Last week’s winter weather wreaked havoc on some areas of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland. Some areas typically open for Memorial Day weekend are closed due to heavy snow; muddy, wet conditions; and hazardous broken trees.

Campgrounds that remain closed:

  • Aspen Glen
  • Big Bend
  • Big South
  • Camp Dick
  • Dowdy Lake (Back Loop)
  • Jacks Gulch
  • Meeker Park
  • Mountain Park
  • Olive Ridge
  • Peaceful Valley
  • Pickle Gulch
  • Sleeping Elephant
  • Tom Bennett
  • West Lake

The following campgrounds will be open, but some sites have deep snow; soft, muddy road conditions; standing water; and electrical services may not be available:

  • Ansel Watrous
  • Arapaho Bay
  • Cold Springs
  • Columbine
  • Crow Valley
  • Cutthroat Bay
  • Denver Creek
  • Dowdy Lake (Front Loop)
  • Dutch George
  • Green Ridge
  • Kelly Dahl
  • Kelly Flats
  • Narrows
  • Stillwater
  • Stove Prairie
  • Sunset Point
  • West Chicago Creek
  • Willow Creek

Roads

Plowed roads have pushed snow drifts over dispersed camping sites; sites free of snow are often covered in water and mud; and many areas are inaccessible due to seasonally closed roads.

Weather

Over three feet of snow fell in some areas of the forest. While snow has started melting at lower elevations, mountain areas remain covered in thick, wet snow. Melting snow is also producing soft, muddy roads and standing water. Forecasts call for cooler temperatures this weekend, along with some additional precipitation.

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