Many Elk fire road, trail, property closures being lifted

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has reopened the Amsden Creek and Kerns wildlife habitat management areas in northern Sheridan County.

The properties had been closed to public access due to the Elk fire.

The Amsden Creek and Kerns WHMAs will be open to nonmotorized use only. No camping will be allowed. The areas will also adhere to their annual seasonal closure dates that have been in place for decades to protect wintering wildlife from disturbance: Amsden Creek WHMA is closed from Nov. 16, 2024 to May 14, 2025; Kerns WHMA is closed from Nov. 16, 2024 to May 31, 2025.

The public is cautioned that road and fence repairs, fireline rehabilitation and other post-fire activities will be taking place on these properties in the coming weeks. Significant portions of the properties were burned and users are also cautioned that there is the potential for falling trees, loose rocks and debris and other safety hazards.

The Tongue River Canyon Public Access Area will remain closed.

Other properties outside the fire perimeter have also reopened, including: the Story Fish Hatchery; the Penrose Public Access Area, accessed via Game and Fish property near Story; Sheridan County Walk-in Area #12.

The Bighorn National Forest still has a public access closure in place for several trails and a portion of the forest south of Highway 14.

The east section of Red Grade Road 26 has reopened from the forest boundary to its junction with Big Goose Road 296 near Big Goose Ranger Station. Red Grade Road west of Big Goose Road 296 will remain closed while heavy equipment operators continue working to create indirect fireline. Also, Black Mountain Road 16 remains closed between Red Grade Road and Highway 14 due to heavy equipment operations.

Most forest lands north of Highway 14 and west of Black Mountain Road 16 are now open. Trail access in the Story, Wyoming, area, including South Piney Trail 626 and Story-Penrose Trail 033, is open.

There are still temporary closures on Tongue River Canyon Trail 002, Dry Fork Trail 004, Lake Creek Trail 006, Freezeout Trail 008, Miller Creek Trail 077, Smith Creek Trail 085, Dry Fork Cow Camp Trail 201, and West Pass Trail 428. Road closures continue on forest roads 149, 180, 181 and 182. These routes will be closed until post-fire hazards caused by the Elk fire are able to be assessed and treatments can be implemented.