Snowpack Limits Routt National Forest Access this Memorial Day Weekend

Late spring snowpack will limit road access and delay the opening of most developed campgrounds on the Routt National Forest this Memorial Day weekend. While there will still be some opportunities to explore and camp, Forest visitors are reminded to call their local ranger district office to know what is open and accessible.

The following are area-specific conditions:

Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District – The Hinman Campground will be open for the upcoming holiday weekend for $12 per night with restroom and trash service available. Water, however, is not yet available and campers are reminded to bring plenty for drinking, cooking and cleaning. Fish Creek Falls Day Use Area is also open for $5 per day with restroom and trash service. There are very few dispersed camping opportunities available because of impassable roads. For the most current information, please call the District Office at (970) 870-2299.

(As a side note, if you ever get the opportunity, be sure to hike the Gilpin Lake / Gold Creek Lake Loop just north of Steamboat Springs. It's one of my favorite hikes in Colorado.)

Parks Ranger District – The Aspen Campground near the town of Gould will be the only recreation facility open this holiday weekend. While fees will not be charged, campers should be aware that water, trash and restroom services are not yet available; therefore they should plan to bring plenty of water and pack out their trash. Access is limited to most dispersed areas, so please contact the District Office at (970) 723-2700 for the most up to date information.

Yampa Ranger District – All developed campgrounds are currently snowed in and there is very limited access across the District for free dispersed camping opportunities. However, approximately 11 designated dispersed camping sites are open in the Bear River Corridor southwest of the town of Yampa. These first-come, first-served sites cost $5 per night and have standard picnic table and fire ring amenities. Two restroom facilities are located near group sites and campers are required to pack out their trash. For the latest information, please contact the District Office at (970) 638-4516.

(As another side note, the Devils Causeway is an exciting hike - for those that dare to cross it!)

Campground reservations are not required for any of the campgrounds open this holiday weekend on the Routt National Forest. As additional campgrounds open later in the season, reservations may be made for some reservable sites through ReserveUSA by phone at 877-444-6777 or online at www.recreation.gov. Where available, reservations are recommended for holiday weekends such as Memorial Day.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Routt National Forest Visitors Reminded of Access and Camping Options During USA Pro Challenge

Stage 3 of the 2013 USA Pro Cycling Challenge will be visiting Steamboat Springs this Wednesday. Due to the closure of US Highway 40 over Rabbit Ears Pass for the race, Forest visitors should be aware that access to this part of the Routt National Forest will be temporarily affected. Closures are being coordinated with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and are expected to run between approximately 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on August 21st.

In addition to all Forest access roads that intersect Highway 40, this short-term closure will affect access to and from several popular picnic areas, campgrounds and trailheads accessed from the highway.

Race spectators who will be camping on the National Forest near the race course are reminded to contact the Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District for details on acceptable dispersed camping locations and regulations.

Campers are reminded of the following restrictions.

· Except in marked sensitive areas, dispersed camping is allowed in most locations.

· Campers should rehabilitate their dispersed site by removing fire rings, or not have campfires.

· No camping at the East Summit Parking Lots.

· No camping within 1/4 mile of Meadows or Dumont Lake Campgrounds, including the access road to Meadows Campground.

For information about alternative National Forest access points, developed recreation areas, or dispersed camping opportunities, contact the Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District at 970-870-2299.

For more information on the USA Pro Challenge, please click here.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Officials: Wilderness is Off-Limits to Snowmobiles

Routt National Forest officials would like to remind snowmobilers that their machines, like all motorized equipment, are illegal in wilderness areas.

The 1964 Wilderness Act set aside wilderness as places to enjoy primitive adventure and solitude, as refuges from the sights and sounds of the mechanized world. Locally, recreationists can enjoy many forms of non-motorized activities in the Mount Zirkel, Sarvis Creek and Flat Tops Wilderness Areas.

“Every winter, there are a lot of snowmobilers trespassing into the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, especially just north of Buffalo Pass,” said Kent Foster, Recreation Staff for the Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District. There are boundary signs in problem areas, and maps at winter trailheads, showing areas closed to snowmobiles. “We make the effort to inform riders but ultimately, it is their responsibility to know where they are and to avoid taking their machines into the wilderness,” Foster said.

Some have unfortunately chosen to ignore the signs. Last weekend the Forest Service ticketed six people for riding in the wilderness, with a total collateral fee of over $3,000. The minimum fine for riding snowmobiles in wilderness is $525; however, violations are punishable by fines of up to $5,000, six months in jail and the forfeiture of snowmobiles and other items involved.

Snowmobiling is a very popular activity in northern Colorado that attracts visitors from across the country and provides economic support to many local communities. The Routt National Forest provides around 350 miles of groomed snowmobile trails and hundreds of thousands of acres of off-trail areas on each of its three ranger districts for snowmobilers to enjoy.

For information or maps about winter recreation opportunities, please contact the Forest Service offices in Steamboat Springs at (970) 870-2299, Walden at (970) 723-8204, or Yampa at (970) 638-4516. Information is available at www.fs.usda.gov/mbr.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com