The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the seasonal closure of several state forest access roads in Chautauqua County due to early winter weather conditions.

Road traffic in saturated, muddy conditions can degrade forest road surfaces and cause unsafe driving conditions. To protect public safety and minimize road damage, DEC will reopen impacted state forest seasonal access roads in late spring when weather conditions improve.

The state forest access roads to be closed include:

• Boutwell Hill State Forest - Arab Hill Forest Road
• Harris Hill State Forest - Sprague Forest Road
• Hatch Creek State Forest - North Forest Road, South Forest Road, Hodge Forest Road
• Mount Pleasant State Forest - Spruce Forest Road, Brumagin Forest Road
• North Harmony State Forest - Snake Forest Road
• Whalen Memorial State Forest - Whalen Forest Road
• Brokenstraw State Forest - Brokenstraw Forest Road

Several of these roads are part of the Statewide Snowmobile Trail System. Snowmobile trails will open for riding with sufficient snow cover.