PUBLIC LANDS -- As the snow slowly recedes in the mountains, forest managers are discovering more and more roads damaged by the big snowpack and runoff.

Idaho Panhandle National Forest officials say many roads that are open have soft shoulders that can be dangerous to vehicles going too fast or getting too close to the edges.

Clearwater National Forest officials report that many main roads are still closed, including the Deception Pass portion of Road 255 and Moose City -- the access many Inland Northwesters use to reach the Kelly Creek area.

Many of the access roads to the national forests have had slides and slumps. Some roads are closed and other temporary closures can be expected through much of the summer as crews respond to problems, officials said.

• Check the IPNF website for a list of current road conditions, restrictions, and closures. The list is updated weekly.
• Check here for Clearwater National Forest road and trail conditions updates.

Information also is available from IPNF local Forest Service offices.

Read on  for a  press release on Clearwater National Forest road and trail conditions.

From the Clearwater-Nez Percen National Forest, June 8:

Higher than usual snowpack, landslides, storms and continuing cold weather have delayed the opening of many roads and trails on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests.Most Forest roads and trails remain snow covered, wet and soft. Visitors are asked to avoid driving or riding on muddy roads and trails to avoid damaging the running surface.

 “Public safety and health is our number one priority,” explained Le Ann Wilson, Clearwater National Forest Information Assistant.

Landslides and avalanches have already occurred, causing some roads to become impassable.  Slide activity is expected to continue due to saturated soils. The Forest Service will respond and repair roads affected when conditions are stable and safe for workers, and as resources are available.

Fallen trees present yet another hazard. Trees can become unstable due to rain-soaked soils, causing them to fall across roads and trails. Drivers should also watch out for dislodged rocks and boulders that have rolled onto backcountry roads.

Many national forest creeks and rivers are swollen and swift. In the event of sudden high temperatures, streams and rivers can quickly reach flood stages. Do not attempt stream crossings.

Given the wet spring and the potential for flooding and slides, conditions can change rapidly. Please call local Forest Service offices for conditions before embarking for sites on the Forest.

Road and trail conditions as of June 8 are as follows:

On the Clearwater National Forest, several roads, including FS Road 250 from Pierce to Bungalow (French Mountain) and Kelly Forks to Superior, MT, via Hoodoo Pass, are impassable due to snow. Skull Creek Road 252 and Road 705, Isabella Creek, are closed to full-sized vehicles because of several slides and sloughs. Road 255, which runs adjacent to Kelly Creek, then northward, toward Moose City, is closed atDeception Saddle. The Smith Ridge Road, Road 700, is open for six miles before deep snow hampers travel. The Toboggan Ridge Road (Road 581); the Lolo Motorway (Road 500); Elk Summit Road (Road 360) and the Fly Hill Roads (Roads 715 and 720) are expected to remain snow-covered and impassable for several weeks.

On the Nez Perce National Forest, Indian Hill Road 290 and Falls Pt. Road 443 are closed due to washouts.  O’Hara/Hamby Road 651 is closed from mile point 6.27 up to mile point 12.65 due to slides that took out road sections. The Grangeville-Salmon Road 221 is partially open from Slate Creek Road 354 to Big Salmon River Road 1514.  The Slate Creek Road 354 is open to the Road 221 turnoff, but is still slick/slushy.  Nut Basin Road is open up to about 6 miles, Deer Creek Road 493 is open all the way to Pittsburg Landing, Seven Devils Road 517 is open to the snow level (5400 feet).

The Magruder Road 468 is closed for snow one mile west of Dry Saddle on the “west side,” and the last snow drift on the “east side” is roughly at Observation Point.  Due to slides, Road 443 is closed indefinitely from the 464 Junction at the district boundary to Selway Falls. Most other Nez Perce Forest roads at higher elevations will remain closed to mid-late June due to snow.

Most native surface roads are saturated and many remained closed due to rain and lingering snow. The rule of thumb is, if you are making tracks, stop, turn around and go back to a dry surface.

On the Clearwater National Forest, most trails remain closed due to snow or soggy tread.  However, Trail 20, the Windy Creek Trail, is open for approximately 17 miles. The Downriver Trail, Trail 297, is open for about four miles, and Trail 567, the Kelly Creek Trail, is open as far as Bear Creek, a distance of just under seven miles.  Back Country Horsemen volunteers opened the Boulder Creek Trail the first eight miles on National Trails Day.

On the Nez Perce National Forest, trail crews have been successful in opening the majority of the lower trails along the Selway and Salmon rivers, however trails in the higher elevations remain closed by snow and extreme blow down.

For more information, please visit the Clearwater Forest website at:  http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater/VisitorInfo/Assets/travel_info.htm and the Nez Perce Forest website under Alerts & Notices at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/nezperce/publicnotices.