Most campgrounds within the Cameron Peak Fire impacted area are now exempt from the fire area closure order, offering developed camping opportunities once they open for the summer season. Remember that the areas around these campgrounds remain closed. Also opening up under this new order are the West Branch and Rawah trailheads. Day-use and picnic areas that were previously closed are now exempt and open as well.
Public river access is only open in the lower canyon. Be aware that the fire and spring runoff may have left new obstructions in the river, so be sure to scout it first. Most Forest Service Roads in the fire area are closed. Expect to see gates being installed to allow the area to naturally recover, suppression repair work to be completed, and additional recovery work started.
Much of the area impacted by the fire remains closed for safety and natural resource protection until additional assessments can be done and recovery work completed. Details of the latest closure and map are available on the forest website. Remember, not everything that is closed is gated, so know where you are and do not enter closed areas identified on the map. Some Forest Service Roads within the closure may be required to access private land, but that does not mean they are open to the public.
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. Be sure to check local weather information and monitor for the risk of flooding in burned areas.
It may be helpful to know some popular areas that have been heavily impacted may not be able to reopen this year, especially given the interconnectivity of the roads and trails systems. On the Canyon Lakes Ranger District, this includes the Jacks Gulch Campground, the Swamp Creek area, many Forest Service Roads south of Deadman Road, Crown Point Road and others.
Visitors should always have a back-up plan in case an area has a temporary closure or is full. To help people plan their visit, we recommend everyone checks the Know Before You Go webpage for helpful tips, including the areas closed due to the East Troublesome and Williams Fork fires on our Sulphur Ranger District. Some level of closures around all three of these fire scars from 2020 should be expected this year.
There are more than 120 miles of Forest Service trails within the Cameron Peak Fire perimeter and over 350 miles of Forest Service Roads. 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, travel route interconnectivity, damaged infrastructure like bridges, and safety signage.
At the end of April some impacted trails opened following additional assessment and repair work by U.S. Forest Service staff and volunteers and included the North Fork, Stormy Peaks, Mummy Pass and Emmaline Lake trails. Crews are continually evaluating other areas as snow melt occurs. 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.
We know many people want to help with recovery efforts. The District is fortunate to have many wonderful organizations we work with regularly and are integral to our recovery efforts. Both the Poudre Wilderness Volunteers and Wildlands Restoration Volunteers are holding public restoration events that are announced on their websites.
If visiting the Canyon Lakes Ranger District, please note many facilities and roads remain seasonally closed until later in the summer. Check the road status page for the latest information as spring runoff damage may have impacted opening dates.
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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