Gate allows ATV access in Lightning Creek drainage

SANDPOINT — Access restrictions are easing slightly in the Lightning Creek drainage, U.S. Forest Service officials announced this week.

Most of the drainage was closed to motorized access after intense flooding last November washed out roads and deposited large amounts of debris. Gates have been erected and signs posted to advise travelers of the closures.

A new gate has now been installed near Quartz Creek, affording access to all-terrain vehicles (50 inches or less). The area can also be accessed from the Strong Creek side.

The area from the near the 4.5-mile marker on the Clark Fork end of the road to the upper end of the first washout will remain closed to motorized access due to private ownership, the Forest Service said. The Rattle Creek road and surrounding area remains closed because of public safety issues and the high probability of resource damage.

The Forest Service's Sandpoint Ranger District is hosting a community workshop in Hope on Tuesday to update the public on conditions in the drainage and gather input to help determine viable transportation options.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Hope Elementary School.