GMUG National Forests Announce Spring Road Closures

Delta, Colorado, March 13, 2025 — The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests’ have closed or are beginning to close gates on roads with annual springtime road closures. Depending on the location, the closures are necessary to ensure public safety, protect the roads from resource damage, reduce the need for additional maintenance and protect wildlife. 

Many forest roads are closed this time of year due to muddy spring conditions and generally prohibit motorized public access until roads dry out. In some locations, off-highway vehicles are allowed. Please use the Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) referred to below to determine the type of access allowed or temporarily restricted.  As a reminder, when trails and roads are muddy or soft, please STAY OFF. Anytime visible ruts are being formed, resource damage can be occurring. Ruts create channels where water flows, causing fine sediments to wash off the road and into aquatic habitat. Rutted roads can also significantly increase maintenance costs and can pose a safety hazard. 

Information on which roads are closed and the season of closure can, in most instances, be found on the MVUM located at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gmug/home/?cid=stelprdb5191814. Check the relevant Ranger District map before you head out to avoid surprises.

There are some additional closures to those shown on Motor Vehicle Use Maps:

• The Almont Triangle on the Gunnison Ranger District is closed to all public uses/human entry Dec. 1–April 30 to protect critical winter habitat for big game. More information on this closure is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd923224.pdf. In this same area, National Forest System Road (NFSR) #810 and its spurs open May 16 as shown in the Motor Vehicle Use Map for Gunnison Ranger District.
• The portion of NFSR #869–Imogene Pass on the Norwood Ranger District, between Telluride and the Tomboy Mine Site, will be closed until a critical retaining wall is repaired. The route is expected to be open to hikers/bikers except during construction. A Forest Closure Order with corresponding maps will be issued later this spring. That Closure Order will be published on the Forest website when it is available.
• NFSR #536–Spring Creek road on the Ouray Ranger District is closed at mile point 0.053. NFSR #536 starts at NFSR #510–Dave Wood road near the Forest Boundary. It is closed to protect the road from resource damage and will re-open when conditions improve.
• NFSR #713–Crystal road on the Paonia Ranger District will be closed from Nov. 25 to April 30 to ensure public safety during winter logging. This closure is expected to continue each winter for approximately five years.

Questions about roads should be directed to the appropriate Ranger District office:

Grand Valley Ranger District–970-242-8211

Gunnison Ranger District–970-641-0471

Norwood Ranger District–970-327-4261

Ouray Ranger District–970-240-5300 

Paonia Ranger District–970-527-4131

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The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre & Gunnison National Forests manage approximately 3 million acres of land in Southwest Colorado within Delta, Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, Saguache, San Juan and San Miguel counties.