Winter road closures begin on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, November 27th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – (Release from the U.S. Forest Service) As winter weather conditions set in across the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, forest leadership has officially closed several key roads for the season to ensure the safety of all travelers. Effective immediately, the following roads are closed:
- 39 Road (Wallowa Mountain Loop Road)
- 73 Road (Anthony Lakes Highway)
- 51 Road (Connecting North Fork John Day Campground to Starkey, over Chicken Hill)
- 52 Road (Connecting North Fork John Day Campground to Ukiah)
These closures are necessary due to increasing winter hazards and have already been prompted by incidents involving Search and Rescue (SAR) operations on these routes. In recent days, multiple SAR operations have occurred on the 39 Road near Joseph and the 52 Road near Ukiah, particularly during I-84 freeway closures, as some drivers attempted to circumvent the closures.
To further assist travelers, a large reader board has been placed between Haines and the ski hill, clearly indicating that these routes are not through routes and that truck traffic is prohibited. This is in addition to the winter road closure signage already installed along these routes.
The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest encourages all travelers to respect these closures for their safety and the safety of others. The closures will also be reflected on the ODOT Trip Check website.
For more information or inquiries regarding road conditions, please contact your local Wallowa-Whitman National Forest office.
