National Forest Servce announces seasonal road management schedule

Published 10:20 am Thursday, September 14, 2023

Cherokee National Forest officials announced the annual seasonal closures of certain roads to motorized vehicles on the northern portion of the forest to protect wildlife habitat, decrease wildlife disturbance, and reduce road maintenance costs.

These seasonal road closures are from Sep. 11 to Dec. 20 on specific roads in Cocke, Greene, Washington, Unicoi, Carter, Sullivan, and Johnson counties. However, some of these roads are temporarily opened for short periods to provide seasonal public access for various uses including fall color viewing, hunting, and other uses.

Roads may be closed earlier than scheduled due to poor road conditions brought on by extreme weather conditions. These weather conditions may include freezing/thawing, extreme drought, fire danger, or storm damage. In some cases, roads sustain severe damage from vehicle use and are closed to protect the various resources.

Forest visitors are asked to leave all gates free of obstructions and to not block gates when parking. Hunters are reminded it is illegal to discharge firearms from or across a National Forest System Road. For additional information, contact the following Forest Service offices: Unaka Ranger Station, Greeneville, TN at (423) 638-4109; Watauga Ranger Station, Unicoi, TN at (423) 735-1500.

The Forest Service announces a schedule of systematic road openings and closures through December 20, 2023. These roads are in the Cherokee Wildlife Management Area – Cherokee National Forest in Cocke, Greene, Washington, Unicoi, Carter, Sullivan, and Johnson Counties in East Tennessee.

In Carter County, NFS roads which will be open Sept. 11 through Dec. 20 include:

– Moffett Laurel – NFSR 4331 – Open to second gate

– Jenkins Mountain – NFSR 53102

– Piney Grove – NFSR 53351 – Open to second gate

– George Creek – NFSR 53301 – Open to second gate

– Little Pond Mountain – NFSR 6034

Johnson County NFS roads which will be open include:

– Parks Branch – NFSR 6049 – 1.0 mile to second gate

– Robbins Hollow – NFSR 4052 – Open to 4.6 miles to second gate. In Bear Reserve.

Fall road closing in Carter Count include:

– Cedar Gap – NFSR 293A – Closed for timber sale

– Griffith Branch – NSFR 5081 – Closed for timber sale

Winter road closings in Carter County include:

– Frog Level – NFSR 50F

– Holston Mountain – NFSR 5202

– Mill Creek (Panhandle Road) – NFSR 56

– Bitter End – NFSR 293

– White Rock – NFSR 5314

– George Creek – NFSR 53301

These roads will be closed Dec. 20 through Mar. 18, 2024.

Also, in Carter County, the Cherry Flats Road has been permanently closed due to resource or storm damage.