On Monday the Pikes Peak Ranger District issued an emergency closure for some of our favorite routes, including Captain Jack's and Pipeline. The trails are being closed to "protect public safety due to the impacts of severe flooding." What do you think about this decision, and where will you hike/run/ride instead?
The following have been closed until Sept. 30, 2014. Links are to the Pike and San Isabel National Forest website,
NFST 665 is "Lower Captain Jack's Trail"
NFST 667 is"Captain Jack's Trail"
NFST 668 is"Pipeline Trail"
NFST 701 connects upper Captain Jack's and Pipeline.
NFST 720 connects several of the trails in the upper reaches of the Captain Jack's system.
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Susan,
Right now it is tough because of the hole in gold camp and the closures up the canyon road. Of course people are still hiking, riding, running, etc all over the area. In theory the park portion of canyon will open up at some point, giving you access Spring Creek trail and Columbine from the drop in right before tunnel #1. Those trails are in North Cheyenne Canyon Park and remain open (when the park is open that is). From the high drive parking lot you can still go up closed gold camp and completely legally (from my understanding) do out and back routes on both Buckhorn and 7 Bridges as well as St Marys. The trails that all of those connect to are off limits, so it is pretty tough to make a loop of anything like we are all used to doing.
Susan, all of those trails are closed to all uses according to City Park and Rec, which manages the Cheyenne Canon area. You can still go there, but you may be fined if caught. I spoke with someone from the city. This is what I learned: He confirmed that all trails in Cheyenne Canon are closed. He said the closed portions of Gold Camp and High Drive are closed to all users, making access to the upper trails impossible, unless you ignore the closures. This explains why Palmer Red Rock Loop is open on the switchback side, but closed at the saddle. They want to keep folks out of the Bear Creek drainage and the Canon. He also said the Forest Service folks are hard to contact because of the government shutdown.
But, he also mentioned that the Forest Service intends to fix Gold Camp Road where it slipped off the side of the mountain. It's important to realize he doesn't speak for the Forest Service, but he's in on discussions between Forest Service and City as their jurisdictions in the area share borders and actually overlap.
He didn't know when trails will be opened. And everything he had heard regarding the reasons for the closures is focused on the possibilities of rock slides. The big slide near Buena Vista has all agencies practicing extreme caution.
That's all I have right now. More later, I hope.
I am interested to find out more behind all of this.
If it is about flood damage or fish why is 666 not closed?
If it is about danger why is 7 bridges not closed?
Why for one year, what is that logic?
Do they know anything about what the damage actually looks like?
Who has these answers and who is calling the shots?
Is the Forest Service open to help?
I just would like to know what is going on, because same as many of you I am up in these trails nearly daily all year round. They are the reason I bought my house where I did, choose to find work in Colorado Springs, and what keep me living here happy and sane. It is a major set back and seriously discouraging.
Hey Cam,
Good questions. I'm trying to contact folks who can provide answers.
Thanks so much Tim. I have tried reaching out to people, but it seems like the gov't shutdown is making it even tougher to find answers. Best of luck, I look forward to what you dig up.
Cam, I spoke with someone from Colorado Springs Park and Rec. He confirmed that all trails in Cheyenne Canon are closed. He said the closed portions of Gold Camp and High Drive are closed to all users, making access to the upper trails impossible, unless you ignore the closures. This explains why Palmer Red Rock Loop is open on the switchback side, but closed at the saddle. They want to keep folks out of the Bear Creek drainage and the Canon. He also said the Forest Service folks are hard to contact because of the government shutdown.
But, he also mentioned that the Forest Service intends to fix Gold Camp Road where it slipped off the side of the mountain. It's important to realize he doesn't speak for the Forest Service, but he's in on discussions between Forest Service and City as their jurisdictions in the area share borders and actually overlap.
He didn't know when trails will be opened. And everything he had heard regarding the reasons for the closures is focused on the possibilities of rock slides. The big slide near Buena Vista has all agencies practicing extreme caution.
That's all I have right now. More later, I hope.
Thanks for the info. I am glad there is a work day in North Cheyenne Canyon park this weekend, that is a good sign and I will be there helping medicine wheel. As for the Forest Service, this will be a long strange trip, I am afraid. I am hopeful for the best. It is no secret that our trails need some love/rehab/rebuild. I hope this can be the catalyst for Colorado Springs to become what it is capable of, the #1 mountain trail destination in north america.
We did a loop up off High Drive right after the heavy rain when 667 was a flowing stream and 7 Bridges was actually 6 1/2 Bridges... High Drive was in pretty poor shape, so I understand that the roads and trails need some major repairs. There is erosion everywhere on our trails right now. But why a year?
It makes me skeptical when they shut down that particular area and say it's until September 30, 2014. Then I start to wonder, is this really about the flooding, or is this about the fish? Certainly it won't take a year to repair the roads? High Drive isn't even open to traffic anyway. Just bulldoze some dirt around and call it good!!
Well, this is my favorite area, so I'm bummed. But I will commit to get out and volunteer on the trails and try to help get them back in shape. Can't say where I'll be running... lots of exploring to be done!
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