Summit County Citizens Voice

Hikers in Summit County can expect some delays along the Colorado Trail as a contractor works under Forest Service direction to remove dangerous trees.

More hazard tree removal set for popular hiking path between the Swan River and Highway 9

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The ongoing hazard tree removal work in Summit County this summer will include logging along the Colorado Trail, between the North Fork of the Swan Road (FDR #354.1) and Tiger Run RV Resort adjacent to State Highway 9.

The Colorado Trail is one of the most popular trails in Summit County. The Forest Service understands that disruptions to recreational opportunities on the trail will be felt by the local community as well as by visitors to the area,” said Dillon District Ranger Jan Cutts. “We ask, however, for patience as the Forest Service implements this hazard-tree mitigation work in response to the mountain pine beetle epidemic. The goal for the project is public safety, and due to the high public use and high density of dead and dying trees along the trail, it is a Forest Service priority to complete the tree removal work as quickly as possible.”

The logging may begin as early as July 25 and is expected to continue through the month of August and into September.  The removal of dead and dying trees will be carried out by a timber contractor. The contractor will be working Monday through Friday each week, but will not be operating on weekends.

There are no plans to close the trail to public use at this time, however delays should be expected until the project is complete. The contractor will post trail-guards who will be stopping the public until it is safe to pass through the cutting area. Please follow the directions of the contractor.

Please contact the Dillon Ranger Station at 970-468-5400 with any questions.  For updates on the timing of the logging operations on the Colorado Trail, please see the White River National Forest Alerts webpage.  From the home page located at http://www.fs.usda.gov/whiteriver navigate to the Alerts and Notices page using the button in the upper right column.

Filed under: Colorado, Dillon Ranger District, Environment, Forest health, forests, hiking, pine beetles and wildfires, recreation, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, US Forest Service, White River National Forest Tagged: | Colorado Trail, hazard tree logging, Summit County Colorado, Summit County hiking, Summit County News