Area popular for winter recreation closing early this season

A popular winter recreation area on national forest land that straddles Nevada and California is closing early for the season.

The Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area within the Humboldt-Toiyable National Forest usually closes to motorized travel at the end of April, regardless of the amount of snow on the ground.

It’s closing a week earlier on Monday because the snow isn’t deep enough. Forest officials say the intent is to reduce any conflicts while the snow is melting and as California State Route 108 in the area reopens.

The recreation area that’s popular for backcountry snowmobiling will reopen for the winter season when snow exceeds 2 feet (0.61 metres). Snowmobiles are still allowed on the north side of SR 108 in non-wilderness areas.

The recreation area is in the forest’s Bridgeport Ranger District, which is based in Bridgeport, California. About two-thirds of the district is in Nevada and the rest in California.