Idaho Advisories and Closures

On this page, you may find the following information (when in effect) for BLM regions listed below:

• Seasonal Closures: BLM Idaho winter closures implements seasonal closures across the state to reduce disturbance to wintering wildlife during the most stressful time of year. Closing areas to human activity is important to allow deer and elk to conserve energy and survive the winter.  When animals flee due to disturbances caused by people, they use calories that are needed to survive through the rest of the winter. Pregnant deer and elk are particularly sensitive to disturbances, and stand a better chance of survival when the habitat is free of interactions with humans and pets.
• Recreation Closures: Travel, recreation site closures
• Fire-Related Closures: Closures as result of wildfire
  • Fire restrictions
• Upcoming Events on Public Lands for Awareness

Open tabs below for more information about advisories/closures in a region near you:

Southwestern Idaho (Boise District)

 

Northern Idaho (Coeur d'Alene District)

 

Eastern Idaho (Idaho Falls District)

UPPER SNAKE FIELD OFFICE- Stinking Springs and Egin-Hamer winter closures

Dec. 15 - May 1: Stinking Springs, Egin-Hamer Areas - link to press release dated Dec. 8, 2023.

The Upper Snake Field Office, in collaboration with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, temporarily closes the Stinking Springs area every winter near the South Fork of the Snake River to all motorized vehicles and human entry to support mule deer and other wildlife survival rates in the area. This closure begins Dec. 15 and ends at sunrise May 1, but the opening day could change depending on weather conditions.  

The Egin-Hamer area closure closes BLM-managed public lands to human entry every year to protect wintering deer, elk and moose. Restrictions begin Jan 1, and end at sunrise April 1 SOUTH of the Egin-Hamer Road, and at sunrise May 1 NORTH of the Egin-Hamer Road. 

For more information, please view the Stinking Springs ATV and Mountain Biking Trail, the Egin-Hamer Closure map, or contact the Upper Snake Field Office at 208-524-7500.

CHALLIS FIELD OFFICE- Multiple Area winter closures

Motorized use is prohibited from Dec. 16 – April 30:

• Birch Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern Seasonal Closure Area
• Carlson Hills Seasonal Closure Area
• Donkey Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern Seasonal Closure Area
• Old Stage Road Seasonal Closure and Second Spring Seasonal Closure Area
• Willow Creek Summit Seasonal Closure Area

These annual seasonal closures are necessary for the protection of wildlife values and crucial elk winter range. The closure helps to protect wildlife during the difficult winter months, when mortality rates can increase. Non-motorized use is allowed year-round.

Motorized use is prohibited from October 1 – December 31:

• • Goldburg WSA
• • Burnt Creek WSA
• • East Fork to Hwy 93 seasonal closure area

These annual seasonal closures improve non-motorized big game hunting opportunities and reduce unauthorized off-road use within wilderness study areas and other important habitat areas. 

A free georeferenced travel map may be downloaded onto your mobile device using Avenza Maps. For additional information, contact the Challis Field Office at (208) 879-6200, or in Challis, Idaho 83226.

SALMON FIELD OFFICE- Agency Creek winter closure

All primitive roads in the Agency Creek area are closed to motorized travel, including snowmobiles and other tracked vehicles, between 12/16 and 4/30 to provide protection to crucial big game winter range. The Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway is exempt from this closure. Please consult the Agency Creek area travel map or call the Salmon Field Office at 208-756-5400.

SALMON FIELD OFFICE- Hayden Basin spring closure

All roads in the Hayden Basin area are closed to motorized travel, including snowmobiles and other tracked vehicles, between 3/1 and 6/1 to provide protection to crucial big game winter range. The Hayden Creek Road, Colson Cutoff, and Basin Creek Road are exempt from this closure. Please consult the Hayden Basin area travel map or call the Salmon Field Office at 208-756-5400.

POCATELLO FIELD OFFICE- Chinese Peak-Blackrock Canyon Trail System winter closure

The Chinese Peak-Blackrock Canyon Trail System includes the AMI Trail Head (route 352), Barton Road Trail Head (route 301), Box Canyon (route 3110), Blackrock Canyon (route 302), and Caddy Canyon (route 324). These trails are seasonally closed to motorized and mechanized vehicles from Nov. 16 to April 14 each year, to prevent damage from use when the soil is wet and easily rutted, in order to minimize erosion and maintenance costs. This closure may be extended if wet winter conditions persist later than April 15. Tracked Over-Snow Vehicles (i.e., snowmobiles) are not allowed within the Chinese Peak-Blackrock Canyon Trail System travel management plan area.  

A free georeferenced travel map of the Chinese Peak-Blackrock Canyon Trail System may be downloaded onto your mobile device using Avenza Maps.  For additional information, please contact the Pocatello Field Office at 208-478-6340.

POCATELLO FIELD OFFICE- Soda Hills winter closure

Ninety Percent Canyon (route 10), Idaho Ranch Canyon (route 11), and Swenson Valley (route 12) all have upper and lower gates.  Upper Gates are closed to all motorized vehicles from Nov. 16 to May 14 each year. Lower gates are closed to all motorized vehicles from Jan. 5 to May 14 each year. The closure is in place to protect wildlife during the winter months and to prevent damage from motorized vehicle use when the soil is wet and easily rutted, which minimizes erosion and maintenance costs. Tracked Over-Snow Vehicles (i.e., snowmobiles) are not allowed within the Soda Hills travel management plan area.  

A free georeferenced travel map of the Soda Hills area may be downloaded onto your mobile device using Avenza Maps.  For additional information, please contact the Pocatello Field Office at 208-478-6340.

POCATELLO FIELD OFFICE- Curlew/Deep Creek winter closure

Bannock Range/Goodenough Creek Campground - Walker Creek Trail (route 152) and Mormon Canyon (route 195) are designated as 50 inches or less in width. These Routes are seasonally closed to wheeled motorized vehicles from Nov. 16 to May 14 each year. The closure is in place to protect wildlife during the winter months and to prevent damage from motorized vehicle use when the soil is wet and easily rutted, which minimizes erosion and maintenance costs. These routes remain open for Tracked Over-Snow Vehicles (i.e., snowmobiles). 

Deep Creek Mountains - Sand Hollow (route 956), Green Canyon (routes 903/956), Right Fork Knox Canyon (route 903), Yates Canyon (route 145B), and Bear Hollow (routes 145A/146/963/964/966) are all designated as 50 inches or less in width. These routes are closed to wheeled motorized vehicles from Oct. 1 to May 31 each year. The closure is in place to protect wildlife during the winter months and to prevent damage from motorized vehicle use when the soil is wet and easily rutted, which minimizes erosion and maintenance costs. These routes remain open for Tracked Over-Snow Vehicles (i.e., snowmobiles).  

A free georeferenced travel map of the Curlew/Deep Creek area may be downloaded onto your mobile device using Avenza Maps.  For additional information, please contact the Pocatello Field Office at 208-478-6340.

POCATELLO FIELD OFFICE- Pocatello West Bench winter closure

The Bannock Range/Pocatello West Bench - Trail Creek Road West Gate and Sandy Lane Gate are seasonally closed to all motorized vehicles from Nov. 15 to May 15 each year. The closure is in place to protect the Portneuf watershed, to protect wildlife during the winter months and to prevent damage from motorized vehicle use when the soil is wet and easily rutted, which minimizes erosion and maintenance costs. For additional information, please contact the Pocatello Field Office at 208-478-6340.

POCATELLO FIELD OFFICE- Bear Lake winter closure

Bear Lake County/East Side of Bear Lake - Merkley Mountain (route 07), Dry Canyon (routes 50/110), Pine Spring (routes 112/113), Cooley Canyon (routes 48/96/97), and Mud Canyon (route 90) are closed to all motorized vehicles and Tracked Over Snow Vehicles (i.e., snowmobiles) from Nov. 16 to May 15 each year. The closure is in place to protect wildlife during the winter months and to prevent damage from motorized vehicle use when the soil is wet and easily rutted, which minimizes erosion and maintenance costs. 

A free georeferenced travel map of the Bear Lake area may be downloaded onto your mobile device using Avenza Maps.  For additional information, please contact the Pocatello Field Office at 208-478-6340.

South-Central Idaho (Twin Falls District)

Jan. 1 - April 30 Wood River Valley OHV Restrictions 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Shoshone Field Office management is implementing off-highway-vehicle and conditional seasonal restrictions in the Wood River Valley to reduce impacts to wintering herds of deer and elk. No motor vehicles are allowed in the identified areas from Jan. 1–April 30, 2025. 

Recreationists, motorized and non-motorized alike, should consider their potential impacts to deer and elk in the area this winter and adjust their actions accordingly to minimize disturbance.

The following areas, except for motorized corridors, are closed to motorized use, including snowmobiles, from Jan. 1–April 30, 2024.

All BLM land north of East Fork and Greenhorn
South aspects of Ohio Gulch
Quigley to Muldoon
Bell Mountain to Picabo
Croy Creek to south of Townsend Gulch and Hwy 20
Big and Little Beaver Drainages
Camp Creek and Poison Creek areas
Elk Mountain area

 

Corridors open to motorized use include groomed snowmobile trails and ungroomed motorized corridors. The following are groomed by Blaine County for snowmobile use when there is sufficient snow: Quigley to Cove Creek, Muldoon, Sharps, Croy Creek to Camp Creek, Rock and West Glendale.

Ungroomed corridors include Ohio Gulch, Indian Creek, Slaughterhouse and Bell Mountain to Picabo. All motorized vehicles and snowmobiles are limited to the road corridor in these locations/areas.

The BLM patrols these areas to monitor and enforce restrictions. Refer to map for details and hard copies are available at the BLM Shoshone Field Office, 400 W. F St., Shoshone, ID 83552. For additional information, please contact BLM Shoshone Outdoor Recreation Planner John Kurtz at 208-732-7296

Jan. 16 - March 15 South Hills Motorized Travel Restrictions  

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Burley Field Office management will implement an annual seasonal motorized travel closure in the South Hills area, south of Twin Falls, Jan. 16 to March 15, 2025. The closure is intended to prevent resource damage and protect crucial mule deer winter range and sage-grouse habitat. The area remains open to the public for non-motorized use.

Signs are posted in the area to notify the public of the temporary closure to the following roads, as well as any two-tracks or trails tied to these roads: 

Indian Springs (closure begins 1.5 miles south of Foothills Road) 
North Cottonwood Creek 
Dry Creek 
Dry Gulch 
Cherry Spring 

The seasonal closure applies to all motorized vehicles (including E-bikes), except those specifically authorized to access the area. Motorized travel authorization is provided for search and rescue operations, emergency medical services and law enforcement personnel, and administratively approved actions such as livestock grazing, access to private lands and resource monitoring or research studies.

For more information regarding this road closure, or nearby areas available for motorized travel throughout the winter, please contact Taylor Baxter or Heidi Barker, BLM Burley Field Office recreation planners, at (208) 677-6600.