Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Rocky Mountain National Park Prepares for Possible Prescribed Burn

Rocky Mountain National Park and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service are preparing to conduct a prescribed fire on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park when favorable weather and fuel conditions allow.

A 437-acre area within the Eagle Cliff Unit and portions of the Headquarters Unit will be treated to reduce hazardous fuels. The treatment area is located between the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and Bear Lake Road and includes areas south of High Drive. Burning operations will be conducted over several days to limit daily smoke production. The primary goal of the project is to mitigate the threat of wildland fire to nearby communities and park infrastructure. The prescribed burn will reduce grasses, light fuels and understory to decrease future wildfire risk.
When fighting the East Troublesome Fire in 2020 and the Fern Lake Fire in 2012, firefighters took advantage of previous and existing prescribed fire and hazardous fuels treatment areas, which provided a buffer between the fire and the town of Estes Park. Prior hazard fuels projects were instrumental in keeping the fire from jumping Bear Lake Road and Trail Ridge Road.

Prescribed burning operations may begin late October or any time through the winter when conditions are favorable. Ignitions will likely occur on weekdays, with smoke possible for an additional 3-10 days as fuels within the burn area smolder. During burn operations, traffic control will be in place on U.S. Highway 36 and Bear Lake Road adjacent to the burn area. Visitors passing through active burning areas may be escorted by fire personnel to ensure their safety. Park visitors will not be allowed to stop along roadways within the burn area. Temporary road closures may also be implemented.

Smoke from the prescribed fire may be visible both inside and outside the park. Every effort will be made to minimize smoke impacts on visitors and the local community; however, some smoke is anticipated to disperse east of the park.



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Monday, October 26, 2026

Chiricahua National Monument Becomes America’s Newest National Park

Chiricahua National Monument is now Chiricahua National Park, following President Donald J. Trump's signing of the Chiricahua National Park Act into law on Oct. 20, 2026. The redesignation recognizes the national significance of the area's extraordinary natural and cultural resources and marks a new chapter for one of Arizona's most distinctive landscapes. 

“Chiricahua’s towering rock spires, rich Apache heritage and remarkable biodiversity make it one of America’s most extraordinary landscapes,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “This new designation will shine a national spotlight on one of Arizona’s hidden gems, creating opportunities to welcome more visitors, strengthen local economies and share this incredible landscape with more Americans.” 
Located in the southeastern corner of Arizona, the park protects a landscape of towering rhyolite rock spires and balanced rocks formed by an ancient volcanic eruption roughly 27 million years ago. Rising from the “sky island” of the Chiricahua Mountains, where desert, grassland, and forest ecosystems meet, the area supports remarkable biodiversity and provides opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, birding and stargazing. 

“Chiricahua has been part of the National Park System for more than a century, and this new designation marks an exciting chapter in its history,” said Jessica Bowron, Comptroller Exercising the Delegated Authority of the Director of the National Park Service. “While its name is changing, our commitment remains the same: protecting this remarkable landscape and its cultural heritage while providing opportunities for visitors to experience and enjoy it for generations to come.” 

First protected as a national monument in 1924, Chiricahua preserves thousands of years of human history, including its importance as the homeland of the Chiricahua Apache and its legacy of early homesteading families at Faraway Ranch. The redesignation reflects the national significance of the area’s natural and cultural resources and the longstanding efforts to conserve them. 

The park will continue to offer its hiking, camping, scenic drives, wildlife viewing and other opportunities. Visitors can find current information at nps.gov/chir. 



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Friday, October 23, 2026

Closures and dangerous conditions on roads, bridges, and trails damaged and destroyed by flooding

Heavy rain throughout Southwest Colorado in the past two days caused extremely dangerous conditions on the San Juan National Forest. These ongoing conditions include widespread flooding, road, trail, and infrastructure damage, and downed trees. As of Friday, October 23, field crews are assessing conditions across the Forest and locating campers and visitors trapped on storm-damaged roads that have become impassable. Additional rain is expected in coming days. Many roads are closed, and more are expected as conditions are assessed. All roadways are expected to be saturated and a potential threat for getting stuck or sliding off.

We encourage the public to avoid venturing out to the Forest when possible. Local emergency responders and search and rescue teams are being inundated with calls, and rescue or help may not be immediately possible for Forest visitors.

Currently, the Pagosa Ranger District is experiencing the most severe impacts, with Columbine also reporting significant damage. The process to fully assess infrastructure damage with engineers will extend into summer 2027 due to the extent of the flooding on millions of acres of Forest. Multiple major roads have suffered complete washouts and landslides, and some vehicle bridges were damaged.

Please visit the San Juan National Forest Conditions page for the most up-to-date information on road conditions. Please note, this list changes frequently as engineers and crews carefully assess conditions. Trails conditions will be assessed as staffing levels permit. Individual trails and campgrounds will be updated on the San Juan National Forest Recreation website.

Critical safety reminders:

* It is imperative that visitors do not try to ford water crossings on roads and trails, a practice that can easily prove deadly.

* If infrastructure such as bridges or culverts appear damaged and are not noted on the Conditions or Recreation webpages, please report it to the information line voicemail at (970) 501-5830 and do not attempt to cross.

* Do not try to drive around damaged areas, a practice that is illegal, destructive, and dangerous.

* Please respect closure signage to reduce the need for rescue and to reduce additional damage when resources are extremely limited.

Additional details, maps, and updates will be forthcoming as capacity allows. Please be patient, as this is a dynamic event during changing conditions. Life safety remains our number one priority both for the public and our employees.



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Monday, October 19, 2026

On this date in hiking history: The first climbing death in America

The following is an excerpt from Ramble On: A History of Hiking.

During an extended tour of America, an Englishman named Frederick Strickland arrived at the Notch House on October 18, 1849, with the sole intention of standing atop Mount Washington. Strickland, a 29-year-old graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge, was the second son of Sir George Strickland, a baron and long-time member of the British Parliament. Fatefully, just days before his arrival, an early-season snowstorm slammed into the White Mountains. A local newspaper reported that three feet of snow had fallen in the higher elevations during the storm. Despite stern warnings from Thomas Crawford and others, Strickland remained adamant about climbing the mountain. He purportedly told Crawford, the manager of the Notch House, that “I can walk where no horse could go.” He was also confident that he could make the entire round trip in just one day, and therefore took very few provisions with him. Although Crawford relented, he told Strickland that he wouldn’t risk the lives of his guide or his horses, and that they would turn around once they reached deep snow.
With that stipulation made clear, Strickland, his English companion and a guide set out on horseback from the Notch House on the following morning. As predicted, the group began to encounter deep snow as they proceeded above the treeline. By the time they arrived at Mount Pleasant (now Mount Eisenhower), the guide refused to proceed any further. Despite fresh warnings and further pleading from the guide and his traveling companion, Strickland chose to continue alone, on foot. His plan was to summit the mountain and then return to the Mount Washington House using the second Crawford Path, by then known as the Fabyan Path. Strickland was able to reach the summit, but became lost during his descent, likely after passing below the timberline. His frozen body was found two days later near the Ammonoosuc River. After failing to arrive at the Mount Washington House on the night of October 19th, Crawford organized search parties to ascend both trails. They easily found Strickland’s tracks in the snow and were able to follow them to his final resting place. It’s speculated that Strickland had fallen into the river at some point, as he had removed some of his clothes in a desperate attempt to keep from freezing. Strickland became the first person on record to perish on Mount Washington, and is quite likely the first climbing death in America.



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Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk through the woods for pleasure? Ramble On: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.


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Friday, October 16, 2026

Winter makes its first appearance in Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park posted this on their social media today:
Following recent winter storms, trail conditions in Rocky Mountain National Park are beginning to change as the season transitions from fall toward winter. Be prepared for some ice and snow on trails when hiking in areas above 9,000 feet in elevation.

🥾It's a great time to dig out your traction devices. Traction devices and hiking poles are recommended when traveling on high elevation trails.

When hiking in lower elevation areas of the park, trails may be dry, wet, or muddy.

For the latest weather forecast specific to Rocky Mountain National Park, visit https://www.weather.gov/bou/rmnp

See the latest trail conditions report at https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/trail_conditions.htm.




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