{"id":2458675,"date":"2020-05-21T01:12:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-21T07:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/no-happy-campers-in-aspen-area-developed-campgrounds-this-memorial-day-weekend\/"},"modified":"2020-05-21T07:44:39","modified_gmt":"2020-05-21T13:44:39","slug":"no-happy-campers-in-aspen-area-developed-campgrounds-this-memorial-day-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/no-happy-campers-in-aspen-area-developed-campgrounds-this-memorial-day-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"No happy campers in Aspen-area developed campgrounds this Memorial Day Weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image p402_hide\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"676\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/nocamping-atd-052120-1-1024x676.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/nocamping-atd-052120-1-1024x676.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/nocamping-atd-052120-1-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/nocamping-atd-052120-1-768x507.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/nocamping-atd-052120-1-1536x1014.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/nocamping-atd-052120-1-2048x1352.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/p><figcaption><strong>Bogan Flats Campground will remain closed for Memorial Day. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/><em>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">Memorial Day Weekend usually means bustling campgrounds in the forests around Aspen, boaters hitting the Ruedi water and tourists exploring the Grottos on Independence Pass.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">None of that will happen this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Aspen-Sopris Ranger District of the White River National Forest is working on a plan to open campgrounds and other developed facilities as quickly as possible in June.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Typically the lower elevation campgrounds are open in time for the Memorial Day Weekend crowds. The biggest campgrounds include Chapman in the Upper Fryingpan Valley, Difficult east of Aspen and Bogan Flats near Marble. But they aren\u2019t opened yet as the U.S. Forest Service works with its concessionaire, White River Recreation, on safety protocols during the COVID-19 crisis, said Shelly Grail, recreation manager for the ranger district.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col\" readability=\"6\">\n<div class=\"row at-donation at-donation-mobile p-0\" readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-4 p-2\">\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/AT-logo-white.png)\" class=\"p-0 mt-2 mb-2 h-75 text-center rocket-lazyload\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/AT-logo-white.png\" class=\"logo m-0 p-0 invisible\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"d-inline mr-3\">Support Local Journalism<\/h3>\n<p><button class=\"btn d-inline\" type=\"button\" onclick=\"handleDonationButtonClickMidArticle()\">Donate<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Several smaller campgrounds also remain closed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt is our hope that those campgrounds could open by June 12,\u201d she said Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Camping isn\u2019t the issue. The spaces provide proper social distancing without alterations, assuming people follow health advisories not to congregate in groups. The bigger problem is determining how to use and clean bathrooms during a pandemic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe\u2019re working to make sure we can keep campgrounds safe both for campers and the concessionaire\u2019s employees,\u201d said David Boyd, public information officer for the White River National Forest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Dispersed camping in sites outside of official campgrounds is allowed. In addition, the White River National Forest lifted its fire restrictions Wednesday in the Aspen-Sopris, Eagle-Holy Cross, Blanco and Rifle ranger districts. The fire restrictions remain in place in the Dillon Ranger District.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Camping in the backcountry has proven popular because of the dry spring, retreating snowpack and pent-up energy from Colorado residents who have been homebound.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIf the last two weekends are any indication, this weekend is going to be busy,\u201d Grail said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">And while the campers may have been happy, not all of them have been law abiding. There has been more trash than usual left at dispersed sites and locks to some gates on Forest Service roads have been cut to gain vehicular access.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s been extremely frustrating,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">One problem area with gatecrashers was on Red Table Mountain, she said. The Forest Service also received five reports of uncovered squatters\u2019 camps in one day, according to Grail.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">In addition to squatters, anecdotal evidence indicates campers are coming from outside the Roaring Fork Valley. The state is urging people not to venture past 10 miles to recreate. That doesn\u2019t appear to be working.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe\u2019re definitely seeing people from across the state,\u201d Grail said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Colorado Parks and Wildlife <a id=\"N0x2282930N0x22d1640:N0x2282930N0x23e6978\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skyhinews.com\/news\/colorado-to-begin-reopening-state-campgrounds-tuesday\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">started opening state parks and campgrounds<\/a> May 12.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Forest Service closures affect facilities beyond campgrounds as the unofficial start to summer rolls closer. The opening of the public boat ramp at Ruedi Reservoir was delayed until June 1. The opening will include inspections for invasive species of mussels. The popular campgrounds near the boat ramp won\u2019t open until later in June. Smaller craft have gained access at other points.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Maroon Creek Road, which provides access to campgrounds and the Maroon Bells Scenic Area, will remain closed for Memorial Day Weekend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cPeople are definitely taking advantage of the closed road,\u201d Grail said, referring to bicyclists and hikers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Independence Pass remains <a id=\"N0x2282930N0x22d16a0:N0x2282930N0x23e6c48\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/independence-pass-will-remain-closed-until-at-least-june-1\/\">on schedule to open June 1<\/a> and that will provide access to areas such as the Grottos day-use area. The bathrooms will remain closed until protocol is determined. A timetable for opening Lincoln Creek Road, which provides access to campgrounds and dispersed camping, remains to be set.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Reservations at the Conundrum Hot Springs, a popular backcountry destination, haven\u2019t been accepted since mid-April. However, existing permits are being honored and people are allowed to hike and camp to the hot springs, Grail said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Work on a reservation system for the Four Pass Loop has been placed on hold.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Despite the closure of developed sites, the vast majority of national forest lands around the Roaring Fork Valley remain open. That includes numerous trails. People need to practice the Leave No Trace principles and pack out what they bring in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">They also must use common sense to avoid congregating. If a trailhead has lots of people, avoid it by waiting or finding an alternative route, Forest Service officials advised.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Forest Service is urging campers to be extremely careful with campfires in dispersed sites. Conditions are dry because of so little precipitation since mid-April and low soil moisture. The Forest Service has seen evidence of multiple abandoned campfires at dispersed sites, Boyd said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">For people who prefer camping at developed sites, he urged patience for a while longer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe will work to get open what we can when we can after June 1,\u201d Boyd said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:scondon@aspentimes.com\">scondon@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/no-happy-campers-in-aspen-area-developed-campgrounds-this-memorial-day-weekend\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bogan Flats Campground will remain closed for Memorial Day. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times Memorial Day Weekend usually means bustling campgrounds in the forests around Aspen, boaters hitting the Ruedi water and tourists exploring the Grottos on Independence Pass. None of that will happen this year. The Aspen-Sopris Ranger District of the White [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2458675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-17 10:09:45","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2458675"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458675\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2458690,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458675\/revisions\/2458690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2458675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2458675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2458675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}