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General Occupancy and Use on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
This Order is necessary to protect Forest visitors, to protect the resources of the National Forest System within the Restricted Area, and to provide quality recreational opportunities for visitors.
Alert Start Date: July 12th, 2017
Alert End Date: July 12th, 2027
Order Number: GMUG-2017-08
Associated Documents
Forest Order
GRAND MESA, UNCOMPAHGRE AND GUNNISON NATIONAL FORESTS
Pursuant to 16 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 551, and 36 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) 261.50(a), the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands in Grand Valley, Gunnison, Norwood, Ouray and Paonia Ranger Districts of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, Saguache, San Miguel Counties, State of Colorado (the "Restricted Area"). Parts of the Restricted Area are depicted on the attached maps, hereby incorporated into this Order as Exhibits A & B.
This Order is necessary to protect Forest visitors, to protect the resources of the National Forest System within the Restricted Area, and to provide quality recreational opportunities for visitors.
PROHIBITIONS:
General Occupancy/Use Restrictions
1. Camping for more than 14 consecutive days in any one location. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(a)
2. Camping for more than 28 days, on any one National Forest, within a 60 day period. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(a)
3. Camping within 3 road miles of a previous National Forest System camp location for more than 14 additional days. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(a) and (e).
Note: This Order does not authorize camping in areas prohibited to camping by other regulations or special restrictions, and some National Forest System lands may have stricter camping stay limits. The 3 mile move to another campsite is measured and defined as 3 National Forest System road or trail miles between old and new campsite.
4. Shortcutting a switchback on a National Forest System Trail. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(e)
5. Camping outside of Forest Service developed campgrounds within the area know as Taylor River Canyon and Taylor Park Reservoir, more specifically as shown on Exhibit A. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(e)
6. Camping within 500 yards of the following developed campgrounds: 36 C.F.R. § 261.58 (e)
| Campground | National Forest |
| Mosca | Gunnison |
| Dinner Station | Gunnison |
| BIg Creek | Grand Mesa |
7. Camping for more than 7 consecutive days in a 30 day period within the Horse Ranch Park and Cliff Creek Trailhead areas. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(a)
Boating
Restrictions Nos. 8-10 affect recreational boating on the specified bodies of water in the Restricted Area as indicated. For the safety of visitors, and/or the protection of fisheries and water quality, other state or federal agencies with jurisdiction may impose their own regulations.
8. Entering or being in Carson Lake on the Grand Mesa National Forest while in possession of, or while operating or using, a boat, raft or other flotation device. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(k)
9. Possessing or operating a motorboat on the following lakes and reservoirs. 36 C.F.R. & 261.58(n):
| National Forest | Lake or Reservoir |
| Grand Mesa | Beaver Reservoir, Blue Lake (Kannah Creek drainage), Bonita Reservoir, Butts Lake, Cobbett Lake, Colby Horse Park Reservoir, Clear Lake, Glacier Lake, Granby Lake #7, Griffith Lake, Jumbo Reservoir, Little Grouse Reservoir, Mesa Lake, Middle Griffith Lake, Sackett Reservoir, Trout Lake, West Griffith Lake |
| Uncompahgre | Alta Lakes #1, #2 and #3, Beaver Lake (Cimarron drainage), Priest Lake, Silver Jack Reservoir |
| Gunnison | Deer Lakes, Dollar Lake, Emerald Lake, Lost Lake Slough, Meridian (Long) Lake, Mill Lake, Taylor Lake, Texas Lakes, Waterdog Lake |
10. Possessing or operating a motorboat, unless powered by an electric motor, on the following lakes and reservoirs 36 C.F.R. & 261.58(n):
| National Forest | Lake or Reservoir |
| Grand Mesa | Big Meadows Reservoir, Cottonwood Reservoir #5, Dogfish Reservoir, Forty Acre Lake, Fruita Reservoir #1, #2, #3, Goodenough Reservoir, Kenney Creek Reservoir, Kiser Reservoir, Kitson Reservoir, Leon Lake, Military Park Reservoir, Rimrock Lake, Sheep Slough Reservoir, Silver Lake, Sunset Lake, Y&S Reservoir, Youngs Lake |
| Gunnison | Lake Irwin, Mirror Lake, Poth9le Lakes #1, #2, Spring Creek Reservoir, Needle Creek Reservoir |
Developed Recreation Sites
Restrictions #11-13 apply to all Forest Service developed recreation sites, including: campgrounds, picnic grounds, and summer home groups as indicated, in the Restricted Area.
11. Camping in any part of any developed campground for longer than 14 consecutive days, except for the following locations 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(a):
Camping Restricted to Seven 7 consecutive days:
| Campground | National Forest | Segment of Campground |
| Amphitheatre | Uncompahgre | entire campground |
| Matterhorn | Uncompahgre | entire campground |
| Sunshine | Uncompahgre | entire campground |
Camping Allowed Up To Thirty (30) consecutive days:
| Campground | National Forest | Segment of Campground |
| Cottonwood Lake | Grand Mesa | back loop |
| Silver Jack | Uncompahgre | Loop #2 |
| Spruce Grove | Grand Mesa | entire campground |
| River's End | Gunnison | entire campground |
| Cold Springs | Gunnison | entire campground |
| Snowblind | Gunnison | entire campground |
12. Being in a Forest Service developed campground between 10 pm and 6 am, except a person who is camping or who is visiting a person camping in that campground. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(u)
13. Parking or leaving a vehicle other than in a parking space assigned to the campsite that was paid for in any Forest Service developed campground. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(h)
Protection of Forest Resources
Prohibitions 14 and 15 apply to the Restricted Area except developed campgrounds:
14. Camping within 100 feet of the high water line of the Taylor River from the point where it enters Taylor Park Reservoir, upstream to Dorchester Campground, more specifically as shown on Exhibit B. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(e)
15. Building, maintaining, or attending, or using fire or a campfire, except a stove fire, within 100 feet of Taylor River from the point where it enters Taylor Park Reservoir, upstream to its confluence with Trail Creek, more specifically as shown on Exhibit B. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(a)
EXEMPTIONS:
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempted from this order.
1. Persons with a Forest Service permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.
2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
This Order shall remain in effect until rescinded, ten years from date of signature, whichever event occurs first.
This order supersedes, replaces, and rescinds Order No. GMUGNF-2015-12.
Done in Delta, Colorado this 12th day of July
Scott G. Armentrout
Forest Supervisor
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Violations of these regulations is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor, by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both 16 U.S.C. § 551, and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559 and 3571