Important Public Notice: Updated Area Closure in Lincoln National Forest Smokey Bear Ranger District
Order Number: #03-08-01-24-005 U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service Lincoln National Forest, Smokey Bear Ranger District
Effective Dates: July 29, 2024 – November 1, 2024
In response to ongoing public health and safety concerns related to flooding, the Blue 2 wildfire, and the South Fork wildfire, the U.S. Forest Service has issued an Area Closure Order for specific portions of the Smokey Bear Ranger District in Lincoln National Forest. This closure is necessary to ensure the safety of the public and to facilitate the efforts of firefighting and emergency response teams.
Closed National Forest System Roads and Trails:
FS127A
Trail #13, #77, #90, #92, #93, #120 A-G, #121, #121A
Closed Developed Recreation Sites:
South Fork Campground
Oak Grove Campground
Cedar Creek Day Use and Group areas 1-3
Sam Tobias Memorial Day Use
Prohibited Activities:
Entering or Being Within the Described Area: No public access is allowed within the closed area. This includes all National Forest System (NFS) lands as specified in the order.
Using Roads Within the Described Area: All roads within the closure area are off-limits to the public.
Using Trails Within the Described Area: All trails within the closure area are closed to public use.
Exemptions: The following individuals are exempt from this closure order:
Persons with a Forest Service Permit specifically exempting them from this Order.
Federal, State, or Local officers, or members of organized rescue or firefighting resources performing official duties.
Described Area: The closure area includes specific boundaries and all developed recreation sites, roads, and trails listed in the attached map (Attachment A). The boundary starts at the northwestern corner at Lookout Mountain Trail #78 and continues along specified trails and roads, covering a comprehensive section of the Smokey Bear Ranger District.
Purpose: This order aims to protect public health and safety from the hazards associated with recent wildfire activities and potential flooding.
Implementation:
The order is effective from 12:01 a.m. on July 29, 2024, until 12:01 p.m. on November 1, 2024, unless rescinded earlier.
Detailed maps and additional information are available at Lincoln National Forest Alerts.
Penalties: Violations of this closure order can result in a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by fines up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or imprisonment for up to six months, or both.
Contact Information: For more details or inquiries about this order, please contact:
Smokey Bear Ranger District: (575) 257-4095
Lincoln National Forest Supervisor’s Office: (575) 434-7200
This order supersedes any previous orders concerning the same area.
Issued and signed on July 29, 2024, by the Forest Supervisor, Lincoln National Forest.
Stay informed and stay safe as we navigate these challenging conditions. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Attachments:
Attachment A: Detailed Map of the Described Area
Attachment B: List of Developed Recreation Sites, Roads, and Trails within the Described Area
For further updates and digital versions of the order and attachments, visit Lincoln National Forest Alerts.
