Forest Service rescinds hard-sided camper order at Difficult Campground
CARBONDALE, Colo. (June 20, 2025) – Today the White River National Forest lifted the hard-sided camper requirement at Difficult Campground near Aspen. The decision follows close coordination with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and no further bear incidents at the campground since the order was put in place June 10.
Tents, tent-campers and roof-top tents are allowed again at Difficult Campground.
“While bear sightings have continued, we have had no further incidents,” said District Ranger Kevin Warner. “We will continue to closely monitor the situation and educate campers about the rules and practices for camping safely in bear country.”
Each campsite at Difficult Campground has a bear-resistant food locker, and information about proper food storage is posted throughout the campground. The bears that have visited Difficult Campground this season have not acquired food from campers, which is typically a first step in a bear becoming a campground nuisance or danger.
The White River National Forest has a food-storage order in place for all its developed campgrounds and many dispersed camping areas to help prevent black bears and other wildlife from obtaining food from humans. https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts
“The food storage order goes into specific detail, but the basic rules are to keep your food, garbage, coolers, dog food and other bear attractants in a locked, hard-sided vehicle or camper, or in the bear-resistant food lockers provided at many developed sites,” Warner said.
For information about camping in the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District, call 970-963-2266 or visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
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