Sonora, CA – Stanislaus National Forest officials announce the seasonal shut down of some roads and trails to begin this week while noting that even areas left open to travelers come with a word of caution when factoring Mother Nature’s impact.
The closures begin on Friday (Dec. 15) and will remain in effect until April 14, depending on possible repairs needed due to weather damage. Forest spokesperson Diana Frelund warns that areas remaining open could still be hazardous for visitors, explaining, “Last week we had the really big wind event early on and we’re still finding quite a few trees that have been felled whether they’re on roads or trails. So we really want people to be aware and prepared for conditions they might find.”
Fredland adds that crews try to stay on top of any open road problems throughout the winter season and put up signs to alert visitors. She does ask that if anyone finds unmarked damaged areas to report it by calling 209-532-3671.
One final reminder for travelers, Fredland notes that the opened roadways are not maintained during the winter months, which makes them highly susceptible to damage from rocks, snow and heavy vehicles running over saturated roadbeds and in turn resulting in costly repairs.
Click here to find the STF Motor Vehicle Use Map.
Written by Tracey Petersen.
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