Gold Mountain Wildfire Area Closure Order-Amended

Ouray Ranger District

Amended - Gold Mountain Wildfire Area Closure Order

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following is prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands and roads in the Ouray Ranger District, Uncompahgre National Forest, described below and shown on the attached map, incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the “Described Area”):

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

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Entities that have Contractors that have a contract or other agreement with the Forest Service for work in the Described Area and those contractors’ employees and subcontractors,
2. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2).
3. Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

DESCRIBED AREA AND ROAD

The described area is located in Ouray County southeast of Ridgway, CO, east of Highway 550 and Ouray, CO, south of highway 50, and west of Lake City, CO. Within NFS lands, the closure order’s western boundary begins at the NFS boundary directly south and east of Ridgway, Colorado, and east of Highway 550. The western boundary, beginning with the intersection of NFS lands with NFSR 871 (Dexter Creek Road), continues southwest coincident with, and includes, NFST 215 (Horse Thief Trail), which is coincident with the Uncompahgre Wilderness boundary. The southern closure boundary continues at the NFS-BLM boundary within the Uncompahgre Wilderness. The southeast boundary then follows the Wilderness boundary, before continuing east/northeast to intersect trails NFST 267 and NFST 259 (RIDGESTOCK SHORT CUT) -- along the ridgeline south of Little Cimarron River, north of the Wilderness boundary, and to the west and north sides of Uncompahgre Peak. The boundary then continues north/northeast to intersect the ridgeline east of Little Cimmaron River. The eastern boundary continues north to the Wilderness boundary, before jogging directly east until the intersection of the ridgeline west of Big Blue Creek. The NFS closure boundary then continues north along the ridgeline, and then west along the entirety of the northern NFS boundary again to intersect the Dexter Creek Road - completing the full area.

The closure includes, but is not limited to, the following NFS recreation sites (see exhibit A map):

The closure includes, but is not limited to, the following NFS trails (see exhibit A map):

6130    BEAVER LAKE
6132    COXCOMB
6133    HIGH MESA
6135    MATTERHORN
6136    MIDDLE CANYON
6142    UPPER EAST FORK
6144    COURTHOUSE MOUNTAIN
6205    DEXTER CREEK
6211    COBBS GULCH
6212    STORM GULCH
6214    DIFFICULTY CREEK
6215    HORSETHIEF
6216    BALDY
6217    CUTLER CREEK
6218    COURTHOUSE
6219    STEALEY MOUNTAIN NORTH
6220    COW CREEK
6221    NATE CREEK
6222    LOU CREEK
6223    DEER CREEK
6224    FISH CREEK RESEVOIR
6225    ALPINE (West of Failes Creek)
6226    WETTERHORN BASIN
6227    MIDDLE FORK

228    EAST FORK

6229    LITTLE CIMARRON

6230    FAILES CREEK (West of Blue Creek Ridge) 6231     JACKSON

6234    BIG PARK

6235    LEFT FORK CUTLER CREEK

6236    OLD OWL CREEK

6237    SPALDING PARK

6240    WEST FORK

6243    PORPHYRY BASIN

6244    COWBOY LAKE

6245    FIREBOX

6246    LITTLE CIMARRON EAST

6247    CLEAR LAKE

6249    FOX CREEK

6252    SALT HOUSE

6253    SHEEP MOUNTAIN

6254    WATERFALL

6258    STEALEY MOUNTAIN SOUTH

6259    RIDGESTOCK SHORT CUT

233      RIDGE STOCK DRIVEWAY

216.1A  BALDY PEAK

219.1B STEALEY MOUNTAIN SPUR

219.1C STEALEY MOUNTAIN SPUR 1C

221.1A SPRUCE

221.1B RIDGE

224.1A HAMPTON LAKE

224.1B TADPOLE

236.1A OLD OWL CREEK SPUR A

236.1B OLD OWL CREEK SPUR B

244.1A SILVER JACK OVERLOOK

The legal description includes portions of:

T 43 N R 7 W

T 44 N R 5 W

T 44 N R 6 W

T 44 N R 7 W

T 44 N R 8 W

T 45 N R 5 W

T 45 N R 6 W

T 45 N R 7 W

T 45 N R 8 W

T 46 N R 6 W

T 46 N R 7 W

T 47 N R 6 W

T 47 N R 5 W

See Exhibit A map.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Order is to protect public safety during the management of the Gold Mountain Wildfire.

IMPLEMENTATION

1. This Order shall be in effect from July 2, 2026 at 1300 through October 1st, 2026 at 1200, unless rescinded.
2. A map identifying the Described Area is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. For the digital web address of this Order and Exhibit A, please contact the Ouray Ranger District in Montrose CO, (970) 240-5300, or Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Supervisor’s Office in Delta CO, (970) 874-6600.
3. Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined by their plain language definitions.

4. 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.

5. Contact the Ouray Ranger District in Montrose, CO at 970-240-5300 or the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests Supervisor’s Office in Delta, CO at 970-874-6600, for more information about this Order.
6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area.

Amended and signed on July 4, 2026.

Digitally signed by CHAD STEWART

Date: 2026.07.04 09:02:16

-06'00'

CHAD STEWART

Forest Supervisor

Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests