COLORADO – The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland is the third most visited national forest in our nation. Due to continually increasing use, we must work with partners to find new, efficient ways to manage it. Timed entry systems and online permitting are two ways recently implemented in the Indian Peaks Wilderness and Brainard Lake Recreation Area to help achieve this.

The 73,391-acre Indian Peaks Wilderness is the jewel of these forests and sees an incredible number of visitors annually. I wanted to experience that use first-hand along with how new management efforts were working, so I grabbed my backpacking gear, uniform and some tools and headed out.

I left on Sept. 25 with my timed entry reservation for the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. I spoke to more than two dozen people who were pleased about the new system and how much easier it was to find parking. I experienced steep climbs and heavy winds as I headed from the Boulder Ranger District and crossed the Continental Divide to the Sulphur Ranger District. The view from the top of Pawnee Pass at an elevation of 12,550’ was stunning. That night at Pawnee Lake was cold, which is likely why I camped without any other human visitors – something rare in such a popular area.

On day two, I came upon significant blow down across the trail. I cleared four trees which were as many as my saw could handle. Most of the fallen trees were large and would require additional labor. The leaves of the aspen were turning into fall colors as I made my way down the Pawnee Pass Trail and then took the Crater Lake Trail. At Mirror Lake, I came out of the trees and unto Lone Eagle Peak, the most beautiful sight of the trip. Crater Lake had signs of high use, so I was glad to know there are designated campsites to minimize impacts. I camped at site #12 and saw two moose from a distance that evening.

On my third day, I woke early after another cold night and saw more moose at the end of the lake. The males were in rut and sparring – a magnificent sight! I traveled down Cascade Creek Trail and encountered people from multiple states while enjoying the beautiful scenery and wildlife. I had lunch at the southern end of Monarch Lake and concluded my day walking to the Big Rock Loop Campground in the Arapaho National Recreation Area, where I was greeted by a very friendly concessionaire host. With Stage 1 fire restrictions in place, I was able to enjoy a small, safe campfire after two chilly nights.

I finished my trip meeting Sulphur Ranger District employees and learned more about the recreation area and potential opportunities to better manage this great location. We toured Shadow Mountain Lake while hearing about the intricacies of permitting docks, marinas and other uses.

The trip did not disappoint, and with a little work clearing trees and dismantling fire rings, I was able to embody Leave No Trace ethics. I enjoyed this beautiful place that our Forest employees work hard to manage every day. This trip also helped me gain greater knowledge that will help make decisions moving into the future. I look forward to what the future of recreation management holds as we move to provide high-quality experiences for our visitors while conserving our important natural resources.