Part of Greenhorn Gulch Road to be closed

Eight-tenths of a mile of Greenhorn Gulch Road, five miles south of Ketchum, will be closed and reclaimed in mid-August. The section of road to be closed is a dirt track past the trailhead parking lot.

Due to a new trail that more or less parallels the road, this portion of the road is no longer needed. The reclamation, which is to be done by the Sawtooth National Forest engineering crew, will enhance wildlife habitat along Greenhorn Creek, and will also reduce soil erosion. Two existing vehicle creek crossings will be eliminated.

"In addition to improving the areas along the creek, conflicts between vehicles and other users will be eliminated," Nelson said. "The new piece of trail has been relocated to higher ground and is expected to dry out sooner in the spring. All in all, besides improvements to the creekside vegetation, a better quality recreation experience through this section of the national forest will be provided."

One mile of newly constructed trail along the road was built this summer by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, Base Mountain Properties and Ketchum District trail crews, according to Nelson.

The decision to close this portion of the road resulted from decisions made in the Deer Creek and Greenhorn Gulch Area Analysis of 1994.