Date: 5/19/25 2:09 pm From: Sherry Meddick via groups.io <wrennietwoburd64.p4...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Maple Springs Gate, No. Main Divide TT to Indian TT (this Truck Trail is on the E side and Connects to N Main Divide) to Open Early
In response to an email sent to the District Ranger this morning, I was informed the USFS is contemplating the opening of the Maple Springs Gate earlier than planned. They hope to open it before the holiday weekend (Memorial Day weekend, May 26). This is proposed by the local district Ranger but awaits signature by "higher ups" which I believe refers to the Region 5 Supervisor who has to approve closure. So it makes sense they would have to approve opening.
The remainder of the forest will remain closed as I interpret this (meaning Blue Jay Campground and environs and likely all access from the easterly side such as Long Canyon and N. Main Divide from Ortega; South Main Divide is not closed).
I will let you know if/when it opens. And if it does, it will remain true that weekdays (early) are the best time to visit and weekends are generally icky unless you go super early on a Sunday. Hopefully we will see/hear Hairy Woodpecker and for those of you who have not heard/seen Mountain Quail elsewhere, I hear/see them quite a lot up there. Night species and Northern Saw-whet are harder because night traffic up there has done nothing but increase and vehicle lighting is off the charts inappropriate. But going up after 2AM would likely work. I have done traffic counts up there and the hours between 2-4:30 are the slowest times. Convenient, I know :)
You will then be able to drive to the end of the pavement and beyond to N. Main Divide and East to Indian Truck Trail; West on N. Main Divide. You would have to go in and out the same way unless you want to go in at Maple Springs and return via Indian Truck Trail via the Eastern route. Note there is a known Bald Eagle nest on Indian and I have been told the three chicks appear near ready to fledge, but I have not witnessed that myself.
And note that this is the link to check if the road is open (caveat: often notification on the site is actually later than real opening): Cleveland National Forest | Current Conditions | Forest Service ( https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/cleveland/conditions )
You can find a map with the roads mentioned herein on Google though I know most of you only go to the end of the pavement while a few others go off road as far as the seep.
