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Snowmobile routes changed northwest of Sage Hen Reservoir


Contact: David Walsh, Acting Public Affairs Officer, 208-373-4105, david.walsh@usda.gov

 

 

Snowmobile routes changed northwest of Sage Hen Reservoir 

 

BOISE, Idaho, Dec. 6, 2024 – The Boise National Forest, together with Valley County recreation staff, have made changes to the groomed snowmobile routes located northwest of Sage Hen Reservoir area for the 2024-2025 season. These changes were made to ensure public safety by avoiding damaged roads and bridges due to the 2024 Lava Fire.

 

“Snowmobiling is very popular in the Sage Hen area and on West Mountain,” said Emmett District Ranger John Wallace. “Working with the County, we’ve come up with solutions to allow snowmobile use around the Sage Hen reservoir area.” 

 

Additional groomed routes may be available on Forest Service roads 607, 609 and 653D.   Valley County Recreation Director Larry Laxon says “Grooming the new loop will be contingent on low elevation snow, but we will make an effort to get it done.”  

 

Laxon encourages snowmobilers to monitor Valley County’s interactive grooming map to assure the route is groomed and runnable. Go to the Valley County Groomed Snowmobile Routes Map for updates.

 

Closed routes this season are referenced on the Lava Fire closure map and will include Forest Roads 653, due to a compromised bridge and the 624 and 625 due to road damage. These closed routes will be clearly marked on the ground with barricades and will not be groomed for snowmobiling.

 

The 618 road, known as the Third Fork Road, is also closed by Gem County due to road damage near Mill Creek Summit and is impassable.  Refer to the Payette National Forest closure for details.   

 

Winter travel maps for the Boise National Forest can be found on our Maps and Publications website. 

 

For questions, contact the Emmett Ranger District at (208) 392-3700.

 

Attached: Closure Order and Map identifying closed routes within the Lava Fire burn area and related photos.

Valley County Seeks Public Input for Two Grant Applications

Valley County intends to apply for two Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation grants in January of 2025. 

Grant 1 is seeking funding from the Recreational Trails Program grant to complete Phase 2 of the Samson Trail Pathway project. Grant 2 is seeking funding from the Off Road Motor Vehicle Fund to install a double vault toilet at the Francis Wallace Parking Lot.

Grant 1: The County is applying for $250,000 to continue building 1.2 miles of the non-motorized Samson Trail Pathway (Phase 2) and complete a few final upgrades on Phase 1 of the project. The County received an Idaho Transportation Department grant from the Child Pedestrian Safety Program amounting to $250,000 that will be used to match the IDPR grant (if awarded). The County is also providing the crushed asphalt to improve the finished surface on the length of the trail. Click here to view the project area map.

Grant 2: The County is also applying for an IDPR grant to install a badly needed vault toilet to improve services at the Francis Wallace Parking Lot in the amount of $72,112. The County is providing an in-kind match for the project valued at $4500 and consisting of excavation, sand and gravel, and backfill for the installation.

The County invites the public to provide comments between December 1st and December 20th, 2024, for each of these projects prior to submittal of the applications.

Please email comments or questions to Dave Bingaman at dbingaman@co.valley.id.us. 
General Information
Staff Directory
Valley County Recreation Director
Larry Laxson
llaxson@co.valley.id.us
Director
Larry Laxson
(208) 405-3148
llaxson@co.valley.id.us

Recreation Planner
Dave Bingaman
(208) 315-5079
dbingaman@co.valley.id.us

Recreation Coordinator
Danny Amen
(208) 315-3116
damen@co.valley.id.us