HARRISBURG – As the winter season creeps in, the Shawnee National Forest announces the following annual seasonal closures that will be in effect across the forest.
Seasonal forest road closures will be in affect on December 10. Visitors may obtain a free motor vehicle use map at any of the three forest offices, for a list of Forest Service roads and exact closure dates. This map is also available on-line at www.fs.usda.gov/main/shawnee/maps-pubs.
Campgrounds that will close for the winter season beginning December 15 include: Red Bud Campground (Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area), Pine Ridge Campground (Pounds Hollow Recreation Area), Tower Rock, and Johnson Creek Campgrounds. Most campgrounds reopen March 15, 2024, except for Tower Rock Campground, which reopens May 1. For those who enjoy camping in all seasons, Pharaoh Campground (Garden of the Gods Recreation Area), Camp Cadiz, Oak Point Campground (Lake Glendale Recreation Area), and Pine Hills Campgrounds are open year-round.
For trail enthusiasts, please remember that there is a seasonal wilderness trail restriction prohibiting stock use between December 1 and March 31, that includes the following: Lusk Creek, Garden of the Gods and Bay Creek Wildernesses. These restrictions are necessary to protect wilderness resources.
For the latest alerts and closures visit the forest’s website at www.fs.usda.gov/shawnee or on social media at www.facebook.com/shawneenatlforest or twitter.com/shawneenf.
