Multiple State Parks, Wildlife Areas, Forest Access Closed Due to Flood

DENVER – Due to the historic flooding of the last five days, several parks and wildlife areas, as well as forest access are closed until further notice.

Northeast region parks closed:

Eldorado Canyon State Park
Jackson Lake State Park
St. Vrain State Park

Northeast region state wildlife areas and state trust lands closed:

Atwood SWA & STL
Big Thompson Ponds SWA
Boyd Ponds SWA
Bravo SWA including the Scalva Parcel
Brower SWA
Brush SWA
Centennial Valley SWA
Cottonwood SWA
Dune Ridge SWA
Eagle Canyon STL
Elliott SWA
Ford Bridge STL
Forks SWA
Frank SWA
Jean K. Tool SWA|
Julesburg SWA
Knudson SWA
Messex SWA
Mitani Tokuyasu SWA
Mt. Evans SWA
Nakagawa SWA
Narrows SWA
Overland Trail SWA
Pony Express SWA
Red Lion STL
Sedgwick Bar SWA
Simpson Ponds SWA
Tamarack SWA
Watson Lake SWA
Webster SWA

Limited access:
Ralston Creek SWA (parking lot washed out—hunters can park at Golden Gate Canyon State Park).

CPW recommends that hunters not cross the South Platte to go hunting, as additional flood waters are anticipated and may close roads that are currently open.  Storm Mountain access road is closed except for emergency purposes by order of Larimer County and Highway 5 in Clear Creek County is being closed on and off at various spots.

US Forest Service ALERT! Road Status Uncertain in Some Areas, Travel Discouraged

Due to heavy rains and saturated soils the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland officials are discouraging all travel and activities on the Boulder, Canyon Lakes and Clear Creek Ranger Districts and the Pawnee National Grassland until further notice. The current condition of roads is unknown.

The Forest has 230 miles of roads across the hardest hit areas on the Boulder and Canyon Lakes Ranger Districts. Forest officials will be assessing damage. Some road or area closures are expected. Use caution on any travel in areas affected by recent rains.

For additional information on accessing Forest Service lands, please visit: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/hunting

If a customer holding a license in a GMU that is inaccessible and the season has not yet started, they may return their license to us prior to the start of the season get a refund or have their preference points reinstated. They may either bring their licenses into an office or have it postmarked PRIOR to the start of the season.

For any customers who are trapped by the water or who cannot get to their homes, CPW is following our standard disaster procedure–if the hunter wants to return a license, please contact us and return the license as soon as possible.  If the license is destroyed, we will, of course, work with hunters to get them a refund, preference point reinstatement, or a replacement.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, more than 300 state wildlife areas, all of Colorado’s wildlife, and a variety of outdoor recreation. For more information go to cpw.state.co.us

For more news about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/PressReleases
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

Contact Name: Jennifer Churchill
Contact Phone: 303-291-7234