New regulations for popular hiking and camping spots

Visitors looking to get out on the trails or to head out camping in certain areas of Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests this summer have some new rules and regulations to navigate.

In a recent press release, the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland managers noted that they are currently "exploring new strategies to help visitors have safe and enjoyable outdoor experiences this summer while protecting wildlife, clean water and healthy forests." In 2021, these strategies will include new required permitting for certain popular recreation areas and shifting other areas to day-use only.

The US Forest Service (USFS) has indicated that Brainard Lake Recreation Areais one such area that will now require a timed-entry pass for all visitors in 2021. Brainard Lake, which is one of the most popular destinations in the Boulder Ranger District, is usually open from June through October.

The area has previously required a day-use fee, but new for the 2021 season, visitors will soon be required to purchase a timed-entry pass as well. The area is tentatively scheduled to open on June 11, and the online permitting system is not yet in place.

Issuing timed-entry permits isn't unprecedented, as Rocky Mountain National Park moved to a temporary timed-entry permitting system last summer. The national park, which was the fourth-most visited national park in 2020 with over 3.3 million visitors, will continue to use a timed entry permit system for 2021.

Three other areasthat will be impacted by these new regulations include Rainbow Lakes Road, northwest of Nederland which serves the Sourdough and Rainbow Trailheads, the Ceran Saint Vrain Trail west of Jamestown, and the Winiger Ridge area west of Gross Reservoir. These three areas will be temporarily closed to camping while the Forest Service explores more sustainable ways to manage the areas.

Last summer, all three sites experienced negative impacts and issues due to dispersed camping, including increased trash, human waste, trampled vegetation, and visitor-built campfire rings. The Forest Service also cited trespassing on private property and unattended campfires as additional causes for concern.

While "dispersed camping" or camping outside of an official designated campground is generally allowed on most National Forest land, when visitation skyrockets or visitors don't follow "Leave No Trace" principles, these overnight stays can have severe impacts on the land, especially when streams or watersheds are involved.

At the Ceran Saint Vrain site along a two-mile stretch of trail, the Forest Service staff identified more than 70 dispersed campsites. Almost all the sites were located within 100 feet of the South Saint Vrain Creek. According to the USFS, trampled areas along the creek, along with human waste in the area, resulted in water quality issues. South St. Vrain Creek, which is part of the Left Hand Creek Watershed, feeds into Left Hand Creek, one source of water for the Left Hand Water Districtwhich serves the greater Niwot area.

In addition to land and water impacts, another consideration that led to the decision to temporarily close these areas to dispersed camping was the increased risk of wildfires. In 2020, 25% of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests burned, and many of the fires across the state of Colorado were determined to be human-caused.

Other issues affecting these popular public lands last summer included impacts to wildlife, including increased encounters with bears, overflowing parking at trailheads creating emergency access issues, and unsafe parking along county roads.

According to the USFS, 2020 brought a 200% increase in outdoor recreation across Colorado's northern Front Range. And while the issue of overuse isn't new to Colorado's popular public lands, the rush of visitors seeking an escape from COVID-19 isolation along with the state's rapid population growthseems to have accelerated the issue in many places.

Closer to Niwot, visitors may see similar impacts at popular local trailheads which may be full to overflowing on summer weekends. If current trends continue, public lands will likely see increased recreational use. And as folks look to escape the local crowds, knowing the rules and regulations becomes even more important as they venture further afield.

"For outdoor recreationists, the most important message this year is to 'Know Before You Go,'" said USFS recreation program manager Erich Roeber. "Just like you might plan a family vacation or research a product before purchasing, public lands visitors really need to do their homework this year before they head out on an adventure. Otherwise, they might show up somewhere and realize they needed to buy a pass in advance, or book a reservation, or that they can't camp in the same exact place where they camped last year."