MORRISON, CO… Due to accumulated snow and anticipated snowmelt and muddy conditions, beginning Friday, Nov 5, the U.S. Forest Service is temporarily closing the northern portion of the Rampart Range Recreation Area to motorized wheeled vehicles. The closure will be in place at least through the weekend and continuing until conditions improve. The operation of motorized wheeled vehicles in muddy conditions following snowmelt heightens the potential for environmental damage to roads and trails, and increases the risk of erosion and damage to vegetation. Snowmobiles will be the only motorized conveyances permitted in the signed and marked area during this temporary closure.

Currently 12 to 18 inches of snow is accumulated throughout the northern Rampart Range area. Weekend weather predictions of 60 degree temperatures promise rapid snowmelt and muddy conditions throughout the weekend and possibly beyond.

The Rampart Range Recreation Area, accessed off of State Highway 67 southwest of Sedalia, is a popular recreation site for a wide variety of recreational uses, especially off-highway vehicle enthusiasts and visitors to the popular Devils Head Lookout Tower. The area is accessed by Rampart Range Road, a dirt road that serves as a central spine for approximately one hundred miles of motorized trails. While Rampart Range Road runs from Highway 67 on the north to Colorado Springs on the south, only the northernmost 20 miles of the road, beginning at Highway 67, are temporarily closed.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting the South Platte Ranger District at 303-275-5610.