Allegheny National Forest temporarily closing roads for Tour de Forest event

From staff reports

MARIENVILLE – Several roads on the Allegheny National Forest’s Marienville Ranger District will be closed from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, May 20, until 6 p.m. Sunday, May 21, for the Marienville Volunteer Fire Company’s annual Tour de Forest ATV event.

During this event, the Forest Service will temporarily open several Forest Service Roads and portions of the Penoke Bike Trail, but access will be restricted to participants who are registered for the event.

The Forest will also temporarily close the following Forest Service Roads during this event: Road No. 127 from No. 145 to intersection with No. 128 (Abraxas); No. 226; No. 131 from intersection with road No. 327 (Lamonaville Road) to Duhring; No. 449 from No. 449C to the intersection with No. 116; No. 116 from No. 449 to State Route 666; No. 216; No. 221 from No. 128 to No. 221B, from No. 221B to Blue Jay Road; No. 449C; No. 159; No. 287; No. 180 and No. 180D; No. 145 from the TGT Pipeline to FSR No. 127; and No. 128 from the end of the blacktop road at Abraxas to the intersection with No. 180.

In addition, camping will be prohibited within 500 feet from the centerline of both sides of these roads during this event.

A map has been posted at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/allegheny/ under the “alerts section.” For more information, please contact Curt Bowley, at 814.927.5782 or cbowley@fs.fed.us.

All the forest ATV trails will officially open for the season at 8 a.m. Friday, May 26. Once the ATV trails open, users are required to purchase a permit, which can be purchased at any of the Allegheny National Forest offices or any authorized vendors. The list of vendors can be found on the Allegheny’s website. The 2017 ATV and trail bike permits cost $10 for a day permit or $35 for an annual permit. Applications can be obtained at any ANF office or by going to: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/allegheny/passes-permits.

Meanwhile, the Marienville Ranger District office will observe summer hours. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. seven days a week from Saturday, May 20, through Oct. 9, 2017. The office is located at 131 Smokey Lane, Marienville. It can be reached by phone at (814) 927-6628.