Both Rocky Mountain National Park and the Canyon Lakes Ranger District closed additional trails and recreation areas in southern Larimer County because of winds and increased activity on the Cameron Peak Fire on Sunday.
However, snow also fell on the fire site. And winter-like conditions in Rocky Mountain National Park also closed Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road.
Cameron Peak Fire
Cameron Peak Fire officials on Sunday were reporting the fire size still at 134,559 acres, but containment had increased to 47%. They said that winds were up to 20 mph on the fire site Sunday afternoon with “reports of snow on the ground in various locations.”
And while the fire had not grown or jumped beyond barriers that fire crews have built, the blaze was burning active in several spots with visible smoke, the fire management team posted on a Facebook page set up to share information about the fire.
Residents who live along Colo. 14 from Kelly Flats west to the fish hatchery were able to return home if they chose to on Sunday as officials downgraded the evacuation status from mandatory to voluntary.
Recreational closures
While that residential area opened up, additional recreation areas south of the fire closed on Sunday because of the fire activity and the winds.
On the Roosevelt National Forest, these include Dunraven Trail, Crosier Mountain Trail and all recreational access from Storm Mountain Road west of Loveland, according to information from the Canyon Lakes Ranger District. The general southern barrier of the closure, for forest service lands, is U.S. 34 in the Big Thompson Canyon, extending all the way to the Wyoming state line, and from the national forest boundary on the west, excluding some of the lower sections of the Poudre Canyon, a news release states.
In Rocky Mountain National Park, new closures include the Lumpy Ridge area and its trail system, which includes both the Gem Lake and Black Canyon trails, along with trails in the McGraw Ranch area, including the Cow Creek Trail, Kyle Patterson, park spokeswoman announced Sunday.
The North Boundary Trail, accessible from McGraw Ranch, and the North Fork Trail, accessible from Glen Haven, remain closed as well.
Other trails and recreational areas on the National Forest and in the National Park, closed earlier due to the fire and remain closed to the public. Complete lists are available on their respective websites.
Officials decided to close the recreation areas both for public safety and to support the needs of firefighters.
“These areas are very popular … but also, in many cases, remote,” according to a press release from the Canyon Lakes Ranger District. “Roads and trails are greatly interconnected. If evacuations are necessary, it can be difficult to reach people and can take emergency responders a great deal of time to make sure everyone is out safely.”
For areas that remain open, a fire ban is still in effect throughout Larimer County.
Winter weather in Rocky
With “winter-like conditions at higher elevations,” Rocky Mountain National Park closed Trail Ridge Road at Rainbow Curve on the east and the Colorado River Trailhead on the west, according to a news release. Park officials said they did not know when Trail Ridge Road will reopen.
The National Park also closed Old Fall River Road on Sunday, due to winter weather.
The weather in Rocky Mountain National Park is expected to clear up on Monday, according to the National Weather Service, which was calling for sunny weather throughout the week.
On the fire, forecasters expect continued high winds on Monday with gusts up to 55 mph. Temperatures are predicted to be much cooler with a high near 45 degrees
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October 12, 2020 at 06:35AM
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Cameron Peak fire closes additional forest, national park land in southern Larimer County closed due to Camer - Loveland Reporter-Herald
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