Recreation and Visitor Services

Seasonal Closures

BLM Colorado winter closures implements seasonal closures across the state to reduce disturbance to wintering wildlife during the most stressful time of year. Closing areas to human activity is important to allow deer and elk to conserve energy and survive the winter.  When animals flee due to disturbances caused by people, they use calories that are needed to survive through the rest of the winter. Pregnant deer and elk are particularly sensitive to disturbances, and stand a better chance of survival when the habitat is free of interactions with humans and pets. 

Colorado River Valley Field Office

December 1 - April 15

Seasonal gate closures occur annually in multiple locations in Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties:

  • Basalt Mountain (south portion)
  • Boiler-East Elk Creek (north of New Castle )
  • Dry Rifle Creek (east of Rifle Gap Reservoir)
  • East Eagle-Bellyache Ridge except Red Neck Ridge and Boneyard mountain bike trails paralleling County Road 21 (east of Eagle)
  • Fisher Creek-Cattle Creek (north of Carbondale)
  • Flatiron Mesa (south of Rifle)
  • Light Hill (south of Basalt)
  • Red Canyon-Hells Pocket-Bocco Mountain (south of I-70 and south of Castle Peak)
  • Northside of the Red Hill SRMA (north of Carbondale)
  • The Crown, except a mountain bike trail paralleling Pitkin County Road 5 (southeast of Carbondale)
  • Thompson Creek/Holgate Mesa (southwest of Carbondale)
  • West Rifle Creek (west of Rifle Gap Reservoir)
  • Williams Hill (southeast of Basalt)
  • Winter Ridge-Pisgah Mountain-Windy Point-Domantle areas (north of Castle Peak).

January 16 - April 15

In conjunction with Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s request for late season big game hunting access, the following areas in Eagle County will be closed to motorized and mechanized vehicles:

  • East Castle Peak (eastside of Castle Peak)
  • Greenhorn/Cottonwood Creek ( (north of Gypsum)
  • Hardscrabble (south of I-70 between Eagle and Gypsum)

Maps

Additional seasonal closures include the upper Transfer Trail gate above Glenwood Springs, which was closed Nov. 23 to maintain conditions for snowmobiling. BLM’s Wolcott and Gypsum campgrounds in Eagle County are closed for the winter and will reopen next spring.

A complete list and maps of the areas affected by these winter closures are available at the Colorado River Valley Field Office in Silt, 2300 River Frontage Road. For additional information or to report violations in these areas call the BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office in Silt, (970) 876-9000.

Little Snake Field Office

December 1 - June 30

All areas south of the Ridge Trail within the Emerald Mountain Special Recreation Area outside Steamboat Springs, including Beall Trail and Kemry Draw, are closed to all forms of entry to protect elk during their sensitive winter and calving seasons. This closure corresponds with Colorado Parks and Wildlife lands to the east and the Humble Ranch property to the southeast.  

Click here for a map of the closure.

November 1- April 30

The new vault toilet at Kemry Draw will be closed due to weather conditions and no road maintenance.

For further information, contact the Little Snake Field Office, (970) 826-5000.

White River Field Office

Kremmling Field Office

Beaver Creek Fire Closure - Ongoing

Ongoing closure to mitigate use on fragile roads, maintain rehabilitaion efforts on suppression lines, and prevent cross-country travel in high severity areas in the Beaver Creek Fire Area.

Click here for a map.

December 15 - April 15

Wolford Mountain: public lands between Highway 40 and Grand County Road 2 (Back Troublesome Road)

December 15 - May 31

Wolford Mountain Single-Track 

December 15 - July 31

Muddy Creek Trail north of the Muddy Creek fishing access bridge

 

Click here for a map of the closure areas.

Over the-snow-travel by vehicles that run on tracks and/or skis are permitted when there is a minimum of 12 inches of snow and are restricted to routes marked with orange diamonds on the travel map. All other travel routes and areas on BLM lands on Wolford Mountain will be closed to all motorized use.

To report violations or for further information regarding the Wolford Mountain area travel restrictions, please visit the Kremmling Field Office, 2103 E. Park Ave., or call 970-724-3000. 

 

Grand Junction Field Office

December 1 - May 1

Gates will be locked to mechanized and motorized travel on specific routes managed by the BLM's Grand Junction Field Office. Other areas will be signed to notify the public of the seasonal closures. Closures include:

  • Coal Canyon Road in the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area
  • Blue Mesa Road
  • Beehive Road
  • Chalk Mountain Road
  • Grand Mesa Slopes Road at Horse Mountain
  • Sink Creek Road
  • Mesa Creek Road
  • Lands End Road
  • Roads branching from 16 Road will be closed at Garvey, Post and Lapham canyons

For more information or to report violations in these areas call the BLM Grand Junction Field office, (970) 244-3000.

Tres Rios Field Office

December 1 - April 15

Closure areas are signed and include: 

  • Big Canyon and Sale barn trailheads off U.S. Highway 160 will be closed to all public use.
  • South Rim trail, including portions of Sidewinder and Cowboy trails on BLM (accessed from Carbon Junction trail or Crites Connection).
  • Grandview BLM trails (accessed from Three Springs).
  • BLM lands above the lower loop trail near Animas City Mountain (accessed from the 32nd Street trailhead).
  • All upper trails in the Twin Buttes Wildlife Area.
  • Bodo State Wildlife Area (except the Smelter Mountain Trail that is open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

December 1 - July 31

Perrins State Wildlife Area (accessed east of County Road 208, dogs are not allowed and it is an extended closure area through July 31).

 For more information, contact the BLM Tres Rios Field Office at 970-882-7296.

Uncompahgre Field Office

December 1 - TBD
 
Roads are closed to motorized and mechanized use near Montrose, Colorado include portions of Black Ridge and Fruitland Mesa east of the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness, west of the Black Canyon Road, south of the Smith Fork drainage and north of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.  
 
December 1 - March 31 or April 30
 
Seasonal road closures to protect wintering big game habitat include routes within the Dry Creek Travel Management Area west of Montrose, the Ridgway Travel Management Area north of Ridgway, Burn Canyon Travel Management Area west of Norwood, Billy Creek Area, Sims Mesa Area, Fairview and Jones Draw Area as well as the Lone Cabin Road near Crawford.
 
December 1 - May 15
 
The Black Ridge, C-77 (Green Mountain) and Red Canyon Roads are closed to motorized and mechanical uses. 
 
For additional information, a complete list of closures and maps, please contact the Uncompahgre Field Office at jmjackson@blm.gov or 970-240-5300. 

Gunnison Field Office

San Luis Valley Field Office

Royal Gorge Field Office

Royal Gorge Field Office Wet Weather Gate Status

  • Booger Red - Closed
  • Dinosaur Flats Lower - Open
  • Grand Canyon Hills - Open
  • The Gulches Rd. # 5820 - Closed
  • Oil Well Flats - Open
  • Penrose Commons - Closed
  • Sand Gulch Rd. #5825 - Closed
  • Seep Springs - Closed

Due to changing weather conditions these roads and trails could be opened or closed at anytime, please contact 719-269-8500 for complete updates.

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