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Tucson- The Santa Catalina Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest will temporarily close and lock gates Monday December 15 on seasonal roads and day-use sites in the upper elevations of Mt. Lemmon due to expected weather-related unsafe driving conditions. The main road accessing the mountain, the Catalina Highway, will remain open but may close periodically due to weather-related issues.
Seasonal road and day-use site closures occur each year. In recent years the Coronado delayed closures until snow accumulated. Roads and day-use sites affected by winter weather will be closed annually on the same date, December 15, and reopen on March 1, unless weather conditions render them unsafe preceding or following those dates. A winter storm forecast for this weekend could bring conditions leading to earlier gate closures.
The seasonal closures are implemented primarily for public safety and to aid district personnel in reducing road maintenance arising from damage to forest roads during the winter months. Hazardous road conditions including the presence of snow and ice can lead to difficulty travelling. Often, people in vehicles become stranded, resulting in emergency response by Forest Service staff, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, and towing companies. This impact to visitors and responders can be reduced by closing seasonal roads and sites.
Freezing and thawing of forest road surfaces can leave them more prone to damage from motor vehicles, resulting in poor road conditions in the spring and summer when demand for use is high.
Roads and day use sites affected by the seasonal closure include lower, middle, and upper Control roads; Marshall Gulch Road; lower and upper Bear Wallow roads; Bigelow Road; Incinerator Ridge Road; Organization Ridge Road; the road into General Hitchcock and the Lemmon Rock Road to the Mt. Lemmon summit above Ski Valley. Roads into Rose and Spencer canyon campgrounds were closed at an earlier date when the recreation areas closed for the season.
The roads remain open to hikers, cross country skiers, bicyclists and other non-motorized users. Lower elevation recreation sites will be open for public use, including Molino Basin Campground, Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Area, and Peppersauce Campground.
For more information please contact Rudy Bowen at (520) 749-7710.
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