Category: Uncategorized

The San Juan National Forest reports that Fall Color Viewing is best from Purgatory to Town
Durango to Purgatory:  ~50%
Purgatory to Coal Bank:  ~75%
Coal Bank to Molas is 90% and peaking

First rifle season for deer/elk kicks off OCtober 12-16 and Season two is October 19-27. Please wear blaze orange when out and about on the trails.

Effective Friday, August 24th, the closure area for the 416 Fire will shrink to allow public access to areas around the fire. The burned area of the 416 Fire is still closed to all public entry. Hazards are abundant within the fire perimeter; areas are still burning, dead and burned trees are falling, trails are washing out and debris flows are continuing.

The 416 Fire started June 1st and has been burning all summer. The burned area perimeter is mostly within the Hermosa Creek watershed and west of U.S. Highway 550 and is generally bounded on the south side by the Junction Creek Road (NFSR 171) north to and including the Lower Hermosa Road (NFSR 576), then west of, but excluding, the Elbert Creek Road (NFSR 581) and west of the Purgatory Ski Area boundary on the east side of the closure area. Generally bounded on the north by, but excluding, the Hermosa Park Road (NFSR 578) and Hotel Draw Road (NFSR 550) to its intersection with the Scotch Creek Road (NFSR 550.1). Generally bounded on the west and south sides by the Hermosa Creek watershed, excluding the Divide Road (NFSR 564) and Colorado Trail (NFST 520, 553 and 622) for their entirety.

The Junction Creek, Goulding and Elbert Creek roads are now open as are many segments of trails. The main stem of the Hermosa Creek Trail and the Hermosa road and campground are still closed as are many of the trails that are accessed by these roads. The Upper Dutch Creek and Castle Rock trails are now open, but Clear Creek trail and Jones Creek trail remain closed. The following is a description and a map of the roads and trails that are closed along with a map listing the BurroFire area trails that are open, part of Bear Creek trail is washed out by Gold Run but the balance of the area is open. 416FireExhibit_1_AreaClosure_SJ201820_416_FINAL_20180817 Bear CreekTrail Closure Burro Fire (003)

Trail closures due to the Plateau Fire in Dolores, Colorado include Boggy Draw, Bean Canyon, McNeil and McPhee Overlook trails, and access to Italian Canyon or Maverick trails. The eastern boundary comes within a mile of Highway 145. The closure encompasses an area bound roughly by McPhee Reservoir on the west, FS Road 527 on the east, FS Road 514 on the north and FS Road 249 on the south, including Boggy Draw.

The Dolores-Norwood Road is closed from the House Creek Road to Cottonwood Creek Road. Emergency staff, ranchers with livestock in the area and Kinder Morgan employees were being allowed through.

The House Creek Road, campground and boat ramp are closed, and a half-dozen campers were evacuated from the House Creek Campground about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Alternate routes to Groundhog Reservoir are via the Westfork Road, to Cottonwood Road (FR532), to the Dolores-Norwood Road north of the closed area.

Montezuma County has a call center for information on the Plateau Fire: (970) 564-4998 or (970) 564-4999

The Colorado Trail from Molas to Town; Junction Creek road to the Animas Overlook, upper Hermosa Park road to Hotel and Bolam and trails outside of the Hermosa are now open. The Trail Conditions report is updated and the map shows additional details. Happy Trails!

The Hermosa area, including all roads and trails, is officially closed due to the 416 Fire. For your safety and that of all emergency and fire management teams, please abide by the closure. View map here. The 416 Fire, burning about 13 miles north of Durango, affects all trails in the Hermosa drainage including Hermosa Creek, Jones, Dutch, Pinkteron, Goulding, West Cross, Little Elk and Big Lick.

Beginning June 1, 2018, Stage 2 Fire Restrictions will be in effect on all National Forest System lands within the San Juan National Forest, including Wilderness. Fire restrictions are designed to protect people, property and the area’s natural resources, and are in response to the exceptional drought rating in Southwest Colorado, increased fire activity throughout the area, and continuing hot dry weather forecasts.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions on the San Juan National Forest means that the following are
PROHIBITED (The full list is available here):

1) Building, maintaining, attending or using an OPEN FLAME, including fire, campfire, stove fire, charcoal grills and barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves, and devices (stoves, grills or lanterns) using liquid fuel such as white gas or kerosene. This prohibition applies to the entire San Juan National Forest, including Wilderness and developed camping and picnic grounds.

Except: Devices (stoves, grills or lanterns) using pressurized gas canisters (isobutene or propane) that include shut-off valves, or within an enclosed vehicle, trailer, or building.

Temporary restrictions will remain in place until further notice, and may be increased or reduced at any time due to changes in weather and fire danger. Specifics of what is prohibited or allowed under Stage 2 restrictions vary slightly depending on jurisdiction, so a call to the appropriate managing agency may prevent disappointment or a change in plans.

For more Forest Service fire restriction information, please contact the San Juan National Forest at 970-247-4874, or visit their website here.

You can support Trails 2000 by Rounding Up for Trails 2000 March 8 through March 19: