Long Draw Road temporarily opens to day use in July

Long Draw Road, located on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District 53 miles up the Poudre Canyon, will be opening for day use only during a portion of July. The area was closed August 22 due to hazardous tree cutting along the length of the road, but was open for winter recreation in 2013.

The road will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting July 1, with no overnight activity allowed in the area. The campgrounds along the road, Long Draw and Grandview, remain closed for the season. The road will be open for day use until cutting operations begin again. There will be short notice as to when the road will close, as cutting crews mobilize quickly. Limiting the area to day use only is due to the need to get visitors out immediately when operations begin. The road is anticipated to be closed from late July 2013 through March 2014.

Cutting operations in the area are approximately 30 percent complete, with an estimated 80,000 total hazard trees to be cut and removed. Most of the trees being cut have been hit by the mountain pine beetle and are a safety hazard if not taken down.

Remember, your safety is your responsibility. Due to the size and complexity of this project, it is imperative forest visitors are out of the area when operations begin. Heavy equipment and trees will be on the road. Some of the equipment used can throw chunks of wood and rocks up to 500 feet, posing a serious threat to those in the area. Obey all signs and closures.

When the road closure is reinstated, it will cover the road and an area 500 feet on either side of the road. The area will be reopened when operations are completed.

A map of the current closure area will be posted online July 1. For other recreation information on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District, please call the Visitor Information Center at 970-295-6700 or follow the district on Twitter @usfsclrd.