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  • Gold Creek Bridge Closure Order

    The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests’ Gunnison Ranger District to temporarily close Gold Creek Bridge and surrounding area for public safety during bridge reconstruction efforts starting March 17, 2026. 

    The closure prohibits entry onto or travel on the bridge and surrounding area—defined as 500 feet north and south of Gold Creek Bridge on National Forest System Road (NFSR) 771 (Gold Creek Bridge Road), spanning Lamphier Creek and located 0.1-mile northeast of the Gold Creek Campground entrance. 

    This closure will temporarily block public access to:

    • The official Lamphier Lake trailhead, including the associated parking, at the start of National Forest System Trail (NFST) 9428.
    • Gold Creek Trail (NFST 9427) 
    • The last 1.6 miles of Gold Creek Road (NFSR 771)
    • The road complex surrounding New Dollar Gulch (NFSR's 771.2F, 771.2G, and 771.2H)

    The Gold Creek Trail will still be accessible from Union Park. The road complex to the northeast of the bridge will only be accessible to motorized and non-motorized single-track users from Union Park.

    The order is in effect from March 17, 2026, through July 3, 2026, unless rescinded. The full closure order and a map of the restricted area is available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/alerts. 

    A violation of this closure order 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.

    For updates on this closure order and other GMUG happenings, please visit the GMUG’s official website, Facebook or X. 

Alert Start Date: March 17, 2026

Alert End Date: July 3, 2026

Order Number: 2026-02

Contact Information

Contact Name: Gunnison Ranger District

Contact Number: (970) 641-0471

Associated Documents

Order_Gold%20Creek%20Bridge%20Closure_2026-02.pdf CRIA%20Gold%20Creek.pdf

Forest Order

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

U.S. FOREST SERVICE

Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests

Gunnison Ranger District

Gold Creek Bridge Closure Order

PROHIBITIONS:

Pursuant to 16 United States Code (USC) § 551 and 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 261.50(a), the following act is prohibited on the Gunnison Ranger District, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Gunnison County, State of Colorado (the “Restricted Area”). The Restricted Area is depicted on the attached map, hereby incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A:

  1. Being on the Described Road. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e). 
  2. Going into or being upon the Described Area. 36 CFR § 261.53(e).

EXEMPTIONS:

Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:

  1. Persons with a written Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the effect of this Order;
  2. Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting resource in the performance of an official duty.

RESTRICTED AREA

The Restricted Area is within portions of Township 51 North, Range 3 East, Section 25, specifically the 500 feet north and south of Gold Creek Bridge on NFSR 771 (Gold Creek Bridge Road). This location is 0.1 miles northeast of the entrance to Gold Creek Campground and spans Lamphier Creek. This area is depicted in Exhibit A of this Order.

PURPOSE:

This Order is necessary for public health and safety due to the failure of the existing bridge and to allow for reconstruction. 

IMPLEMENTATION:

  1. This Order shall be in effect from March 17, 2026, at 12:00 AM through July 3, 2026, at 11:59 PM, unless rescinded.
  2. A map identifying the Described Area is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibit A, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/gmug/alerts-notices.
  3. 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.
  4. Contact the Gunnison Ranger District in Gunnison, Colorado, (970) 641-0471, or GMUG National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Delta, Colorado, (970) 874-6600, for more information about this Order.

Signed at Delta, Colorado, this 17th day of March, 2026.

CHAD STEWART

Forest Supervisor

Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre & Gunnison National Forests

 

Maps

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Gold Creek Bridge Closure Map
Gold Creek Bridge Closure Map

Last updated March 17, 2026

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