Colorado Trail Status, Closures, repairs, discussion.

sometimes you get lucky and someone with large tires, lots of horsepower and time to waste hammers down on the hill climb which will help speed up the snowmelt process on the trail

 

Well I got time to waste. kinda lacking on the other two....but I'm an idiot with a winch. So miracles can happen.

 

lack of things to winch to unfortunately at that elevation

 

Anyone know the status of Aspen Ridge in Buena Vista? I was thinking about doing it on the 20th. I've done a little reading on it and it seems pretty easy I'm just worried because I will be on stock tires but I'm lifted. This isn't my first time I've been wheeling for a few years just the first time with the taco. Does any one know of any good camping spots off of Seven Mile? Also can you shoot in the area? Thanks in advance.

 

That's true. Forgot how open that trail is.

 

most of that area (aspen ridge) is not difficult. there are many spurs in that area that have a couple tricky spots, but nothing really difficult. it can get muddy, so maybe avoid if big rains so the trails don't get beat up. last i heard salt creek was still gated, probably for mud reasons? most other spurs including aspen ridge are not gated if i recall and should be open.

 

I think most of the discussion in here should be taking place at upcoming events, I think the intention of this site was a quick reference to rules and closures. But we BS everywhere so do whatcha want?

 

Thanks for letting me know!

 

from Colorado Off Road Enterprise - CORE

Checking on our last two major work projects yesterday, Baldwin Lake and Grizzly Lake Trails. Both are in great shape and the FS is expanding the Grizzly Parking Lot, which is great to see.

Trail Conditions Update, as of 6/5/18:
Grizzly Lake - Open all the way
Iron Chest - Open to 2nd avalanche chute just before treeline
Pomeroy Lake - Open all the way
Hancock Lake - Open all the way with snow on road
Hancock Pass - Open to treeline
Tincup Pass - Open to just below the summit
Baldwin Lake - Open all the way to mine above the lake with snow on road
Boulder Mountain - Open to above treeline
Ptarmigan Lake - Open to hiking trail
Mineral Basin - Open to above treeline
Lost Canyon - Open all the way
Clohesy Lake - Open all the way
Champion Mill - Open to the mill
Otto Mears Toll Road - Open to Bonanza
Billings Lake - Open all the way
Holy Cross - Open to French Creek
Mt. Antero - Open to almost the end of the lower switchbacks

If you have further trail updates, post them in the comments and we will update. Thanks!
**Chaffee County Sheriff Office has now issued Stage 1 Fire Restrictions**
This means both Chaffee County and the Salida FS District are under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions!
Please stay on the trail, do not drive around snow!
*when we say “open”, we have a verified report of a vehicle making it to that point. You may not be able to make it through snow without the right equipment. *

 

I kinda thought that at first too when all the 'is it open' posts started, but then I looked back at the opening post and it does say ongoing list of what's open and isn't. We've got the forest service pages and Bushducks and such, so I was thinking this was more for permanent or damage type closures not seasonal (though yes, the opening post specifically says seasonal), but... @Star-Lord can make a ruling/clarification.

 

The first post has the FS links, I don't see a problem with having the thread evolve, might be kind of neat to see how the dates coincide each year.

 

Awesome this is exactly what I was looking for and I'm now following them! Thanks again!

 

FYI San Juan NF Closure

http://www.westernslopenow.com/news...onal-forest-to-be-closed-to-public/1230848678

DURANGO, CO –The San Juan National Forest (SJNF) is planning to implement Forest-wide Stage 3 fire closure this week, which will prohibit most entry into the forest. The purpose of the closure is to protect natural resources and public safety due to the danger of wildland fire. Fire danger on the SJNF remains very high due to exceptional drought and fuel conditions. The closure order is expected to be signed Tuesday, June 12, 2018 and remain in effect until the forest receives sufficient moisture to improve conditions.

The closure order will prohibit entry into the San Juan National Forest, including entry by the general public, most administrative entry by Forest Service employees, and most uses authorized under Forest Service permits and contracts. This means that forest campgrounds, day use areas, roads, and trails will be closed, including wilderness areas, and that hiking, dispersed camping, and other recreational activities are prohibited. Exemptions might be granted on a case-by-case basis with a written authorization from the Forest Service, which would include specific requirements for fire prevention. Exemptions must be requested from the appropriate District Ranger (below). Federal, state, or local officers conducting specific duties are exempt. The McPhee Recreation Area Complex boat ramp and marina will likely remain open but no shoreline use will be allowed.

The SJNF covers 1.8 million acres within the Dolores Ranger District, the Columbine Ranger District, and the Pagosa Ranger District across nine counties in southwestern Colorado. County and state roads and U.S. highways that cross Forest Service lands will not be affected by this order. On-going road closures due to the 416 Fire will continue to be managed by the La Plata County Sherriff. Businesses in local communities will remain open for business during the Forest closure at their discretion.

San Juan National Forest Supervisor, Kara Chadwick, wants concerned citizens to know that instituting a forest closure is an extremely difficult decision, and she is aware that the closure will affect a great many people, businesses, partner agencies, forest management activities, and the public. Forest managers use several criteria to determine when to implement restrictions and closures, including fuel moistures, current and predicted weather, values at risk from wildfire, fire activity levels, and available firefighting resources. The SJNF implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions on May 1, then Stage 2 fire restrictions on June 1, but conditions continued to worsen. “The indices our fire team uses to predict fire danger are at historic levels well before we can expect any significant moisture from the seasonal monsoons,” SJNF Forest Fire Staff Officer, Richard Bustamante said. “Under current conditions, one abandoned campfire or spark could cause a catastrophic wildfire, and we are not willing to take that chance with the natural and cultural resources under our protection and care, or with human life and property.”

Violating Stage 3 fire restrictions or going into a closed area carries a mandatory appearance in federal court, and is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment of up to six months, or both.

 

Wow, SJNF covers the Alpine loop and all the trails around Telluride...

Why don't they just ban Texans and make it easier!

 

San Juan update:

regarding whether trailsoffroad has seen an updated map on the closure area.... Not yet, no. We have been in touch with the Durango office and confirmed a couple of trails that are still open (The Alpine Loop). They are very busy right now and we're still waiting to get official word on some of the other trails that run directly through the San Juans. More to come as we get it so stand by! - JD

 

I believe that most of the Alpine Loop is actually county roads, and therefore wouldn't be closed depending on how the county works with the feds. Camping or doing anything off of them on the other hand, at least on the parts that aren't private...

Also, it's kind of hard to tell how things are working now unless you're connected with all the unit mergers, but the actual SJNF is mostly south of that immediate area. A fair bit of what you're talking about is actually Uncompahgre and Rio Grand NFs (and BLM). https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5196804.pdf The way I read that article, it's just the SJNF and those specific districts that would be closed. There is an arm of that which basically covers the east half of Ophir, sort of the area between 550 and the ridge line to the west and about as far north as Red Mtn. The east side of Black Bear is right on the northern boundary, so it would technically fall in the closure. Imogene and pretty much all of the Alpine loop would be unaffected.

 

This isn't about closing roads but banning you from being within the National Forest Boundaries. See NYCO's post

But like you said much, much more needs to become public on this, think it's a first for this kind of NF Entry ban in CO.

Edit: There would be a ton of "in holder" effectively banned from their property with this as well. Wonder how that works.

 

These were the closure areas prior to this recent stage 3 restriction.. sounds like they expanded with the increased restriction level



https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sanjuan/alerts-notices/?aid=46885

 

I was responding to the post: "County and state roads and U.S. highways that cross Forest Service lands will not be affected by this order." There's certainly a lot of wiggle room there but for the most part the closure would only apply to FS roads and such, and being within the boundary like you said, ie hiking in or going off of a non-FS road to camp or anything, which is why I said doing anything off of them. Kind of like FS roads through private land - you can drive it but you can't get out and wander around. Counties could also follow suit and close their roads (to non-residents) to help enforce the closure.

I haven't really looked at it, but I can't immediately think of any time an entire forest has been closed to all access, government work stop technicalities aside.