Temporary trail closures planned near Winter Park for forest management project

Release Date: Sep 9, 2019

WINTER PARK, Colo. (Sept. 9, 2019) – Several Winter Park area trails are closing temporarily while a fuels reduction project is underway in the Vasquez Road and Leland Creek area. The closure will be in effect Sept. 10 to Dec. 15 and includes the general forest area west of Vasquez Road (FSR 148) and southeast of Leland Creek Road (FSR 159), as well as Take D’Leap, Leap Frog, D4 and D3 trails.

The work involves thinning and clearing 135 acres of trees using large machinery and logging trucks to fell, skid, deck, load and haul trees. The closed area and trails will not be safe for visitors while work is in progress.

This work is part of an ongoing districtwide effort to help the forest recover from the impacts of the mountain pine beetle epidemic and to improve watershed resiliency and wildlife habitat. The work removes predominately lodgepole pine from the impacted forested areas while encouraging the regeneration of lodgepole pine and other species.

Remaining slash will be piled to cure and then burn in winter conditions. Some of the existing trails will be damaged by the work. The contractor will perform restoration and repairs to any forest system trails that are damaged as a result of logging operations. The Forest is working with Headwaters Trails Alliance through the Trail Smart Sizing project to enhance the trail system in the area once the logging is complete.

See a map of the closure area at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/FSEPRD661884.pdf