U.S. Forest Service - Caribou-Targhee National Forest

⏰ National Trails Day is Tomorrow! 🌲🥾

Join us across the Caribou-Targhee National Forest as we celebrate National Trails Day and America's 250th anniversary through volunteer service, outdoor recreation, and stewardship of our public lands.

📍 Palisades Ranger District
🕘 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Kelly Canyon Mountain Bike Trail Maintenance
Meet at Morgan Summit Trailhead to help with brushing and trail maintenance.
🎒 Bring: Water, lunch/snacks, gloves, and tools if available.

📍 Ashton/Island Park Ranger District
🕙 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Railroad Grade Access Trail Maintenance
Help improve trails near Warm River Campground through vegetation clearing and tread work.
🎒 Bring: Lunch, water, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent.

📍 Dubois Ranger District
🕙 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Aldous Lake Trailhead Self-Guided Hike
Enjoy a self-guided hike and explore the beauty of the Dubois Ranger District.
🎒 Bring: Water, snacks, and appropriate hiking attire.

📍 Teton Basin Ranger District
🕙 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Northside Trail Improvement Project
Help improve the Northside Trail near Reunion Flats Campground by adding gravel to harden the trail surface.
🎒 Bring: Snacks and water.

📍 Bear River Zone
🕙 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tincup Mountain & Lau Creek Stewardship Project
Assist with trailhead cleanup, graffiti removal, and trail improvements near Pine Bar Campground.
🎒 Bring: Lunch, water, gloves, sunglasses, and sturdy outdoor clothing.

Whether you're volunteering, hiking, biking, or simply enjoying the outdoors, National Trails Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the trails and public lands that connect our communities to the outdoors. 🌿

We hope to see you on the trail tomorrow!

🙌 Volunteers Needed for National Trails Day on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest! 🌲🥾

As part of National Trails Day and in celebration of America's 250th anniversary, we're inviting volunteers to help care for the trails, recreation sites, and public lands that connect our communities to the outdoors.

📍 Ashton/Island Park Ranger District
🗓 June 6 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Help with light trail maintenance near Railroad Grade Access and Warm River Campground by improving trail tread and clearing vegetation.

📍 Palisades Ranger District
🗓June 6 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Help maintain the Kelly Canyon trail system near Morgan Summit Trailhead through brushing and general trail maintenance.
👥 Seeking approximately 20 volunteers.

📍 Teton Basin Ranger District
🗓 June 6 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Help improve the Northside Trail near Reunion Flats Campground by adding gravel to harden the trail surface.
👥 Seeking approximately 20 volunteers.

📍 Bear River Zone (Montpelier & Soda Springs Ranger Districts)
🗓 June 6 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Assist with trailhead cleanup, graffiti removal, and trail improvements near Pine Bar Campground and Tincup Mountain.

📍 Westside Ranger District
🗓 June 27 | 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Help maintain the East Fork Mink Creek ATV Trail by clearing water dips and drainages and brushing overgrown vegetation.
👥 Seeking approximately 15–20 volunteers.

🧤 Most projects will provide tools and supplies. Volunteers should bring water, snacks or lunch, and dress appropriately for outdoor work.

For 250 years, Americans have connected with the land through exploration, stewardship, and service. National Trails Day is an opportunity to continue that tradition by giving back to the trails and public lands that so many people enjoy today.

📞 Contact your local ranger district office or follow the Caribou-Targhee National Forest page for event details and registration information.

🌿 Join us, celebrate America's 250th, and help leave our public lands better than you found them.

Today, the Caribou-Targhee National Forest published the Grand Targhee Master Development Plan final environmental impact statement and draft record of decision in the Federal Register. Find more information about the project online at

Caribou-Targhee National Forest : NEPA Project - Grand Targhee 2018 Master Development Plan Projects Adjust SUP/operational boundaries; install, replace, and realign lifts; glade, grade, and develop terrain; construct, improve and reclaim roads; expand snowmaking; build guest service facilities, construct trails; build recreation activity zones.

🌲 National Trails Day is coming to the Caribou-Targhee National Forest on Saturday, June 6, and Friday, June 27, with ranger districts across the forest hosting volunteer projects, stewardship activities, and outdoor recreation opportunities that help connect people to their public lands. 🥾

📍 Ashton/Island Park Ranger District — June 6 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Volunteers will help with light trail maintenance near Railroad Grade Access and Warm River Campground by cutting back vegetation and improving trail tread conditions.

📍 Dubois Ranger District — June 6 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Enjoy a self-guided hike at the Aldous Lake Trailhead and spend the day exploring trails and public lands at your own pace. 🌄

📍 Palisades Ranger District — June 6 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Help maintain the Kelly Canyon trail system near Morgan Summit Trailhead through brushing and general trail maintenance.

Bring: Water, lunch/snacks, gloves, and tools if available.

📍 Teton Basin Ranger District — June 6 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Help improve the Northside Trail near Reunion Flats Campground by adding gravel to harden the trail surface and improve trail conditions for future visitors. 🚵

📍 Bear River Zone – Montpelier & Soda Springs Ranger Districts — June 6 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Join stewardship projects near Pine Bar Campground and Tincup Mountain, including trailhead cleanup, graffiti removal, and improvements along Lau Creek Trail. 🛠️

📍 Westside Ranger District — June 27 | 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Volunteers will work on the East Fork Mink Creek ATV Trail, helping clear water dips and drainages while brushing overgrown vegetation to improve trail conditions and sustainability. 🌿

National Trails Day is an opportunity to celebrate the trails, campgrounds, and public lands that connect our communities to the outdoors while helping care for the places people enjoy throughout the year.

Additional details for each event, including volunteer information and meeting locations, will continue to be shared by district offices and on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest page.

⚠️ Bloomington Lake Road (NFSR 409) on the Montpelier Ranger District will temporarily close June 1 through approximately July 1 for major road repairs and restoration work.

🚜 Over the years, erosion and heavy vehicle use have significantly damaged the road surface. During the closure, specialized rock crushing equipment and heavy machinery will be working to improve the nearly 6-mile roadway, smooth rough sections, widen narrow areas, and improve drainage.

🌲 This work will help create a safer, more sustainable road for future visitors. Once the road reopens, we ask everyone to help protect this investment by driving responsibly and practicing Tread Lightly principles.

📞 For more information, contact the Montpelier Ranger District at 208-847-0375.

Eastern Idaho is facing a severe early wildfire season fueled by record-low snowpack and critical drought. Abnormally high spring temperatures melted the snowpack early, and vegetation is dry across eastern Idaho.

The 1988 Yellowstone Fires were one of the defining events in modern U.S. wildfire policy, resulting from a perfect storm of extreme multi-year drought, high erratic winds, and a massive accumulation of dry, combustible timber. The North Fork Fire—which started in the Targhee National Forest and burned 14,417 acres within Fremont County—was the largest fire burning 550,000 acres that year.

Compare the conditions between 1988 and today:

1988 Conditions
• The Greater Yellowstone ecosystem only received 30% of normal winter snowfall
• Virtually no rainfall June through August
• Live fuel moisture plunged to 3% and dead fuel moisture to 5%. Note: kiln dried lumber moisture content is 12%.

Today’s conditions
• Snow water equivalent for the Henrys Fork Basin is 33%
• 100-hour fuel moisture in the East Idaho Highlands (including Island Park) is 12.53%
• 100-hour fuel moisture in the Snake River Valley is 9.72%.

We are on the same track as we were in 1988.

Contrary to popular belief, a fire truck will not be sitting in your driveway to protect your home in the event of a wildland fire. It is the property owner’s responsibility to reduce the risk of wildfire for their property

To learn how to protect your home from wildland fires visit: https://www.nfpa.org/en/education-and-research/wildfire/preparing-homes-for-wildfire

🔥 Firewood permits for the Caribou-Targhee National Forest go on sale June 1!
This year, purchasing permits is easier than ever — the public can now buy firewood ePermits online in addition to purchasing them at local ranger district offices and participating vendors.

Firewood permits are for personal use and help provide access to an important resource for many local households.

✅ NEW for this year: Online ePermits available
🪵 Permits valid for standing dead and down wood only
📅 Season begins June 1

Before heading out, be sure to review maps, cutting guidelines, and permit requirements.

More information available on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest website:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/ctnf/passes-permits

🚧 NOTICE: Upper Mesa Falls Seasonal Closure Begins August 10, 2026 🚧

The Caribou-Targhee National Forest will begin renovation work at the Upper Mesa Falls Recreation Area starting Aug. 10, 2026. The area will remain closed through the construction period, which is expected to continue into winter.

Planned upgrades include roadway repairs and chip sealing to improve visitor access and safety.

“We want to get the word out early so visitors aren’t surprised at the end of summer,” said Steve Jenkins, Forest Engineer.

🍂 While fall is a beautiful time to visit Mesa Falls, the timing allows crews to complete the project under the right environmental conditions.

✅ Lower Mesa Falls will remain OPEN during construction and offers hiking trails and scenic overlooks just under a mile south along the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway.

📍Questions? Contact the Ashton/Island Park Ranger District at 208-652-7442.

Forest Service offices will be closed today in observance of the federal holiday, but national forests and grasslands remain open for your enjoyment. Stay safe, pack out what you pack in and enjoy your big backyard!

National Trails Day is coming to the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

This year, in partnership with the America’s 250 celebration, districts across the forest are planning volunteer projects and trail events that give visitors the opportunity to get outside, give back to public lands, and help care for the trails and recreation areas they enjoy.

From trail maintenance projects to stewardship opportunities, there will be several ways to get involved throughout the forest in the coming weeks.

Volunteer opportunities and event details will be announced soon, so keep watching our page or contact your local ranger district office to learn how you can participate.

Whether you spend the day volunteering, hiking, riding, or exploring your public lands, National Trails Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the trails that connect our communities to the outdoors.