The opening of the Palmer Trail includes the lower portion of High Drive – from the old caretaker house at the intersection of Bear Creek Rd and Gold Camp Road uphill to the Palmer Trail connection. This section of High Drive is open to non-motorized trail users only.

High Drive above the Palmer Trail to Cheyenne Cañon remains closed to all public access. The closed section of High Drive is gated above the Palmer Trail. The upper portions of High Drive sustained substantial flood damage and have not yet been repaired. The City of Colorado Springs has worked with FEMA to document the damages and secure funding for the repairs. Repair work on the remaining sections of High Drive is anticipated to begin this summer.

All other trails identified within the Bear Creek watershed remain closed to public access in accordance with Pike National Forest Service Order 14-2 Emergency Trail Closure: Closure of Trails in the Bear Creek Watershed. The US Forest Service and Colorado Springs Utilities will assess the current trail condition of other trails in the Bear Creek Watershed to determine the feasibility of reopening additional trails.