The San Juan National Forest’s Columbine Ranger District will reopen the area closed by the 2020 Ice Fire, including Ice Lake Trail, South Mineral Campground, Clear Lake Road (Forest Road 815) and South Mineral Road (Forest Road 585) when the closure order expires tomorrow, Wednesday, September 15.
The stunning Ice Lake Trail just outside of Silverton, in southwest Colorado, one of the most picturesque spots in the state, will reopen 11 months after it was closed due to one of Colorado’s numerous wildfires last year.
South Mineral Campground will open with limited services until closed by snow. No bathroom, trash pick-up or water will be available at the campground. Please practice Leave No Trace principles and do not leave trash or waste behind. When parking along Clear Lake Road, follow parking signs to keep roads clear for other traffic.
“Although the trail, campground, and road have been cleared of fallen debris and many of the hazardous tree snags, please stay on the trail and be aware that potential hazards still exist,” says Columbine District Ranger James Simino.
The area has been closed since October 2020 and the landscape is still recovering from the 2020 Ice Fire. The area was kept closed this summer in part because of the risk of debris flow from monsoonal rainstorms at the campground and across the trail in the Clear Creek watershed.
This summer, Forest Service crews worked to clear 2.1 miles of trail and 3.11 miles of road, rebuild the trail surface, and remove tree snags that could fall across the trail. San Juan County assisted in clearing Clear Lake Road.
For more information about recreating in this area, please contact the Columbine Ranger District office at (970) 884-2512.
All offices on the San Juan National Forest are currently conducting business and providing services virtually. For information on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874, visit the forest website.
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