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Little Bear Campground and Island Lake Day-Use Area, Roads and Trail Closure
The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests’ Grand Valley Ranger District announces temporary closure of Little Bear Campground and the Island Lake day-use area for reconstruction and rehabilitation starting June 2.
The Little Bear Campground closure is expected to last through summer 2026. During closure, site improvements will be made to include new restrooms, picnic tables and fire rings. Infrastructure improvements will also be made to the roads, walkways and kiosks to enhance public accessibility and recreation.
The Island Lake day-use area, including boat ramp, will be seasonally closed from June to November each year. The shoreline of Island Lake will remain open to fishing. During this closure, infrastructure improvements will be made to the restroom, roads, walkways and parking areas in the day-use area to enhance public accessibility and recreation.
Both projects will be utilizing funding through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). Enacted in 2020, the GAOA is the single largest investment in public lands in U.S. history. GAOA funding provides federal land management agencies with critical resources to address deferred maintenance and improve infrastructure on our public lands.
For more information on these closures, visitors can contact the Grand Valley Ranger District by calling (970)-242-8211.
Alert Start Date: June 2nd, 2025
Alert End Date: December 31st, 2026
Rec Sites Affected:
Order Number: GMUG-2025-06
Associated Documents
Forest Order
U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests Grand Valley Ranger District
Little Bear Campground and Island Lake Day-Use Area, Roads and Trail Closure
PROHIBITIONS
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), the following are prohibited on National Forest System (NFS) lands, road, and trail in the Grand Valley Ranger District on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the “Described Area”):
- Going into or being upon the Described Area. 36 CFR § 261.53(e)
- Being on the Described Roads and Trails. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e), 261.55(a)
EXEMPTIONS
Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
- Persons who are employees or contractors of either Government Contracting Services (GCS, LLC) working on the Little Bear Campground and Island Lake Day Use Area Reconstruction Project.
- Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2).
- Any Federal, State, or Local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force performing an official duty.
DESCRIBED AREA, ROAD, AND TRAIL
The Described Area is the Little Bear Campground and Island Lake Day Use Area, located along NFS Road 116, and encompasses the Campground and Day Use Area and the roads and pathways in the vicinity of the campground and day use area. Little Bear Campground will be closed year-round while Island Lake Day Use Area will be seasonally closed from June to November each year.
The Described Roads is a portion of NFS Road 116, beginning at Hwy 65 to the intersection of NSF Road 115 and NFS Road 116.1E – Island Lake Day Use Area,
beginning at the intersection of NSF Road 116 will all be seasonally closed from June to November each year. The entirety of NFS Roads 116.1D, 116.1D1, and 116.1D2 – Little Bear Campground Road will be closed year-round.
The Described Trail is a portion of NFS Trail 748 – Island Lake Trail, beginning at its intersection with NFS Road 116, and continuing to its end point by Little Bear Campground will be closed seasonally from June to November each year.
The Described Area, Road, and Trail are located on the Grand Mesa in the Grand Valley Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Delta County, Colorado, in Sections 3, 4, 9, and 10 of Township 12 South, Range 95 West of 6th Principal Meridian.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Order is to protect public safety during the Little Bear Campground and Island Lake Day Use Area reconstruction activity.
IMPLEMENTATION
- This Order shall be in effect from June 2, 2025 at 0700 through December 31, 2026 at 1700, unless rescinded.
- A map identifying the Described Area, Road, and Trail is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. For the digital web address of this Order and Exhibit A, please contact the Grand Valley Ranger District in Montrose CO, (970) 765-6600, or Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Supervisor’s Office in Delta CO, (970) 874-6600.
- Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined by their plain language definitions.
- A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
- Contact the Grand Valley Ranger District in Grand Junction CO, (970) 765-6600, and Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Supervisor’s Office in Delta CO, (970) 874-6600, for more information about this Order.
- This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in or on the same Described Area, Road, and Trail.
Signed and issued on May 15, 2025
Chad Stewart
Forest Supervisor
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Contact Name:
Grand Valley Ranger DistrictContact Number:
(970)-242-8211Maps
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