A public meeting on a proposed parking lot at the base of Daniel’s Hill will be held at the Marble Fire Station from 5 to 7pm on Tuesday, Aug. 13, according to a U.S. Forest Service press release. A public comment period is open through Wednesday, Aug. 21. The Forest Service is considering the construction […]
White River National Forest
Posted inEnvironment
Mixed feelings for mixed-use trail along the Crystal River
On June 28, 2024, the White River National Forest released their final Decision Notice authorizing the construction of a seven-mile, multi-use trail from Redstone to McClure Pass, which would become a part of the larger 83-mile Carbondale to Crested Butte trail.While exciting to overnight cyclists and thruhikers looking for safer passage up the Crystal River […]
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Why prescribed fires in Avalanche Creek?
Memorial Day weekend, campers and hikers might have been surprised at the sight of 600-plus acres of newly burned, south-facing terrain above Avalanche Creek. As part of the Aspen-Sopris District wildlife habitat improvement project, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management partnered with Pitkin County and Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District on […]
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WRNF calls for campground concessionaire bids
Most of the 68 campgrounds dotting the vast 2.3 million acres of the White River National Forest (WRNF) are managed by one private company, Vista Recreation (VR). According to VR’s website, it is now the largest operator of outdoor recreation facilities in the nation with a “footprint in 16 states and over 700 locations.” VR […]
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Redstone to McClure Pass Trail winds toward implementation
On Jan. 27, a year after receiving comments on a draft environmental assessment, the White River National Forest (WRNF) published its final environmental assessment and draft decision notice for the Redstone to McClure Pass Trail. This seven-mile section of the 83-mile Carbondale to Crested Butte Trail Plan, adopted by Pitkin County in 2018, was determined […]
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Sweetwater on the rocks
Sweetwater Lake has turned into a thorn in the side of the Garfield County Commissioners, caught off guard when Governor Jared Polis declared that the newly purchased federal land may become Colorado’s 43rd state park. In September 2019, during a public meeting the commissioners discussed the plan of the United States Forest Service (USFS) to […]
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E-bikes gain traction
By the end of March, the U.S. Forest Service announced finalized guidelines for districts that wish to expand the use of electric bikes (e-bikes) on its trails in the future. E-bikes are currently permitted on all Forest Service roads and 60,000 miles worth of motorized accessible trails — which make up 38% of the total […]
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Input sought for Sweetwater management
Although it’s over the hill and through the woods, Sweetwater Lake is still part of Garfield County and of particular interest to outdoor enthusiasts. For decades, the acreage has fluctuated between private landowners but was recently sold, yet again, to the most attractive bidder: the federal government. The 488 acre purchase was financed by the […]