White County to enforce no parking at Yonah Mtn Trailhead

White County officials are posting notices and barricading the area of Chambers Road at the Yonah Mountain Trailhead in anticipation of people, both inside and outside the county, using the United States Forest Service trail.

According to a press release from White County Public Safety, the USFS closed several trailheads in the region due to the social distancing requirements put in place by local, state and federal guidelines and emergency declarations. However, people are not following these guidelines, and some are traveling from areas where shelter in place orders are in effect.

For the last two days, county public works under coordination and advisement of Emergency Management has barricaded the Yonah Mountain Trailhead, and placed barrels and cones along the public right of way. There were several complaints over the weekend about people, mostly out-of-county residents, parking along the county right-of-way.

The county is hoping that these measures, along with enhanced traffic enforcement from the sheriff’s office and US Forest Service Law Enforcement, will discourage the use of this area. Enhanced patrols will also be in place for other trailheads in the county.

As always, citizens should report illegal parking and dangerous road conditions by calling 911.

As a reminder the USFS has closed the following locations in White County: Yonah Mountain Trailhead, Raven Cliff Falls, Duke Creek Falls, Anna Ruby Falls, along with campsites at Anna Ruby Falls, Low Gap, Andrews Cove, and the Upper Chattahoochee.

DNR state campgrounds have closed visitor’s centers and playground areas, such as the Unicoi State Park.