Colorado Trail Status, Closures, repairs, discussion.

Clarification on rampart... the road is open but designated campsites are closed. You can park and hike in to a dispersed spot.

 

Really? I was out there yesterday and saw about 3/5 of the designated spots with people in them, with giant house-sized-tents set up or their pop-up trailers. I also did see enforcement out popping the dirt bikers riding on the roads where they aren't allowed.

 

Also, what's the deal with Jackson Creek side? I was hoping to enter Rampart area from Castle Rock area:
https://goo.gl/maps/PdUXqNaq95gcadem7

I was hoping to take Jackson Creek Road to Hidden Valley Rd past Dakan Rd to Jackson Creek.
As I turned onto Hidden Valley road though, I saw a fold-down, seasonal sign that said "Hidden Valley Rd Closed" and about 30 feet behind it, a "DEAD END" sign and something like "NO THRU ACCESS TO NATIONAL FOREST".

 

It's unclear to me. Based on the Southe Platte Ranger District website I thought we could camp. I camped Friday night, and Saturday morning we were joined for breakfast by the forest service who advised us we cannot camp in established sites. We can park and hike in, but not use designated sites. This contradicts the PDF below. Bullet point C says seems to indicate that you can only camp in designated sites, which we were?

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd719565.pdf

 

Okay so I just called South Platte Ranger District again to get clarification and the gal that I spoke to said the FS employee that approached us on Saturday morning was incorrect.

You are in fact aloud to camp in individual sites that are designated as parking/campsites, as well as any dispersed camping within rampart under normal dispersed camping regs as I originally thought.

The only thing you cannot do is you cannot camp at developed CAMPGROUNDS (restrooms, picnic tables etc.) at the current time along Rampart Range.

Hope this helps.

 

I saw signs along dakan on Friday that said rampart was closed too. I would venture a guess to say they are going to be a few days to a full week behind updating those signs. It's open.

 

Anyone know if the avalanche debris from last season is clear on Pearl Pass road south of Ashcroft? Was hoping to get up there once the snow clears.

 

It was never cleared from last year.

 

Colorado state parks will begin to reopen to campers Tuesday, May 12, Governor Jared Polis announced Monday
https://www.thedenverchannel.com/ne...-reopen-campgrounds-after-months-long-closure

 

Does anyone have any knowledge about dispersed camping along the Medano Creek by the Sand Dues? Zooming in it looks like there are a few sites there but wanted to get some input from anyone thats been there.

 

https://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/medano-pass-road.htm

Roadside camping is permitted only at 21 numbered campsites in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve beginning 5.2 miles from where the road begins near Piñon Flats Campground. These sites are indicated with a brown post and camping symbol, and are numbered by approximate road mileage from the Park/Preserve boundary to Medano Pass.

These designated sites are free of charge and first-come, first-served. All 21 sites fill on summer holiday weekends, and often on other summer weekends.​

 

Anyone know anything about the road up the Newlin Creek trailhead? Zooming in on google maps shows a few spots and an old logging road. I found a site saying the logging road was closed, but there are spots before that? I couldn't find anything saying is camping there is allowed or not. Seems far enough away from Penrose. Looks like there is a small outdoor ampitheater near there too.

I think its national forest land, but could be mistaken.

 

For all y'all that are having issues trying to figure out land ownership (Public vs private), legal roads and such... I recommend you pay for GaiaGPS and learn to use it. It will give you most of the information you seek. (I don't like onX very much - both in their marketing and map, but they are an alternative.)

Google (maps) has no interest in showing public vs private lands, they are about advertising businesses and providing driving directions to those paid ads.

My day job is to make this information more easily accessible, so doing it one off for people makes the overall benefit to everyone further down the road.

 

Ill give gaia a go. been using back country navigator for tracking. thought gaia was the same. thanks for the resource

 

Gaia GPS is amazing and worth every penny. Layering maps, map selection, ease of importation, the ability to sync from web to phone. At this point I'd be lost without it.

CoTrex is also pretty good but not nearly feature rich. But it's free.

 

If you can't get a spot on the national preserve, keep driving until you hit the national forest again, which will have lots more options for camping. The signage is pretty clear in that entire area.

 

Alpine Loop is officially open per the Hinsdale County FB and San Juan trail group (founder of the group is a plow operator)

 

Molas Lake campground, county roads all open tomorrow in San Juan County. Mineral Creek remains closed.

 

What about the San Juan County "Locals Only" Rules?