Medicine Bow National Forest visitors will have trouble finding access to roads, trails, and campgrounds this Memorial Day weekend due to snowpack conditions.

According to Medicine Bow, the Laramie Ranger, Bush Creek/Hayden, Douglas Districts are all under preparation to open under low elevation campgrounds for this Memorial Day weekend. Medicine Bow's release goes onto say in specific cases, visitors will see renovated sites or they'll be closed due to hazard trees from the beetle epidemic that has spread throughout most of the forest over most of the decade.

Medicine Bow says the Bush Creek/Hayden Ranger District will open their campgrounds which will include the French Creek, South Bush Creek, and Ryan Park. The release states that Bottle Creek, Bow River, Jack Creek, and Lincoln Park Campgrounds remain in doubt to open due to the snow drifts and trees that have come down. The Medicine Bow emphasizes that with the low elevation grounds, the main forest roads will be open and the secondary roads will be closed. Larry Sandoval, Medicine Bow's Public Affairs Officer says "to be advised to mind road and site closures for snow drifts and not try to drive through them and get your car stuck so we ask the public to please be patient and not be afraid to take detours as posted."  For more information, you can contact the District Office in Saratoga at (307) 326-5258.

According to Medicine Bow, Esterbrook, Curtis Gulch, and Friend Park campgrounds will be open on Memorial Day for the Douglas Ranger District. For more information on the these sites, you can contact the Douglas Ranger District at (307) 358-4690.

Medicine Bow says the Laramie Ranger District expects to have most of its sites on the Pole Mountain open for this weekend. The release goes onto say that they anticipate having Vedauwoo Day-Use site and campground, Yellow Pine Campground, Blair Picnic Area, and Hidden Valley Group sites open for this extended weekend. Sandoval states "the Vedauwoo campground is very popular for many and should be nice and sunny for people to enjoy even on the low elevation."  Medicine Bow states that Forest Road 540 to Lake Owen is open and can be used from the north end of Forest Road 517. The release emphasizes that visitors be aware that Barber Lake may not be filled due to the unavailability of diversion water. For more information on the Laramie Ranger District sites, you can call (307) 745-2300.

Sandoval says "for campgrouds that are listed in the press release as closed due to being snowed in, we are expecting those to open up in late June, early July." Sandoval wanted to emphasize to "to please call the district before heading out to a specific site so you know what the full procedure is and if they are open or not."

 

 

 

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