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Little Bear Campground and Island Lake Day Use Area, Roads and Trail Closure
The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests’ Grand Valley Ranger District continues seasonal and year‑round closures for the Little Bear Campground, Island Lake day-use area and associated trails. These closures are required to ensure public safety during reconstruction work at the Little Bear Campground and Island Lake day-use area.
The closure includes the Little Bear Campground, Island Lake day-use area, and sections of National Forest System (NFS) Trail 748. Details are outlined below.
The closures restrict public access to the following:
- Little Bear Campground — closed year‑round.
- Island Lake day-use area — closed seasonally June through November each year.
- NFS Trail 748 (Island Lake Trail) — from its intersection with NFS Road 116 to its endpoint near Little Bear Campground, closed June through November each year.
These closures will remain in place through December 31, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., unless rescinded earlier.
One notable change from the prior year’s closure conditions is that NFS Road 116 on the south side of Island Lake will generally be open for public use. While the road will be open, construction activities are ongoing and heavy equipment will be present throughout the area, with intermittent closures of up to two hours possible. Visitors should use caution and be prepared for delays when traveling this section of NFS Road 116.
The map and closure order can be found on GMUG’s official website under alerts.
A violation of this closure order is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of up to $5,000 for individuals or $10,000 for organizations, or imprisonment for up to six months, or both (16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, 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 31, 2026
Alert End Date: December 31, 2026
Order Number: GMUG-2026-08
Contact Information
Contact Name: Public Affairs Officer: Daniel Malta
Contact Number: (912) 759-0893
Contact Email: daniel.malta@usda.gov
Associated Documents
Forest Order
Little Bear Campground and Island Lake Day Use Area, Roads and Trail Closure
PROHIBITIONS
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), the following are prohibited on National Forest System (NFS) lands, roads, and trail in the Grand Valley Ranger District on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the “Described Area”):
- Going into or being upon the Described Area. 36 CFR § 261.53(e)
- Being on the Described Roads and Trail. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e), 261.55(a).
EXEMPTIONS
Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
- Persons who are employees or contractors of either Government Contracting Services (GCS, LLC) working on the Little Bear Campground and Island Lake Day Use Area Reconstruction Project.
- 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).
- Any Federal, State, or Local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force performing an official duty.
DESCRIBED AREA, ROADS AND TRAIL
The Described Area is the Little Bear Campground and Island Lake Day Use Area, located along NFS Road 116, and encompasses the Campground, Day Use Area and the pathways in the vicinity of the campground and day use area. Little Bear
Campground will be closed year-round while Island Lake Day Use Area will be seasonally closed from June to November each year.
The entirety of NFS Roads 116.1D, 116.1D1, and 116.1D2 – Little Bear Campground Road - will be closed year-round.
The Described Trail is a portion of NFS Trail 748 – Island Lake Trail, beginning at its intersection with NFS Road 116, and continuing to its end point by Little Bear Campground will be closed seasonally from June to November each year.
The Described Area, Roads, and Trail are located on the Grand Mesa in the Grand Valley Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Delta County, Colorado, in Sections 3, 4, 9, and 10 of Township 12 South, Range 95 West of 6th Principal Meridian.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Order is to protect public safety during the Little Bear Campground and Island Lake Day Use Area reconstruction activity.
IMPLEMENTATION
This Order shall be in effect from March 31, 2026, at 0700 through December 31,
2026, at 1700, unless rescinded.
- A map identifying the Described Area and Trail 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 Grand Valley Ranger District in Montrose CO, (970) 765-6600, or Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Supervisor’s Office in Delta CO, (970) 874-6600.
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.
- Contact the Grand Valley Ranger District in Grand Junction CO, (970) 765-6600, and Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Supervisors’ Office in Delta CO, (970) 874-6600, for more information about this Order.
- This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in or on the same Described Area, Roads and Trail.
Signed and issued on March 30, 2026
Chad Stewart
Forest Supervisor
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Maps
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