As a thank you to U.S. military members, Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers active duty military, veterans and the National Guard free admission to all state parks for the month of August.
Military members and veterans, resident and nonresident, can pick up a free August Military Pass at any Colorado state park or CPW office by showing proof of service. Passes become available on Aug. 1, 2021.
The free park pass provides a chance to experience Colorado’s state parks and the diverse wildlife and landscapes the state provides. All other park fees remain in effect, including camping reservations, boat and off-highway vehicle registrations, and hunting and fishing licenses. The pass is also not valid for accessing State Wildlife Areas.
CPW offers several additional military benefits to active duty military, veterans and disabled veterans. Programs include free admission to state parks on Veterans Day, year-round free entry to all state parks to residents with Colorado Disabled Veterans license plates and free small game and fishing combination licenses for qualified disabled veterans. CPW also offers a Columbine Pass which offers reduced park entrance fees to disabled Colorado residents.
For more information about Colorado’s state parks, visit the CPW website.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Saturday, July 31, 2021
Friday, July 30, 2021
Many Poudre Canyon Recreation Sites Reopen following Black Hollow Flood; Others Remain Closed for Safety
Many recreation areas along the Poudre Canyon that were closed due to the Black Hollow Flood have reopened after Forest Service employees were able to evaluate those areas for any damage or new safety hazards. This includes eight of the 11 campgrounds in the canyon, as well as many trailheads and picnic areas. Most of those closed as part of the Cameron Peak Fire Area Closure remain closed; however, the Blue Lake and Rawah trails are now open. Find the latest closure order map on the forest website.
It is important for visitors to the burn area to be aware of safety hazards within the burn scar, 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. Your safety is your responsibility.
Visitors are reminded to always check the latest status of areas they plan to recreate on the forest website. Many areas impacted by the Cameron Peak Fire remain completely closed or are closed to motorize travel. These closures are in place for the safety of visitors and those working in the area, as well as natural resource protection.
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.
As fire suppression repair work and other recovery efforts are completed, more areas will begin to open. 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, fire suppression repair work and other recovery efforts. The Cameron Peak Fire burned more than 173,000 acres of National Forest System lands within its 208,913-acre scar. We appreciate all the employees, partners and volunteers working together to protect and repair these lands.
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. 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 page for helpful tips, including closures due to the East Troublesome and Williams Fork fires.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
It is important for visitors to the burn area to be aware of safety hazards within the burn scar, 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. Your safety is your responsibility.
Visitors are reminded to always check the latest status of areas they plan to recreate on the forest website. Many areas impacted by the Cameron Peak Fire remain completely closed or are closed to motorize travel. These closures are in place for the safety of visitors and those working in the area, as well as natural resource protection.
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.
As fire suppression repair work and other recovery efforts are completed, more areas will begin to open. 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, fire suppression repair work and other recovery efforts. The Cameron Peak Fire burned more than 173,000 acres of National Forest System lands within its 208,913-acre scar. We appreciate all the employees, partners and volunteers working together to protect and repair these lands.
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. 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 page for helpful tips, including closures due to the East Troublesome and Williams Fork fires.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Thursday, July 22, 2021
National Park Service Rescinds Stage I Fire Restrictions at Black Canyon and Curecanti
At midnight Thursday, July 22, 2021, Stage I Fire Restrictions will be rescinded for both Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area. Recent rains in the area have increased fuel moisture and lessened fire danger, but visitors are asked to remain cautious with fire.
As is always the case at Black Canyon and Curecanti, campfires are restricted to fire rings in established campground and picnic areas. Beach fires are allowed on the shores of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Please exercise extreme caution; keep flame length low and be sure that all fires are out and cool to the touch. In high winds, burning debris from your campfire can start fires well downwind. When the wind comes up, your campfire should go down and out.
Although current weather patterns favor afternoon showers, drier weather and fuel moisture may require a return to fire restrictions. For more fire-related information on Colorado’s Western Slope, please visit: WestSlopeFireInfo.com.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
As is always the case at Black Canyon and Curecanti, campfires are restricted to fire rings in established campground and picnic areas. Beach fires are allowed on the shores of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Please exercise extreme caution; keep flame length low and be sure that all fires are out and cool to the touch. In high winds, burning debris from your campfire can start fires well downwind. When the wind comes up, your campfire should go down and out.
Although current weather patterns favor afternoon showers, drier weather and fuel moisture may require a return to fire restrictions. For more fire-related information on Colorado’s Western Slope, please visit: WestSlopeFireInfo.com.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Friday, July 16, 2021
Body Recovered On Mountain Lady Washington
Last night, Thursday, July 15, park rangers recovered the body of a 35-year-old female from Loveland, Colorado, just west of Martha’s Couloir on Mount Lady Washington in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Yesterday afternoon, park rangers were notified by a family member that they had received information via a satellite communication device of an emergency. Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members arrived on scene via ground at 4:45 p.m. and were aided with aerial search efforts by Mesa Verde Interagency Helitak crew, assigned to the Morgan Creek Fire near Steamboat Springs. It appears the woman took an approximate 200- foot tumbling fall.
The woman’s body was flown at approximately 8:15 p.m. via a long line operation to the Upper Beaver Meadows helipad where she was transferred to the Boulder County Coroner’s office. The woman’s name will be released after next of kin are notified.
As is standard protocol the incident is under investigation. Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members stayed at the Chasm Shelter last night and are hiking out this morning.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Yesterday afternoon, park rangers were notified by a family member that they had received information via a satellite communication device of an emergency. Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members arrived on scene via ground at 4:45 p.m. and were aided with aerial search efforts by Mesa Verde Interagency Helitak crew, assigned to the Morgan Creek Fire near Steamboat Springs. It appears the woman took an approximate 200- foot tumbling fall.
The woman’s body was flown at approximately 8:15 p.m. via a long line operation to the Upper Beaver Meadows helipad where she was transferred to the Boulder County Coroner’s office. The woman’s name will be released after next of kin are notified.
As is standard protocol the incident is under investigation. Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members stayed at the Chasm Shelter last night and are hiking out this morning.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
Monday, July 12, 2021
Public Input Requested On Long-Range Day Use Visitor Access Strategy
Rocky Mountain National Park staff are seeking the public's engagement and input on the park's long-range Day Use Visitor Access Strategy. "We are eager to continue engaging with our stakeholders and connect with park visitors from near and far, to help identify shared values, clarify key issues, and begin to develop potential management strategies to help the park prepare for our long-term day use strategy" said Park Superintendent, Darla Sidles. "We hope to hear from current park visitors as well as those who have told us they no longer visit Rocky Mountain National Park because of crowding and congestion." Public comments are invited for sixty days which began on May 21 through July 19, 2021.
In May, the park hosted two virtual meetings regarding this strategy. The meetings provided opportunities to learn more about the purpose of the project, key issues, desired conditions for day use visitor access, potential management strategies, ask questions of National Park Service staff and get information on how to provide formal written comments through the Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website. Each webinar begans with a presentation, followed by a question and answer session. The recorded links to these meetings are available at https://www.nps.gov/romo/getinvolved/day-use-visitor-access-strategy.htm The content was the same for both meetings.
This Pre-NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) phase is a step in the long-range planning process but not the end, there will be more opportunities for public involvement looking at more developed strategies ahead. Pre-NEPA planning allows park staff to define the issues and their impacts as well as explore possible ways to address those issues. At the end of the pre-NEPA planning, park staff will have initial input and reactions from the public on our identified issues and possible ways to address those issues.
Rocky Mountain National Park has experienced a 44 percent increase in visitation since 2012. Rapid growth in day use visitation and changing use patterns in the park have degraded natural and cultural resources, diminished quality of the visitor experience, increased visitor and staff safety concerns, and created a heavy strain on the park's facilities and ability to perform daily operations. The purpose of the Rocky Mountain National Park long-range Day Use Visitor Access Strategy is to provide visitor access in a way that enhances the protection of the fundamental resources and values for which the park was created. The goal of the process is to identify strategies that will help protect park resources, offer varied opportunities for high quality visitor experiences, enhance visitor and staff safety, and coincide with the park's operational capacity.
Park staff encourage public participation throughout the planning process. There will be additional opportunities to comment formally on the project during the future NEPA process. Public comments for this stage are invited for sixty days beginning May 21 through July 19, 2021 by visiting https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ROMO_Duvas Click on "Open for Comment" on the left side of the screen. Then select, "Day Use Visitor Access Strategy Power Point Presentation."
Comments may also be sent to the following mailing address:
Superintendent
Rocky Mountain National Park
1000 US Highway 36
Estes Park, CO 80517
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. Although you can ask in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee we will be able to do so.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
In May, the park hosted two virtual meetings regarding this strategy. The meetings provided opportunities to learn more about the purpose of the project, key issues, desired conditions for day use visitor access, potential management strategies, ask questions of National Park Service staff and get information on how to provide formal written comments through the Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website. Each webinar begans with a presentation, followed by a question and answer session. The recorded links to these meetings are available at https://www.nps.gov/romo/getinvolved/day-use-visitor-access-strategy.htm The content was the same for both meetings.
This Pre-NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) phase is a step in the long-range planning process but not the end, there will be more opportunities for public involvement looking at more developed strategies ahead. Pre-NEPA planning allows park staff to define the issues and their impacts as well as explore possible ways to address those issues. At the end of the pre-NEPA planning, park staff will have initial input and reactions from the public on our identified issues and possible ways to address those issues.
Rocky Mountain National Park has experienced a 44 percent increase in visitation since 2012. Rapid growth in day use visitation and changing use patterns in the park have degraded natural and cultural resources, diminished quality of the visitor experience, increased visitor and staff safety concerns, and created a heavy strain on the park's facilities and ability to perform daily operations. The purpose of the Rocky Mountain National Park long-range Day Use Visitor Access Strategy is to provide visitor access in a way that enhances the protection of the fundamental resources and values for which the park was created. The goal of the process is to identify strategies that will help protect park resources, offer varied opportunities for high quality visitor experiences, enhance visitor and staff safety, and coincide with the park's operational capacity.
Park staff encourage public participation throughout the planning process. There will be additional opportunities to comment formally on the project during the future NEPA process. Public comments for this stage are invited for sixty days beginning May 21 through July 19, 2021 by visiting https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ROMO_Duvas Click on "Open for Comment" on the left side of the screen. Then select, "Day Use Visitor Access Strategy Power Point Presentation."
Comments may also be sent to the following mailing address:
Superintendent
Rocky Mountain National Park
1000 US Highway 36
Estes Park, CO 80517
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. Although you can ask in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee we will be able to do so.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
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