhouse.  Depart from the trailhead no later than 10:00 a.m.

·        The BBQ at Loon Lake Chalet has been removed.  Renters will need to bring their own.

·        For more information on the rentals, go to www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado under publications/recreation opportunity guides.

Roads:

·        The road along the north side of Union Valley from Wolf Creek Campground to Camino Cove Campground is closed.

·        The Ice House/Wrights Lake Tie Road is not accessible.

·        Wentworth Springs Road is plowed one mile in from Ice House Road.

OHV Riding: 

·        Barrett Lake Jeep Trail is closed for the season.

·        The Rubicon Jeep Trail is an El Dorado County road located within the Eldorado National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. 

·        Please be prepared and use caution when traveling in the higher elevations during the winter months.

Biking:

·        The Union Valley bike trail is closed.

Wilderness:

         Desolation Wilderness:

·        Permits are required year-round for both day and overnight use and may be obtained at the Pacific Ranger Station.  There is no charge for day-use permits; they are available at the Pacific Ranger Station on the deck to the left of the front door.  Please complete the top portion of the day use permit, leaving the bottom portion in the green permit box on the porch.  The trailheads have been shut down for the winter.  You will need to stop at the Pacific Ranger District office to obtain both day and overnight use permits.

·        Overnight permits for Desolation Wilderness may be obtained at the Pacific Ranger Station office, 3 miles east of Pollock Pines on the north side of Highway 50 at the Mill Run Road turn off.  Permits may be arranged over the phone (530) 647-5415 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. or in person between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.  Call for information or go to www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/recreation/wild/deso/trails .

·        Ask us about our bear canister loan program when you secure your Desolation Wilderness overnight permit.

The following additional locations can issue Desolation overnight permits on the day of departure only (first-come, first-served):

·        The North Shore Forest Service office is now open Tuesday – Friday.  Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  They are located three miles east of the “Y” on Highway 28.   You can contact the office at (530) 583-3593; fax (530) 583-7125.

·        The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Supervisor’s Office is located at 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA  96510.  Their office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  You can contact the office at (530) 543-2600 or (530) 543-2694.  The Supervisor’s Office also has bear canister’s for loan for overnight Wilderness permittees.