San Juan NF to Install Culvert on Hermosa Creek to Restore Trout Habitat and Improve Safety

Bayfield, Colo., Feb. 5, 2026 —The San Juan National Forest will begin construction on the Mainstem Hermosa Creek Culvert Installation Project this fall to improve aquatic habitat and enhance public safety along National Forest System Road 578 (Hermosa Park Road). The project is scheduled for mid-August through October, with a full road closure scheduled between September 8 and October 13, 2026 (See Map). Outside of the full road closure, delays of up to thirty minutes can be expected. This project will occur during Archery and Muzzleloader big game hunting seasons and will affect access to a major portion of Game Management Unit (GMU) 74. Hunters should keep that in mind when applying for 2026 hunting licenses and when planning their trip. Access to the Hermosa Creek Trail will remain open.

Since the road was built, vehicles have crossed Hermosa Creek by driving through the stream during low water conditions. Over time, this practice has widened and shallowed the creek, fragmenting fish habitat and degrading water quality through sedimentation. These impacts have prevented fish passage and contributed to unsafe conditions for motorists, who risk becoming stranded during high water.

To address these issues, the Forest Service will install a stream crossing structure designed for aquatic organism passage, similar to those recently completed at Sig and Relay Creeks. The new structure will eliminate the low-water ford and allow vehicles to cross safely while restoring habitat connectivity for native trout. Approximately 900 feet of highly impacted streambed will be reconstructed, creating new, high-quality habitat and improving water quality.

This culvert replacement is part of a 30-year cutthroat trout restoration effort spanning 23 miles of stream habitat and was identified as a project in the collaboratively-developed Hermosa Creek Watershed Management Plan, signed in 2018. Read more about the Management Plan and the Hermosa Creek Special Management Area here. As with the 2024 Sig and Relay Creek culvert replacement, this work is being carried out in partnership with Trout Unlimited and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Road Closure Details

• Dates: September 8 – October 13, 2026
• Location: NFSR 578 will be closed just beyond the intersection of Hermosa Park Road and Hermosa Creek Trailhead.
• Access:
  • From the Purgatory/Hwy 550 side, visitors will have full access to the Hermosa Creek Trailhead, parking, camping, and restrooms. Trailer turnaround will remain available at the trailhead.
  • From the Dolores direction, the closure will begin at the intersection of Hotel Draw Road and Hermosa Park Road.
• The closure will apply to vehicles, bicycles, foot traffic, and equestrian use for public safety during construction. The Blackhawk Pass/Colorado Trail loop will not be accessible during this period. Fishing and hiking access will remain open outside the closure area, though anglers should expect some sediment impacts downstream during construction.

The San Juan National Forest will maintain a project information phone line for visitors to call during project implementation for regular updates on installation progress and closure details. This phone number is 970-501-5830. Additionally, the Hermosa Creek Watershed webpage will be updated regularly with project details. For more information on hunting seasons in Colorado, see CPW’s 2026 Regulations Brochures.

For information on the San Juan National Forest, call 970-247-4874, visit the forest website, or follow us on social media (X and Facebook).

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