Two special orders signed by Forest Supervisor Kniffy Hamilton.

Public access to the national forest is becoming more and more of an issue in Lincoln County. The decrease in access is the result of many factors, including an increase in the number of people buying land adjacent to the national forest, and irresponsible forest use by some residents.
The Greys River Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest are taking steps to protect resources while still providing for public access into two popular Forest areas. Recently Forest Supervisor Kniffy Hamilton signed two Special Orders. Those special orders modified the use of the Spring Creek Road and trail, and Spruce Hollow Road.
The Greys River Ranger District temporarily closed 4.5 miles of the Spring Creek trail last year in order to repair damage that had been done to the area. Repeated motorized use of the trail in wet and soggy conditions had caused significant erosion. As a consequence of that erosion, the water quality in the adjacent stream had been compromised.
Forest visitors complained frequently about the poor condition and unsafe state of the trail before the area was closed for repair.
This season, the Greys River Ranger District, in conjunction with the Wyoming State Trails Program, has repaired and reopened the lower two miles of the trail. The trail begins about 47-miles up the Greys River Road.
Greys River District Ranger Jay Dunbar will be opening the newly rehabilitated section of trail to both motorcycles and ATV’s. At the end of that section, a new parking area and installed fencing will help control motorized use on the portion of the trail that has not been restored.
The section of the trail that has not been rehabilitated yet, will remain closed to motorized use.
“We have installed signs at the new closure beginning just below the second creek crossing,” said Dunbar.  “That crossing continues to pose a safety hazard and resource concern as a series of springs and seeps have been seriously impacted by previous motorized use.”
The Greys River Ranger District is still investigating appropriate methods for rehabilitating that section of the trail.

“We hope this year’s work will allow for motorized users to safely access the backcountry on the bottom section of the Spring Creek trail for fishing and hunting opportunities,” Dunbar said.
The Spring Creek Road run along the ridge just south of the trail and Spring Creek Drainage. Since the last travel plan was developed in 1991, the road has been managed with a seasonal closure from Sept. 10 through July 1.
During the trail rehabilitation work, the Greys River Ranger District opted to leave that road open to motorized use throughout the year.
The second special order applies to the Spruce Hollow Road (also known Forest Service Road 10862) near Grover Park. Spruce Hollow Road is currently closed to vehicles greater than 50-inches wide. Limiting the size of vehicles allowed to use the road will hopefully cut down on the erosion and damage in the area.
The Greys River Ranger District has placed boulders at the road’s junction with the Grover Park road to prevent wider vehicles from accessing the area. According to information provided by the Forest Service, ATV’s and motorcycles will still be allowed to use the route for their recreational and hunting purposes.
According to the Forest Service, forest visitors who have utilized the Spruce Hollow Road area for many years “have expressed concern to the District about the recent degradation of the roadway.”
“The majority of this damage is caused by full-sized vehicles,” said Dunbar. “This road closure for full-size vehicles is an effective way of mitigating hazards to users, as well as mitigating damage to the road and resources.”
The road closure will allow for Greys River Ranger District planners to determine how best to fix the problems in the area.
Alternative routes in the area can be located by using the Visitor Travel Map or looking for green arrows marking the route junctions along the Grover Park Road.
For more information on these trails and roads or the plans for rehabilitating these areas, contact Sid Smith at 886-5300.