Visitors to Mount Evans and Brainard Lake, two popular locations on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, will need to make advanced reservations through Recreation.gov. Reservations for both areas go online this month.
Mount Evans Recreation Area is tentatively scheduled to open May 27, weather dependent. Reservations for Mount Evans can be made on recreation.gov starting around 10 a.m. May 3 and reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance. Reservations are required if planning to park and visit one of the developed visitor locations between 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Brainard Lake Recreation Area is tentatively scheduled to open June 10, weather dependent. This includes reservations for the day use area and the Red Rocks picnic site. Reservations for Brainard Lake can be made on recreation.gov starting around 10 a.m. May 26 and can be made up to 15 days in advance. Reservations for the upper elevation parking lots will go on sale in mid-June and the area is tentative scheduled to open July 1. Overnight parking reservations for wilderness permit holders have been available since Feb. 1.
“The timed-entry program was extremely successful in reducing crowding, wait times, and environmental impacts in 2021,” said Reid Armstrong, public affairs specialist. “As the program continues in 2022, we hope visitors are growing accustomed to advanced planning. Before heading out on any adventure, visitors should check the forests’ Know Before You Go page for all the latest updates and alerts.”
Mount Evans and Brainard Lake are among the Forests’ most visited recreation areas, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world. The timed-entry system is aimed at reducing wait times, lines, and crowding at these areas’ welcome stations, visitors’ centers, and attractions. Dispersing visitors across the days and weeks reduces impacts on wildlife and improves available parking.
Mount Evans Recreation Area features the highest paved road in North America, which leads to the summit one of Colorado’s famous 14ers. Along the way are stops that offer glances into life in the high alpine environment, including Mount Goliath and its demonstration garden managed by Denver Botanic Gardens. Mount Evans is managed in partnership with Colorado Department of Transportation, which oversees the road, and Denver Mountain Parks, which runs Summit Lake Park.
Brainard Lake Recreation Area is a portal to Indian Peaks Wilderness Area with hiking trails that lead into some of the area’s most rugged, high alpine terrain. The lake itself offers opportunities to picnic, fish and view wildlife within the stunning backdrop of the Continental Divide. The general area is open year-round but in the summer is managed by American Lands and Leisure, a private concessionaire contracted to provide daily maintenance and operations. Visitors with a campground reservation at Pawnee Campground will not need an additional reservation.
At each location, visitors will be able to select a reservation time slot from multiple windows throughout the day and decide on details about where they want to go (e.g. which parking area at Brainard and which sites on Mount Evans). Customers will be charged a $2 reservation fee by recreation.gov in addition to the standard fee. Annual and lifetime passholders will still need to make reservations and will only pay the $2 reservation fee. People who arrive without a reservation will need to return to a place where they can get a cell phone signal to secure a timed entry ticket, if available. Reservations are not required for biking and hiking into these areas.
For more information, visit the recently improved website at www.fs.usda.gov/arp.
Jeff
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