Scab Creek Recreation Site Update
BLM proposes improved facilities
March 17, 2005
The Pinedale Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing substantial changes to the Scab Creek campground and trailhead access facility. The Scab Creek Campground and trailhead are located approximately 15 miles east of Boulder, southeast of Pinedale on the western slopes of the Wind River Mountain Range. This facility has a developed campground as well as wilderness trailhead access to the middle portion of the Bridger Wilderness area.
The Scab Creek Campground has been on the BLM’s list to receive routine upgrades and maintenance for a number of years. Funding has now come through to allow the Pinedale office to bring these site facilities up to federal standards of accessibility for the physically challenged, sanitation, resource protection, user information and campsite facilities.
Currently users include campground day and overnight visitors, backpackers, hunters, hikers and those using stock for backcountry wilderness trips accessing the Scab Creek trailss. The improvements will allow each user group better parking, trail access and nearby restrooms. By spreading the facilities out, the BLM also hopes to create more efficient trailhead access for the various user groups and improve the camping experience.
The improvements call for creating a pack stock parking and staging area along the entry road, approximately ½ mile from the current parking and staging area. This will include corrals, water, restroom and new segments of trail built to access the existing trails.
The existing backpacker staging area will be upgraded for parking, benches for packing equipment, information signs and a restroom. The current stock trailer parking area will be converted to overflow backpacker parking as well as an adjacent Campground Host site.
If the BLM has enough funding, they also hope to build a large vehicle loop campground for campers with large vehicles and packstock. Pull trough sites and corrals would be provided. This would be located just north of the pack stock staging area about ½ mile from the existing campground.
There will be at least three, restrooms installed at the various use group areas. The BLM also wants to drill a well to get potable water for the area, which currently is not available. Attempts to drill a well many years ago were unsuccessful due to the extremely rocky conditions in the area.
Project details will be revealed in the soon to be available Scab Creek Recreation Project Plan. The preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) will analyze the projects potential impacts. The EA will be available for review shortly following completion of the project plan. The BLM hopes to move forward with this project this summer. The BLM does not anticipate any long term closures of the campground while the reconstruction is taking place.
Campers should be aware that a small timber sale will be taking place around mid-July to remove dead trees, adjacent to the campground. The logging activity shouldn’t have much of an impact on campground users. The BLM reports that logging activities may affect camping for 2-3 weeks but access to the trailhead would remain open. They will post signs at the campground notifying the public and try to get announcements in the local paper and online. Anyone planning on coming to the campground in July should contact the BLM office in Pinedale to get the latest status of the campground before driving out.
For more information about the Scab Creek Campground and Trailhead project, contact Martin Hudson at the BLM Pinedale Field Office, Martin_Hudson@blm.gov, 432 East Mill Street, phone: 307-367-5315, hours: 7:45 am to 4:30 pm. Information and updates will be posted online on the BLM website at: http://www.wy.blm.gov/pfo/.
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