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Rocky recently opened more trails that were closed due to last year's fires. When recreating in burned areas - be aware of additional hazards including: burned-out stump holes where the ground may be weak and unstable; unstable dead trees, especially in windy conditions; loose rocks, logs and rolling debris; dry, hot conditions with little forest canopy to provide shade; flash flooding and significant debris flow. In Fall 2020, Colorado saw the two largest wildfires in state history: The Cameron Peak Fire and The East Troublesome Fire. While the bulk of these fires were on lands surrounding Rocky Mountain National Park, nearly 30,000 acres burned within the park’s boundary. In the video below, Rocky Mountain National Park Superintendent Darla Sidles recalls the impacts of the fires and shares hope for the future. Impacts of the East Troublesome FireOn Wednesday, October 21, the East Troublesome Fire ran approximately 18 miles before it moved into the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. It then spotted approximately 1.5 miles from the head of Tonahutu Creek on the west side of the Continental Divide to the head of Spruce Creek on the east side of the Continental Divide. Rapid evacuations took place in Grand Lake on October 21. Evacuations for the majority of the Estes Valley were implemented on October 22, as weather predictions forecast major winds on the night of October 23 through October 24 pushing the fire further to the east. Firefighting actions and favorable weather on October 24 and 25 helped halt the major movement of the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fires. The following video demonstrates first-hand the impacts of the East Troublesome Fire. It is a somber reflection and an important part of our understanding. Approximately 30,000 acres, or 9 percent of the park, has been impacted by the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fires. Our park staff are working to create a path forward for those areas that were most impacted. |
Last updated: July 9, 2021