April 16, 2023 - SONORA, California – With the historical levels of precipitation (snow in the high and mid elevation zones and rain in the lower elevation zones) experienced by the Forest this 
season, Forest Supervisor Jason Kuiken has extended seasonal road closures set to expire April 15, 2023.
"The forest experienced possibly the heaviest snow year on record that brought heavy precipitation from the Fall of 2022 through Spring of 2023. Multiple high wind events resulted in trees falling and causing power outages of up to one to two weeks at a time throughout the area,” Kuiken said.
Kuiken added, “As a result, downed trees and late winter snow accumulations across forest roads continue to prevent safe travel on some roads in the middle and high elevation zones subject to seasonal closures. Additionally, unprecedented snow levels have made it difficult for Forest staff to fully assess the extent of the damage caused to roads throughout the Forest. These roads will not be passable to motorized vehicles by the scheduled road opening date of April 15, 2023 on the forest’s Motorized Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). A recent evaluation of on-the-ground high elevation road conditions indicates that allowing vehicles to travel these roadways would put vehicle occupants at risk.“
With the forest order, the below listed roads will remain closed from April 15, 2023 through May 31, 2023.
Summit Ranger District
1. Forest Road No. 4N12 (Herring Creek Road)
2. Forest Road No. 5N01 (Eagle Meadow Road)
3. Forest Road No. 5N11
4. Forest Road No. 5N40Y
5. Forest Road No. 4N34 (Gooseberry Road)
6. Forest Road No. 4N47
7. Forest Road No. 4N13
8. Forest Road No. 4N14
9 Forest Road No. 4N39
10. Forest Road No. 4N26 (Crabtree Road)
11. Forest Road No. 6N06 (Fence Creek Road)
12. Forest Road No. 5N28
13. Forest Road No. 5N30
Mi-Wok Ranger District
Forest Road No. 3N01
Forest Road No. 4N25
Forest Road No. 2N07
Forest Road No. 3N07
Forest Road No. 2N13
Forest Road No. 2N14
Forest Road No. 4N85 (Sandbar Flat)
Forest Road No. 4N01 (Fraser Flat)
Forest Road No. 4N02
Forest Road No. 4N16
Forest Road No. 4N17
Forest Road No. 4N18
Calaveras Ranger District
Forest Road No. 4N73Y (Candy Rock Quarry)
Forest Road No. 5N85Y
Forest Road No. 5N56 (Lower Interface)
Forest Road No. 5N77Y
Forest Road No. 5N02 (Beardsley Road)
Forest Road No. 6N58
Forest Road No. 7N23 (Black Springs)
Forest Road No. 6N81Y
Forest Road No. 6N45
Forest Road No. 6N78
Forest Road No. 6N51Y (Old Highway)
Forest Road No. 6N79
Forest Road No. 6N77
Forest Road No. 7N68
Forest Road No. 7N70
Forest Road No. 7N09 (Cabbage Patch)
Forest Road No. 7N16X
Forest Road No. 7N02 (Sand Flat/ Wolfeboro)
Forest Road No. 7N01 (Spicer Road)
Forest Road No. 17EV485
Forest Road No. 7N35 (Corral Hollow)
Forest Road No. 7N40Y (Bloods Creek)
Forest Road No. 7N12A
Forest Road No. 18EV287
Forest Road No. 7N93 (Round Valley/Mt. Reba)
Forest Road No. 7N17 (Slick Rock)
Forest Road No. 8N13 (Stanislaus Meadow)
Forest Road No. 8N12 (Pacific Valley)
Forest Road No. 8N06 (Hermit Valley Rec Res)
Forest Road No. 8N02 (Deer Valley Trail)
Forest Road No. 8N01 (Highland Lakes)
Forest Road No. 8N04
Forest Road Nos. 5N01, 4N12, 5N40Y, 7N09, 7N23 and 17EV485 may continue to be used by over-snow vehicles. In order to utilize over-snow vehicles on these routes, users must determine that there is a minimum of 12 inches of snow on the route. Routes have an adequate snow depth of at least 12” when snow is seen covering small down trees, rocks and other impediments. Adequate snow depth provides for user safety and enough clearance between the over-snow vehicle and the ground surface to protect resources.
Source and photo credit: Stanislaus National Forest
