Following resource damage on Carter Mountain, staff from Shoshone National Forest and employees from Wyoming Game and Fish’s Cody office came together this week to make improvements to an existing gate and road closure.
As with many Forest Service roads, there is a seasonal closure on FSR 474, Carter Mountain Road. This road has a locked gate, which closes the area to wheeled motorized use annually from January 1 through May 15. Recently, wheeled motorized use has occurred in the area, creating resource damage by leaving deep ruts in the hillside next to the gate.
To mitigate future resource damage, Forest Service staff and Wyoming Game and Fish employees have built fence from the currently locked gate around the parking area. “We hope this fence will alleviate any confusion about whether or not the area is open to wheeled motorized travel during specific times of the year. Our motorized system of roads and trails is an important way to help maintain the pristine qualities of the Shoshone National Forest while providing public access. Seasonal closures are in place to limit resource damage and ensure wildlife habitat remains healthy,” said District Ranger Casey McQuiston.
As a reminder, off-system motorized travel is not allowed on the Shoshone National Forest. Motor vehicle use maps are available at all Shoshone National Forest offices; they can also be downloaded from the Forest website.
As America’s first national forest, the Shoshone National Forest has 2.4 million acres of diverse terrain and a mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the forest to meet the needs of present and future generations.
