More trails impacted by the Cameron Peak Fire have opened following some additional assessment and repair work by U.S. Forest Service staff and volunteers. The revised closure order opens the North Fork, Stormy Peaks, Mummy Pass and Emmaline Lake trails. It has also opened National Forest System land around Alexander Mountain and the CSU Mountain Campus. Visitors to the area are reminded there are safety hazards within burn areas to be aware of, including but not limited to, falling trees, flood risks, stump holes and rock fall danger.
Much of the area impacted by the fire remains closed for safety and natural resource protection until additional assessments can be done as the snow melts. Details of the latest closure and map are available on the forest website. Visitors should ensure they check this map before heading to the Canyon Lakes Ranger District to ensure the area they are planning to visit is open.
Crews are continually evaluating other areas as snow melt occurs at lower elevations. Forest Service staff and volunteer trail crews from the Poudre Wilderness Volunteers and Cameron Peak Nordic Rangers have worked hard in areas that are open. Two trail crews will be helping staff throughout the summer, along with additional support from partners and volunteers.
There are more than 120 miles of Forest Service trails within the Cameron Peak Fire perimeter and over 350 miles of Forest Service roads. Most areas will not be safely accessible for evaluation until after the snow melts later this spring and summer. Many factors come into play when determining when an area can reopen. Beyond the immediate risk of hazard trees, considerations need to be made for trail markers, erosion control and trail stabilization issues, damaged infrastructure like bridges, and safety signage. The district is hopeful more areas will open this summer, but this will be heavily dependent on impacts from spring runoff.
We know many people would like to help with recovery efforts on the Forest. The District is fortunate to have many wonderful organizations we work with regularly and will be integral to our recovery efforts. The Wildlands Restoration Volunteers and Poudre Wilderness Volunteers plan to hold some public events that will be available on their websites this upcoming season.
If visiting the Canyon Lakes Ranger District, please note many facilities and roads remain seasonally closed until summer. Check the road status page for the latest information. If you need ideas on other locations to recreate, please check the forest website. Be sure to check local weather information and monitor for the risk of flooding in burned areas.
As visitors start to make plans for future recreational outings, they should expect to find a changed landscape, with the potential for both long- and short-term closures, as well as potential hazards. Fire recovery information is available on the forest website.
Jeff
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