Elk Fire Temporary Closure

Please Note: The area represented on our map is not a perfect representation of the closure boundaries currently in place by the Forest Service. Please refer to the attached link and map for the most detailed boundary. Contact the  Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests’ Gunnison Ranger District  for the most up-to-date information.

For the safety of firefighters and the public, the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests’ Gunnison Ranger District has expanded the closure area in the vicinity of the Elk Wildfire effective July 15 at noon.

The expanded closure area includes National Forest System lands west of Highway 149 in Hinsdale and Gunnison counties. Within National Forest System lands, the western boundary follows the line between the Ouray Ranger District and the Gunnison Ranger District on the Uncompahgre National Forest. The northern, eastern and southern boundaries follow the National Forest boundary.

The closure restricts public access to all lands, roads and trails within the described area (see map), including but not limited to:

Trailheads and Sites

Big Blue Trailhead, Big Blue Campground, Alpine Ranger Station, Uncompahgre Peak, Alpine Trailhead, Alpine/Little Cimarron Trailhead, Big Blue Campground, Big Blue Trailhead, Crystal Larson Trailhead, Fall Creek Trailhead, Independence Trailhead, Little Elk Trailhead, and Nellie Creek Trailhead.

Roads

7236 Crystal-Larson,  7867 Alpine Plateau, 7867.2A West Fork, 7867.2C Ridgestock, 7867.3A Little Blue, 7867.3B Willow Creek, 7867.3C Long Draw, 7867.3H Alpine Plateau Spur 3H, 7867.3J Alpine Plateau Spur 3J, 7867.4A Long Draw Camping Road, 7868 Alpine, 7868 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 2A, 7868.1E Big Blue CG Road, 7877 Nellie Creek, 864 Little Cimarron, 864.4A Little Cimarron Trailhead Road, 864.4C Johnson Park, 864.4C1 Johnson Park Spur 1, 864.C5 Little Cimarron Spur C5, 870 North Fork Henson Creek, and 870.2A Matterhorn Creek.

Trails

High Mesa (6133), Matterhorn (6135), Middle Canyon (6136), Alpine (6225), Wetterhorn Basin (6226), Little Cimarron (6229), Failes Creek (6230), Big Park (6234), Firebox (6245),             Little Cimarron East (6246), Sheep Mountain (6253), Saddle (9140), Alpine (9225), Alpine Guard Station Spur (9225.1A), Fall Creek (9231), Big Blue Creek (9232), Ridge Stock Driveway (9233), Ridge Stock Driveway Spur (9233.1B), Independence Gulch (9234), Independence Bypass (9234.1A), Crystal Lake (9235), View (9235.1A), Larson Lakes (9236), Larson Lakes Cutoff (9236.3A), El Paso Creek (9238), Uncompahgre Peak (9239), Thompson Lake (9241), Matterhorn TH Spur (9242), Little Elk (9244), Matterhorn Cutoff (9245), and Wetterhorn Peak (9256).

A map of the area and full order details can be found here.

A violation of this closure order is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581