ID Hot Springs MBR - Featherville to Ketchum Road Closure - 8/27/15

[CMajernik]

From the Forest Service website:
FAIRFIELD RANGER DISTRICT REPORTS ROAD CLOSURE DUE TO WASHOUT
Due to a strong rainstorm that went through the area last night, Forest Road #227, commonly known as the ‘Featherville - Ketchum Road’ on the Fairfield Ranger District has washed out and is impassable. It is closed from Big Hole to Skeleton Creek.

This closure will prohibit travel from Big Smoky to Featherville. Signs have been posted at the Forest boundary on the west side of the Fairfield Ranger District and at the Big Smoky Junction on the east side.

Due to the severity of the washout it may take some time to repair. Employees from the Fairfield Ranger District are on site today and a team of experts will be evaluating the road and assessing the damage. As soon as additional information about the damage and repair to the road is known, an update will be provided.

CONTACT: Carol Brown, Public Affairs Officer
PHONE:  208-622-5371

At this point we haven't seen an update. We suggest you call Carol to see if bicyclists can walk around the washout and/or provide a detour around it.

[ntaylor]

Here is a detour option from Featherville to Hailey, which is directly south of Ketchum (and shown on the IDHS Main Route map):
https://goo.gl/maps/GLRlO

From Featherville, the route departs the Main Route and heads south to Pine on the Pine-Featherville Rd (shown on the map). From Pine, the route heads further south and east but without ever having to ride US 20. The route will eventually hook into Croy Creek Rd. and into Hailey (also on the map), where you could either ride Highway 75 or the Wood River Trail north into Ketchum. Services are available in the town of Fairfield at about the halfway point. And the distance is similar to the Main Route.

If you choose to ride this detour, do so at your own discretion. Check beforehand with IDOT and Sawtooth NF for current condition of the roads.

Nathan Taylor
ACA Cartographer

[ntaylor]

Note that this detour is no longer recommended, and it was only posted for use during when the road was impassable (late 2015). There are now (2019) a couple short, crude trails over talus that cyclists can hike their bikes though to continue on the road.

Nathan

[ntaylor]

The latest info on this is here:
https://forums.adventurecycling.org/index.php?topic=15801.0