Obey road closures or face fines

Aspen Times Staff Report
Aspen, CO Colorado
April 30, 2008

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ASPEN — The U.S. Forest Service is urging people to resist temptation to venture onto backcountry roads that could be damaged by travel in muddy conditions.

Numerous roads in the Aspen and Roaring Fork Valley area are closed to motorized use, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. Those roads include: Kobey Park roads 508 and 103, which are located above Lenado and closed until July 1; and Red Rim Road 534, also known as Triangle Peak Road, which is closed until July 15 unless conditions allow an earlier opening.

Capitol Creek Road 316 is closed just past the Capitol Creek trailhead and extends one mile to the Hell Roaring trailhead. It will be closed until at least June 15.

Other roads with temporary closures in place include Fourmile Park Road 300 at mile 4; Basalt Mountain Road 524; Red Table Mountain Road 514; Cattle Creek Road 509; and Burnt Mountain Road 506. Those roads will open when conditions permit. With the snowpack this year, they might open later than they have in recent years.

There are also many other public roads without closure gates that access the National Forest; their use is discouraged until they are clear and dry. Roads within ski areas are closed to snowmobile use.

Violation of any of these closures is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.

For more information about these closures or road conditions, contact the Aspen Ranger District at 925-3445 or the Sopris Ranger District in Carbondale at 963-2266.