Forest road closures

Forest Road 830 (Deep Jack Road), and Forest Road 443 (Jerry Accord Road) in the Sierra Madre Range, Medicine Bow National Forest, will be temporarily closed for public safety during roadside hazard tree removal work this fall. The work on the 830 Road will begin on or around Monday, Aug. 13, and work on the 443 Road will begin once the 830 Road is complete.

Start dates are approximate and the roads will remain open until work actually commences. The same contractor will be working on both roads, so first the 830 Road will be closed until work is completed, and then the 443 Road will be closed. Work on the 830 Road will last approximately four months and work on the 443 Road will take approximately three months.

In order to accommodate use during hunting season, from Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 the roads will be closed during the week from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. The roads will be open during the week from 5 p.m. - 7 a.m. (Monday evening until Friday morning) and all weekend (Friday at 5 p.m. until Monday at 7 a.m.) for through traffic only.

Access along the roads to hunting areas will be allowed while the roads are open. No camping along the roads or within a quarter mile of each side will be allowed, even while the roads are in an open condition. Please have all personal vehicles and equipment removed by the time the roads close on Monday morning. No camping or leaving of campers, trailers, vehicles, tents or other property will be permitted in the closure areas at any time. After Oct. 31 the roads will be closed 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Work will continue throughout the fall and spring until complete. There will be no public motor vehicle access on the closed segments of roads, except for vehicles authorized by Forest Service permit.

Visitors to that portion of the forest can contact the Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District office in Saratoga for project and access updates. Call 307-326-5258 or stop by 2171 South Highway 130.

Hazard tree removal will be completed on the entire length of the 830 Road, beginning from the junction with Forest Road 801 to the junction with Forest Road 452 (Jack Creek Road), and on Forest Road 443 from the 452 Road to Wyoming State Highway 70.

The Medicine Bow National Forest remains open for use a quarter mile from the closed roads. Alternate access to the 830 Road area is available via the 801 Road from the southwest and the 452 Road to the North. Alternate access to the 443 Road area is from the 452 Road to the north and Highway 70 to the southeast.

Short-term road closures provide for long-term resource benefits and public safety. Visitors should be aware of ongoing changes that may affect travel on the National Forest.

Those traveling through the National Forest should pay attention to signage and refer to the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for alternate travel routes. MVUMs are free and physical copies can be obtained at the Brush Creek/Hayden District Office. Electronic versions of the free map are available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/mbr/mvum/maps.

It is the user’s responsibility to know where they are and what types of restrictions may be in place when accessing public lands.

For more information about road conditions and ongoing projects, contact the Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District. You can also visit https://fs.usda.gov/mbr, or follow on Twitter, @FS_MBRTB.