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Weminuche Trail to be temporarily closed this summer for bridge replacement
Release Date: May 11, 2018
Weminuche Trail to be temporarily closed this summer for bridge replacement
CREEDE, Colo., May 11, 2018 - The Weminuche Trail, Forest Trail 818, will be intermittently closed to public use this summer to replace the bridge over Weminuche Creek. The trail and bridge are located in the Weminuche Wilderness south of Rio Grande Reservoir on Rio Grande National Forest’s Divide Ranger District.
The existing bridge is rotting and needs replacement. Additionally, there are several large beetle-killed spruce trees near the bridge that will need to be felled to ensure worker safety and protect the new bridge from damage.
Current plans are to close the Weminuche Trail to all public use on June 26 for hazard tree removal. The trail will then be closed only to livestock use from July 10 through July 15 while the Region 2 pack string packs bridge parts to the creek crossing. Following delivery of the bridge parts, the trail will be closed once again to all public use from July 15 through July 31, as the old bridge is removed and the new one is constructed. Any changes to the closure dates will be posted on the Rio Grande National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/riogrande.
Non-mechanized and non-motorized tools and transportation will be used since the bridge is located in a designated wilderness area. The dead trees will be felled with explosives and the new bridge will be carried in piece by piece by livestock. The old bridge will also be removed with livestock.
Hikers and equestrians may access the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail from 30-Mile Campground by way of Squaw Creek Trail (Forest Trail 814). Those people wishing to reach the Rio Grande Pyramid from the Rio Grande National Forest should consider access by way of Ute Creek and West Ute Creek trails (Forest Trail 819 and 824).
For more information, contact the Divide Ranger District at 719-657-3321.
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