Great American Outdoors Act funds repairs to Pocatello’s Scout Mountain

A popular recreation spot near Pocatello will receive upgrades to make it more accessible, according to a press release from the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

In the release, officials from the Westside Ranger District said the work, including 5.3 miles of chip sealing for Road 001 up to the Scout Mountain Campground, will begin the week of July 12. Work on the Idaho project is expected to be complete by July 16. Minor delays for drivers will be possible, as the road will be restricted to one lane, the press release stated.

The work will take place through an agreement with Bannock County.

The upgrades are part of the ongoing implementation of the East Mink Creek Recreation Corridor Revitalization Project using funding under the Great American Outdoors Act, the press release stated. The East Mink Creek project boundary is five miles from the city of Pocatello.

“This recreation corridor connects the urban interface south of Pocatello to the Bannock Mountain Range,” the press release stated. “It is heavily used year-round for recreation including dispersed camping, motorized and non-motorized trail use, picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, wildlife watching, archery, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, shooting and cross-country skiing.”

The Great American Outdoors Act, signed into law by former President Donald Trump in 2020, will provide up to $1.9 billion a year for five years to tackle deferred maintenance and infrastructure improvements in national parks, U.S. Forest Service land, wildlife refuges and other outdoor areas.

“Funding through GAOA focuses on deferred maintenance for critical facilities, and this project will provide an immediate benefit to the local community who use this road extensively throughout the year,” said District Ranger Kim Obele in the release.

For information on the East Mink Creek Project, go to https://arcg.is/0un4Tq0.