Mountainair Ranger District Announces Winter Road Closures

Mountainair, NM–December 23, 2013. The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands’ Mountainair Ranger District is closing and gating the following roads to all motorized traffic for the winter:

Manzano Division:

National Forest System Road (NFSR) 321 from the Forest boundary to NFSR55


NFSR 245 from the Forest boundary to Capilla Peak


NFSR 253 from the Forest boundary to Red Canyon Campground


NFSR422fromthePineShadowTrailheadtoRedCanyon Campground


NFSR 275 from the Forest boundary to NFSR 422


NFSR 522 (also called NFSR 552) from NFSR 275 to NFSR 253


Gallinas Division:

NFSR 102 from NFSR 99 to the summit of Gallinas Peak


"We close these roads during the winter freeze and thaw cycles to protect the road beds from rutting and erosion caused by motor vehicles," said District Ranger Karen Lessard. "But we are also concerned for the safety of our public because these roads are not plowed and can become impassable."

Lessard said that non-motorized travel, such as walking or horseback riding, is allowed on these roads during the closure.

The roads are expected to reopen around April 1, 2014.

For additional information, please contact the Mountainair Ranger District at: 505.847.2990.