MENDOCINO CO., 12/21/25 – Off-highway vehicle, or OHV, routes in the Upper Lake Ranger District of the Mendocino National Forest have been closed due to wet weather, the U.S. Forest Service said Friday.
The closure affects more than 135 miles of OHV trails in the Upper Lake Recreation Area. Three campgrounds — Middle Creek, Penny Pines and Deer Valley — are also closed.
The Forest Service implements wet-weather closures when two inches of rain fall within a 24-hour period or when soils become saturated.
Winter storms moved into the region this week, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to areas affected by the closures.
“Wet weather trail closures restrict the use of motor vehicles on National Forest System trails when conditions are too wet to sustain use without causing soil loss, impacting water quality, damaging trail tread and putting public safety at risk,” the Forest Service said.
No estimate has been provided for when the routes and campgrounds will reopen. Closures will be lifted after two consecutive days with no measurable precipitation, according to the Forest Service.
More information about the closures can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/mendocino/alerts/wet-weather-trail-closure-effect-upper-lake-district.