Naches Ranger District
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:15 pm
The office phone number is (509) 653-1401.
OFFICE HOURS: The Naches Ranger Station foyer is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to make handouts and forest information available to the public during non-office hours. Winter office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office will be closed daily for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. No permit sales after 4 p.m.
PLANNING PROCESS SPRING TRAIL CLOSURE: Naches Ranger District is in the planning process of a Spring Trail Closure and would like your input. If you have comments or would like more information, please contact Michelle King at (509) 653-1420, Monday through Friday, during normal working hours. You can also email official comments to comments-pacificnorthwest-wenatchee-naches@fs.fed.us
Plans are to have a decision on the proposed action by the end of February 2012. This project is classified as a Categorical Exclusion; therefore, there is no formal comment period. It would be very helpful to receive comments and feedback by February 25th.
SNO-PARKS: Sno-Parks are operated by Washington State Parks and Recreation under contract with groomers. Grooming has begun in areas where there is sufficient snow to groom.
Forest users need to pay attention to those areas that are posted closed to all motorized traffic other than registered snowmobiles. Each Sno-Park will be signed and typically bermed with piles of snow restricting access to all motorized traffic.
Now that Washington State Parks and Recreation Sno-Parks are in place individuals parking at sno-parks are required to have a Sno-Park Permit. The Northwest Forest Pass, Interagency Annual, Senior, or Access passes are not valid at any Washington State Sno-Parks. At some locations you may be required to have both the Washington State Discover Pass and the Sno-Park Permit.
See the Washington State Snowmobile Sno-Parks site or Non-Motorized Sno-Parks site for Naches area which has maps and information about groomed trails, passes you will need (Discover or Sno-Park pass) and other updates.
WINTER LOGGING AND SNOWMOBILES: Winter Logging operations are ongoing in the Indian Creek area, Forest Road 1308, off U.S. Highway 12 across from Rimrock Reservoir.
DON’T BECOME STRANDED: Forest visitors continue to get their vehicles stuck in the snow; sometimes being stranded overnight. Be prepared when visiting the national forest. Carry emergency supplies and equipment. Also, don’t attempt to drive on roads if the snow is too deep and don’t rely on your four-wheel drive being able to access any roadway. Most recently, a family tried to access a snowshoeing area near Mt. Hood and became stranded overnight. Always leave a very specific itinerary with a responsible person so that in case you don’t return when planned rescue efforts can be put into place. If you do become stranded, don’t leave your vehicle, attach a flag to the antenna to indicate you need help. When snowshoeing or cross-country skiing always carry a backpack containing equipment and safety items that can help you survive an overnight stay in the woods.
WINTER RECREATION CHANGES: For those who have used the Bumping area for winter recreation activities, a new trail system will be managed in the Bumping Lake area. The 4 mile cross-country ski/snowshoe system will include a plowed Sno-Park and snow grooming will occur one to two days per week. The trails will center on Bumping Lake Campground. A Sno-Park permit will be required for this trail system.
The Northwest Forest Pass, Interagency Annual, Senior, or Access passes are not valid at any Washington State Sno-Parks or is the Washington State Discover Pass alone.
The culvert on Forest Road 1601, damaged during last winter’s floods, has been removed to prevent further damage from potential winter and spring runoff. Forest Road No. 1601 is not a groomed route but still popular with cross- country skiers and snowshoers. Road No. 1601 is closed to all motorized vehicles, including snowmobiles.
You can find non-motorized grooming schedules on the forest web under Naches Recreation. The North Fork Tieton Sno-Park, Pleasant Valley Loop Trail #999, Goose Egg, and Bumping Sno-Park. Grooming and trail conditions report will be updated regularly based on snow conditions. Go to www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen and click on Find an Area, Naches, winter activities.
BUMPING ROAD: Bumping River Road No. 1800 is open to the Bumping Lake dam where it is bermed closed. The area beyond the closer point is open to snowmobilers, snowshoers and cross-country skiers only. Drivers are encouraged to use extreme caution when driving the Bumping River Road due to ice and it being very narrow due to snow plowing.
2012 FLOOD REPAIR PROJECTS: In May 2011, the Naches and Cle Elum Ranger Districts experienced a 100-year flood impacting 40 roads, multiple campgrounds, and other recreational areas. The flood damage was so extensive the Forest Service general funds were not sufficient to repair the damaged areas.
In June 2011, after documenting the extent of the damage, the Okanogan-Wenatchee South Engineering Zone applied for and was granted Federal Lands Highway funding. Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads, known as ERFO, is making it possible for the Naches and Cle Elum Districts to begin to plan and implement flood repair projects. The intent of the ERFO program is to defray unusually heavy expenses associated with the repair of federally owned roads damaged by natural disaster or catastrophic failure.
The Naches and Cle Elum districts have created an ERFO Team, consisting of specialist and planners, to work on the ten most heavily damaged road sites on both districts. The team is in the planning process of five projects this year and will complete five more in 2013.
The five 2012 ERFO Flood Repair Sites were picked based on the extent of damage and the urgency to address vehicular access.
· Forest Service Road 1808 at mile post 4.2. Naches District T15N, R12E, Section 16
· Forest Service Road 1601 at mile post 0.3. Naches District T16N, R15E, Section 30.
· Forest Service Road 3120 at mile post 4.0. Cle Elum District T18N, R15E, Section 10.
· 3100 Road System including mile post 0.9, 1.0, 1.1,1.6, and 2.2. Cle Elum District T17N, R16E , Section 14 and Section 10.
· Forest Service Road 3100 at mile post 10.4. Cle Elum District T18N, R15E, Section 22.
For a more detailed overview of repairs you can go to: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen and on the right side of the window you click on Naches or Cle Elum, “Find an Areaâ€
OFFICE HOURS: The Naches Ranger Station foyer is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to make handouts and forest information available to the public during non-office hours. Winter office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office will be closed daily for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. No permit sales after 4 p.m.
PLANNING PROCESS SPRING TRAIL CLOSURE: Naches Ranger District is in the planning process of a Spring Trail Closure and would like your input. If you have comments or would like more information, please contact Michelle King at (509) 653-1420, Monday through Friday, during normal working hours. You can also email official comments to comments-pacificnorthwest-wenatchee-naches@fs.fed.us
Plans are to have a decision on the proposed action by the end of February 2012. This project is classified as a Categorical Exclusion; therefore, there is no formal comment period. It would be very helpful to receive comments and feedback by February 25th.
SNO-PARKS: Sno-Parks are operated by Washington State Parks and Recreation under contract with groomers. Grooming has begun in areas where there is sufficient snow to groom.
Forest users need to pay attention to those areas that are posted closed to all motorized traffic other than registered snowmobiles. Each Sno-Park will be signed and typically bermed with piles of snow restricting access to all motorized traffic.
Now that Washington State Parks and Recreation Sno-Parks are in place individuals parking at sno-parks are required to have a Sno-Park Permit. The Northwest Forest Pass, Interagency Annual, Senior, or Access passes are not valid at any Washington State Sno-Parks. At some locations you may be required to have both the Washington State Discover Pass and the Sno-Park Permit.
See the Washington State Snowmobile Sno-Parks site or Non-Motorized Sno-Parks site for Naches area which has maps and information about groomed trails, passes you will need (Discover or Sno-Park pass) and other updates.
WINTER LOGGING AND SNOWMOBILES: Winter Logging operations are ongoing in the Indian Creek area, Forest Road 1308, off U.S. Highway 12 across from Rimrock Reservoir.
DON’T BECOME STRANDED: Forest visitors continue to get their vehicles stuck in the snow; sometimes being stranded overnight. Be prepared when visiting the national forest. Carry emergency supplies and equipment. Also, don’t attempt to drive on roads if the snow is too deep and don’t rely on your four-wheel drive being able to access any roadway. Most recently, a family tried to access a snowshoeing area near Mt. Hood and became stranded overnight. Always leave a very specific itinerary with a responsible person so that in case you don’t return when planned rescue efforts can be put into place. If you do become stranded, don’t leave your vehicle, attach a flag to the antenna to indicate you need help. When snowshoeing or cross-country skiing always carry a backpack containing equipment and safety items that can help you survive an overnight stay in the woods.
WINTER RECREATION CHANGES: For those who have used the Bumping area for winter recreation activities, a new trail system will be managed in the Bumping Lake area. The 4 mile cross-country ski/snowshoe system will include a plowed Sno-Park and snow grooming will occur one to two days per week. The trails will center on Bumping Lake Campground. A Sno-Park permit will be required for this trail system.
The Northwest Forest Pass, Interagency Annual, Senior, or Access passes are not valid at any Washington State Sno-Parks or is the Washington State Discover Pass alone.
The culvert on Forest Road 1601, damaged during last winter’s floods, has been removed to prevent further damage from potential winter and spring runoff. Forest Road No. 1601 is not a groomed route but still popular with cross- country skiers and snowshoers. Road No. 1601 is closed to all motorized vehicles, including snowmobiles.
You can find non-motorized grooming schedules on the forest web under Naches Recreation. The North Fork Tieton Sno-Park, Pleasant Valley Loop Trail #999, Goose Egg, and Bumping Sno-Park. Grooming and trail conditions report will be updated regularly based on snow conditions. Go to www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen and click on Find an Area, Naches, winter activities.
BUMPING ROAD: Bumping River Road No. 1800 is open to the Bumping Lake dam where it is bermed closed. The area beyond the closer point is open to snowmobilers, snowshoers and cross-country skiers only. Drivers are encouraged to use extreme caution when driving the Bumping River Road due to ice and it being very narrow due to snow plowing.
2012 FLOOD REPAIR PROJECTS: In May 2011, the Naches and Cle Elum Ranger Districts experienced a 100-year flood impacting 40 roads, multiple campgrounds, and other recreational areas. The flood damage was so extensive the Forest Service general funds were not sufficient to repair the damaged areas.
In June 2011, after documenting the extent of the damage, the Okanogan-Wenatchee South Engineering Zone applied for and was granted Federal Lands Highway funding. Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads, known as ERFO, is making it possible for the Naches and Cle Elum Districts to begin to plan and implement flood repair projects. The intent of the ERFO program is to defray unusually heavy expenses associated with the repair of federally owned roads damaged by natural disaster or catastrophic failure.
The Naches and Cle Elum districts have created an ERFO Team, consisting of specialist and planners, to work on the ten most heavily damaged road sites on both districts. The team is in the planning process of five projects this year and will complete five more in 2013.
The five 2012 ERFO Flood Repair Sites were picked based on the extent of damage and the urgency to address vehicular access.
· Forest Service Road 1808 at mile post 4.2. Naches District T15N, R12E, Section 16
· Forest Service Road 1601 at mile post 0.3. Naches District T16N, R15E, Section 30.
· Forest Service Road 3120 at mile post 4.0. Cle Elum District T18N, R15E, Section 10.
· 3100 Road System including mile post 0.9, 1.0, 1.1,1.6, and 2.2. Cle Elum District T17N, R16E , Section 14 and Section 10.
· Forest Service Road 3100 at mile post 10.4. Cle Elum District T18N, R15E, Section 22.
For a more detailed overview of repairs you can go to: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen and on the right side of the window you click on Naches or Cle Elum, “Find an Areaâ€
