The San Juan National Forest has an ambitious schedule for prescribed burns this fall, with over 27,600 acres of federally managed land slated for treatment across the Columbine, Pagosa and Dolores ra.
The plume of smoke rising north of U.S. Highway 160 near Bayfield this weekend is no cause for alarm, but rather the U.S. Forest Service taking advantage of a weather window for yet another prescribed.
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What was left of the Grand Lake entrance station office to Rocky Mountain National Park in the aftermath of the East Troublesome fire. (Provided by Rocky Mountain National Park)
The Grand Lake entrance on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park and about 10 miles of U.S. 34 from the gate north to the Colorado River trailhead have reopened, ending a closure caused by the East Troublesome Fire in October. The current closure at the Colorado River trailhead is the normal west-side closure for Trail Ridge Road in the winter.
Trail Ridge Road was closed for the season on the east side of the park at Many Parks Curve on Nov. 17. Trail Ridge tops out at 12,183 feet and becomes impassable in the winter due to heavy snowfall. It normally reopens around Memorial Day.