Due to heavy rains and saturated soils the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland officials closed a portion of the Canyon Lakes Ranger District last week. Now that State Highway 14 within the Poudre Canyon has reopened, so too have some facilities and land.
The area that has opened up includes most lands and facilities located north of Highway 14, as well as areas within 1/2 mile south of Highway 14. Some select areas remain closed and those will be signed and/or gated. This includes the Young Gulch Trail, Stevens Gulch Day Use, and Upper Landing Day Use. Officials ask that you respect this and all signed closures. They are in place for public safety and to allow for rehabilitation efforts. For reopened campgrounds, no water is available at this time.
Additional areas not originally included in the order that are now closed due to moderate to extensive damage include 7-Mile Road (FSR 225), Kelly Flats Road (FSR 168), and Chicken Park Road (FSR 181) and spurs.
A map of the closed area, along with other flood information, is available online.
Please note that Crown Point Road is open, but nothing further south along the Pingree Park Road is.
It is expected that additional areas may open, as well as new areas added to the closure. Additional rain or snow could also impact conditions of currently opened areas.
Although these areas are open, the Forest continues to discourage all travel and activities on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District. The current condition of many of the forest roads is unknown until an initial assessment is completed. Please use caution in all rain affected areas and travel only when necessary. Road status and closure information can be found here.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Showing posts with label Poudre Canyon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poudre Canyon. Show all posts
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
High Park Fire BAER Activities Begin Again; Closure Area Increases
The Canyon Lakes Ranger District is beginning Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) activities on National Forest System (NFS) lands on the High Park Fire burn area starting as soon as May 6.
Next week, those in the vicinity of the Poudre Canyon could see helicopters flying overhead. They are doing aerial mulching on high priority areas, where the fire burned at a high intensity potentially damaging the soil and causing run-off concerns. Last year, 881 acres were mulched with wood shreds. This spring and early summer approximately 4,700 acres will be treated with agricultural straw. Treatment is expected to continue, as conditions allow, through July 1.
Adjacent landowners are being informed of the mulching plans. There is a 300 foot buffer next to private land; however, some mulch could unintentionally land on private land.
For safety and rehabilitation reasons, the area closure currently in effect is being expanded to include areas where helicopters will be working overhead. The closure includes the burn area south of Colorado Highway 14, except the area commonly referred to as “Crystal Wall” climbing area. There is also a small area on the north side around Stevens Gulch that is closed. Except for Young Gulch Trail and the Kruetzer/Mount McConnell Trail, which remain closed; the developed recreation sites along the Poudre Canyon are open or will open as scheduled. The Old Flowers, West White Pine, and Monument Gulch roads remain closed. A closure area map will be posted online.
Along with the aerial mulching, other activities will be taking place within the burn area throughout the spring and summer. Crews are already doing preliminary work on the Young Gulch Trail, with volunteer days expected later in the summer to complete much needed work on this highly-impacted trail. Noxious weed treatment will be taking place both within the High Park and Hewlett burn areas in cooperation with Larimer County. Additional road and trail work is also expected to occur.
Falling trees are a safety concern – both in burned and unburned areas. Rolling and falling rocks can also become a hazard in these areas when the soil is less stable. Remember, your safety is your responsibility. Be sure to check the weather in case of flash floods in the burn area and to check the status of Highway 14.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Next week, those in the vicinity of the Poudre Canyon could see helicopters flying overhead. They are doing aerial mulching on high priority areas, where the fire burned at a high intensity potentially damaging the soil and causing run-off concerns. Last year, 881 acres were mulched with wood shreds. This spring and early summer approximately 4,700 acres will be treated with agricultural straw. Treatment is expected to continue, as conditions allow, through July 1.
Adjacent landowners are being informed of the mulching plans. There is a 300 foot buffer next to private land; however, some mulch could unintentionally land on private land.
For safety and rehabilitation reasons, the area closure currently in effect is being expanded to include areas where helicopters will be working overhead. The closure includes the burn area south of Colorado Highway 14, except the area commonly referred to as “Crystal Wall” climbing area. There is also a small area on the north side around Stevens Gulch that is closed. Except for Young Gulch Trail and the Kruetzer/Mount McConnell Trail, which remain closed; the developed recreation sites along the Poudre Canyon are open or will open as scheduled. The Old Flowers, West White Pine, and Monument Gulch roads remain closed. A closure area map will be posted online.
Along with the aerial mulching, other activities will be taking place within the burn area throughout the spring and summer. Crews are already doing preliminary work on the Young Gulch Trail, with volunteer days expected later in the summer to complete much needed work on this highly-impacted trail. Noxious weed treatment will be taking place both within the High Park and Hewlett burn areas in cooperation with Larimer County. Additional road and trail work is also expected to occur.
Falling trees are a safety concern – both in burned and unburned areas. Rolling and falling rocks can also become a hazard in these areas when the soil is less stable. Remember, your safety is your responsibility. Be sure to check the weather in case of flash floods in the burn area and to check the status of Highway 14.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
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