GMUG National Forests to temporarily close Blue Lakes area

OURAY, Colo. (May 1, 2025) — The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests announce temporary closure of Blue Lakes area for trailhead construction and restoration efforts, beginning June 2. The closure is expected to remain through August 2025 and will be lifted as soon as it is safe to access the area. 

These efforts kickoff the first phase of the Blue Lakes visitor use management plan, aimed at improving visitor experiences and ensuring long-term sustainability of the site’s natural resources. 

“We are looking forward to putting this plan into motion,” said Dana Gardunio, district ranger for the Ouray District. “While we understand, having a temporary closure is an inconvenience, the outcome will vastly improve the parking and public health and safety issue in the area. We appreciate the public’s cooperation in respecting the closure.”

The work includes reconstruction of the trailhead parking area and the installation of two new vault restrooms. These projects will use funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).

In addition to site improvements, the forest will be installing kiosks and interpretive panels, cataloging invasive plants, installing signage, developing outreach campaigns, installing temporary fences to preserve restored areas, and developing a monitoring plan for improved visitor use metrics. 

The Forest Service will also begin work to establish designated camping areas and complete restoration work on social trails and impacted sites, through partnerships with the National Forest Foundation and Southwest Conservation Corps, a program of Conservation Legacy.

The Blue Lakes Trailhead is accessed from County Road 7, approximately 12 miles southwest of Ridgway. The closure area includes the road starting at the Forest Service boundary at the end of County Road 7 and extends to the Mount Sneffels Wilderness boundary on the Blue Lakes Trail. Portions of the Dallas and Wilson Creek trails, adjacent to the trailhead, will also be closed.  This closure is necessary to ensure the safety of visitors and workers during the construction period.   

For more information on the Blue Lakes Visitor Use Management Plan, visit the project webpage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/projects/61979

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.