Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests & Thunder Basin National Grassland
 

Alerts & Notices

Road Closures and Delayed Openings Information

Some roads may be open for winter logging but most roads are closed in the winter. If you are in the National Forest this winter continue to watch for falling trees. Because conditions change quickly, check with the ranger district office in the area you plan to visit to get the most current information about National Forest System Roads (NFSRs).   Closures and Delayed Openings happen for many reasons, some for safety while crews work to remove hazard trees, some due to weather and others due to damage, repairs or maintenance.

Brush Creek-Hayden Ranger District

  • Conditions in many places are ROUGH as Forest roads begin to open.  Drive with care and watch for downed trees on the roads.
  • State Highway 70, Battle Pass, is now OPEN.
  • State Highway 130, Snowy Range Highway is now OPEN.
  • 2012 Scheduled Hazard Tree Removal Projects  - 2012 newsrelease and  2012 Scheduled Work Map

Douglas Ranger District 

  • Conditions in many places are ROUGH - Drive SLOW.
  • NFSR 958 - Cow Creek Buttes area is permanently CLOSED.
  • NFSR 659 - A washout on private land may prevent access to trailhead.  Only high-clearance vehicles can get through.  Deer Creek is scheduled for repair in August.
  • Basin Road has a runnoff that should not be crossed at more than 2-3 mph.
  • Bear Creek Crossing is open but VERY rough.

Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District - Closure Map

  • Trail closures due to logging operations:
    • Whiskey Trail 1197 from east side of FSR 550 to Wyoming Trail 1101.
    • Wyoming Trail 1101 to the Continental Divide.
    • Prospector Trail 1156 from Prospector Trailhead to RCR 129 - NOT ON MAP.
    • Steamboat Ski Area - please call 970-879-7300 for latest information.
  • Road closures due to logging operations:
    • FSR 412 from FSR 550 to dead end and FSR 507from FSR 412 to dead end.
    • FSRs 505 and 520 in Big Red Park. 
  • Road washouts from spring runoff:
    • FSR 410 - one mile north of Hahns Peak Village at Deep Creek.  There is a crossing for ATVs.
    • FSR 418.1A - slide near south end of loop.  Road is closed.
  • "Watch Out" road situations:
    • FSR 482 at junction of FSR 42.  Need 4-wheel drive, high clearance vehicle to get through.
    • FSR 110.  Bridge is out on north side of forest boundary and Brush Mountain Ranch cabins; low water crossing in place.
  • Buffalo Pass Road Summary (FSR 60):
    • CLOSED from the first gate at Dry Lake parking area to the second gate.  Weather has caused delay in opening.
    • Access to the summit is available from the east side.  

Laramie Ranger District

  • Highway 130, the Snowy Range Scenic Byway,  is closed on the east side at Green Rock. 
  • Roads off the main highways may still  be impassable because of snow drifts, waterlogged roadbeds, down trees or debris. Drivers should resist driving through wet areas to avoid causing ruts and other damages to roads.  Logging activities are taking place on FS roads 549, 526 and 517.

Parks Ranger District

  • NFSR 750 and 740 are OPEN, in Gould and in Rand.  Logging has completed.  Roads may yet be impassable due to snow or fallen trees.
  • NFSR 609, Onion Park, is still CLOSED due to an active logging contract. Logging operations have ceased due to snowpack.  Logging will resume when the snow is clear and roads are drier, but the road will remain closed until the contract is completed, probably in July 2012.
  • Access to Buffalo Pass for over-the-snow vehicles is still available about 5 miles further up from the parking lot and there may be stretches of bareground. Trail grooming has concluded for the season.  We haven’t had any new snow for several weeks and warm weather has been prevalent.
  • Teller City Interpretive Area, Cabin, and Trail are CLOSED by Special Order until October of 2012.  Until the area is mitigated for safety and logging is completed, there is no access for visiting the historical mining town.  The road that goes through Teller City is OPEN.
  • NFSR 640.1, Lone Pine Road logging activites have completed.  The road may stay closed  until snow has melted off and roads are dry.  Katheraine Trailhead should be open by Memorial Day Weekend.
  • NFSR 600 to Big Creek Lake has been OPENED and access is available to the campground and day use.  There are no services and no fees at this time. The lake is open for fishing.  NFSR 660 is closed by seasonal order until 6/15. 

Please call for current updates:  970-723-2700, then press 5 during the message for the Parks Ranger District Roads and Recreation Hotline.

Yampa Ranger District

  • The 263 Road off of Lynx Pass, north of Lagunita Lake will be closed May 18th, 2012 through TBD for logging.  Please call the Yampa RD @ 970-638-4160 for an update. 
  • Snow remains on the trails in the high country, mostly above 11,000 feet, but also in bowls, shaded and north facing areas. Lower elevation trails may still have snowpack and/or may still be muddy as of 5/3/2012.