Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park's South Rim Road, closed for much of the summer due to a wildfire, is set to reopen to the public on Friday.
The South Rim Fire was sparked by a lightning strike on July 10 and covered roughly 4,200 acres by the time it was contained. The entire park, located in western Colorado, was closed in mid-July for visitor safety and firefighting operations.
Visitors will be able to drive the entire South Rim Road, access all the park overlooks, and experience the visitor center and park store, a park release said Thursday.
Visitors can see for themselves the forces of nature and the mosaic of burned and unburned vegetation. The park will also return to being open 24 hours a day with no nighttime closure.
The following areas will be open:
- The entire South Rim Road (7.3 miles (11.7 km) one-way) from the entrance station to High Point.
- The visitor center and park store from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.
- Rim Rock Trail from the visitor center to Tomichi Point (0.25 miles (0.4 km) one-way) and Warner Point Trail (0.75 miles (1.2 km) one-way).
Warner wilderness route and Red Rock Canyon wilderness route will also open for reservation-holders through www.recreation.gov.
The following will remain closed until further notice:
- East Portal Campground and East Portal Road.
- The South Rim Campground.
- All trails and wilderness routes accessed from the South Rim and East Portal that are not listed above.
- Burned areas.
Entering closed trails and routes and burned areas is prohibited by superintendent’s order. Entering burned areas in the canyon is prohibited primarily due to the extreme safety risk from dead and downed trees and rock fall. Within all burned areas, root systems and sharp stobs create trip hazards, and pockets of ash can cause unstable footing.
Closures are in place to ensure visitor safety and to allow park staff to repair damage after the South Rim Fire. Failure to comply with closures is a violation and can result in citations.
Park operations have returned to normal on the North Rim. The ranger station is open as staff is available. The campground, trails, and overlooks remain open and accessible, and all North Rim trails and wilderness routes are open.
Hiking, camping, and other recreational opportunities are available at Curecanti National Recreation Area, located to the east of Black Canyon. Curecanti is co-managed with Black Canyon and shares similar geology, ecology, and recreational opportunities.
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