To protect visitor health and safety, Acting Forest Supervisor Ellen Bogardus-Szymaniak has issued two temporary emergency closure orders for the Hoosier National Forest. One order affects public recreation areas in Orange County to the west of Springs Valley Lake, including sections of multiple use trail, a boat launch and parking area, vault toilet and picnic area. Two prescribed fire units are planned to have active fires soon and these areas will be closed to the public during that activity period. The commencement of the prescribed fire activity will be announced on the Hoosier National Forest Facebook page https://facebook.com/hoosiernf.
The second order closes a half-mile section of hiking trail, including a bridge, in Perry County in the German Ridge Recreation Area trail system just north of German Ridge Lake. The bridge is in need of replacement and the bridge and trail section will remain closed until a replacement can be installed.
Complete closure orders and maps can be viewed on the Hoosier National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/hoosier/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd584858. For more information contact Forest Service offices at 812-275-5987 or 812-547-7051.
