Rocky Mountain Seeks Public Input On Wild Basin Area Improvements

Rocky Mountain National Park staff are considering making improvements at four locations in the Wild Basin area located in the southeast part of the park. These four locations include the picnic area located just west of Copeland Lake, the winter turn-around located midway along the road that leads to the Wild Basin Trailhead, the Wild Basin Trailhead located at the terminus of the road and the provision of a parking area adjacent to the road to accommodate vehicles towing horse trailers. The purpose of the proposed improvements is to enhance visitor services and improve park operations.

Proposed plans for the Copeland Picnic Area include installing a vault toilet and providing an accessible picnic site meeting American's with Disabilities (ADA) standards. Proposed plans for the winter turn-around include providing additional parking and providing a turn-around for snowplows. Proposed plans for the Wild Basin Trailhead include providing a new visitor contact facility by renovating an existing cabin located west of the trailhead parking area. The new facility would be accessible to those with disabilities. The plans also include providing a new trail connection to the visitor contact facility and the Wild Basin trail system, and providing access to the trail system for equestrians. Proposed plans for vehicles towing horse trailers include developing a new area with three parking spaces for vehicles towing horse trailers and providing a trail connection from the parking area to area trails. Maps with these specific proposed changes can be found in an on-line newsletter at the website referenced below.

The Wild Basin Trailhead provides access to several popular hiking destinations, including Lion Lake, Thunder Lake, Ouzel Falls and Bluebird Lake.

The park welcomes public input on the proposed improvements. Comments must be in writing, and can be submitted on-line or by mail. Comments are due by April 30, 2013. The preferred method for submitting comments is to use the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/romo

Although the preferred method is through the PEPC site, comments may be submitted in several ways:

By mail: Superintendent, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO 80517

By fax: (970) 586-1359

By email: romo_superintendent@nps.gov

Hand-deliver: Rocky Mountain National Park Headquarters, 1000 Highway 36, Estes Park, Colorado.

For further information about Rocky Mountain National Park, please call the park's Information Office at (970) 586-1206.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com