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BLM Opening Motorized Trails in Pocatello

Posted on: May 15, 2008

POCATELLO – May 16th marks the date the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in cooperation with the City of Pocatello will open motorized trails on the Pocatello West Bench.

This trail system is scheduled to be open for motorized travel from May 16 to November 14. “Although BLM and City of Pocatello are opening trails, seasonal closures on several U.S. Forest Service trails located at higher elevations have been extended due to snow drifts and muddy conditions,” stated Blaine Newman, Supervisory Resource Management Specialist for the BLM Pocatello Field Office. “We would like to remind people to use these trails responsibly by staying on roads/trails and avoiding snow drifts/muddy areas to assist with preventing any further resource damage.”

The Blackrock/Chinese Peak trails opened for motorized and mechanized travel on May 1; however, riders should be cautioned that there are still a few deep drifts on north-facing slopes at higher elevations.

The county will keep the gate closed on Trail Creek Road for vehicles wider than 48 inches until June 15. As of May 16, motorized vehicles less than 48 inches wide can access the area through the ATV adjacent to the main Trail Creek gate.
A citizen’s interest group is currently working on recommendations to present to the City of Pocatello relating to resource management issues on the city owned property in the City Creek drainage. The group is looking at erosion control, trail management and road and trail maintenance issues. The group meets monthly to discuss these topics.

Other public lands in the area still have winter travel closures; please check with the local BLM and Forest Service office at 208-478-6340 or 208-236-7500 before traveling on public lands.