Wildfire, logging, construction forces road closures

COEUR d’ALENE — The Idaho Panhandle National Forests on Wednesday announced three temporary closures due to logging, bridge construction and wildfire. 

Due to logging operations in the area, Little Elk Creek Trail (No. 32), about 3.3 miles south of Magee Rangers Cabin on the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District, will be closed for the protection of public safety 1.6 miles from the trailhead to its terminus at Forest Service Road 260. The closure will be in effect from today through Oct. 15. The first 1.6 miles of the trail will remain open.

Due to construction to replace three bridges, a 3.7-mile section of Emerald Creek Road (Forest Service Road 447) about 0.2 miles south of its junction with Forest Service Road 504 will be closed from Aug. 5 through Sept. 16. Road 447 provides access to the Emerald Creek Garnet Area. An alternative access route to the garnet area from the west was communicated to garnet area ticket holders through Recreation.gov.

Due to wildfires on the Grandmother Fire, segments of Forest Service Trails 275, 251, 280, and 260 in the Grandmother Mountain area about 10 miles northeast of Clarkia will be closed through Nov. 1.