By Shannon Lukens.
U.S. Forest Service offices in the region are making some changes.
In Steamboat Springs, it’s the Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District Office on Weiss Drive, across from Holiday Inn. Hours are going to be adjusted when it is open, and then it is scheduled to be closed to the public beginning in mid-February until further notice. Here’s Aaron Voos with the Forest Service.
“Pretty simple. This is just a heads up to the public and our partners that we’re going to have a change in February because the person that we have staffing the front desk right now is leaving and we do not have a replacement. More details to come. We know this vacancy is going to occur, so we’re just giving people a heads up about what will happen because of it.”
Voos says any things like firewood permits and day-use passes can be purchased online. One option is at recreation.gov. Or call 970-870-2299 for information.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices there will still be open and available. Call 970-870-3333 for information.
The Parks Ranger District in Walden is closed to the public until further notice. Call 970-723-2700 for more information.
Forest Service offices in Yampa have public availability, but it is recommended to call for operational Hours. That number is 970-638-4516.
More information is on the US Forest Service website and social media pages.
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests & Thunder Basin National Grassland on Facebook
Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG on X
Press Release from US Forest Service; December 2024
Forest Service office in Laramie to relocate
The office will temporarily close to the public, Dec. 25, 2024 – Jan. 20, 2025.
(LARAMIE, Wyo.) December 19, 2024 – After the new year turns, the USDA Forest Service (USFS) office in Laramie, Wyo., will relocate from its’ current spot on the west side of town to a new building just south of town.
A new property lease has been signed to house the Forest Supervisor’s Office for the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland (MBRTB), as well as the Laramie Ranger District at:
- 3838 Cherrywood Loop, Laramie, WY 82070
The new Forest Service building is located just off the east side of Wyoming Highway 287 (south 3rd St.), not too far from the Albany County Fairgrounds and the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Driver Services building. Visitors will turn east from the highway on Huron St. to find Cherrywood Loop.
The office move will necessitate a temporary office closure to the public, Dec. 25, 2024 – Jan. 20, 2025. It is anticipated that Forest Service staff will have capacity to serve the public from the new location beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
The USFS has been looking for new facilities in Laramie since 2018. The lease previously held by the Forest Service has expired and the building no longer meets the requirements necessary to house the Forest Supervisor’s Office and Ranger District.
Phone numbers for the Forest Service will remain the same, with (307) 745-2300 as the primary front desk contact. That number will be answered 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. during the temporary office closure, except for Dec. 26-27, weekends and holidays. Mail service at the new building will start Jan. 21, 2025.
Firewood permits and Annual Day-Use Passes may be purchased online. Annual passes are also available for purchase from the following vendors:
- Centennial Visitor Center, Wyoming Highway 130, Centennial, Wyo., (307) 742-9730
- West Laramie Fly Store, 1657 Snowy Range Rd, Laramie, Wyo., (307) 745-5425
Additional information may be found on the Forests’ website, X, and Facebook accounts.
Other MBRTB offices are experiencing changes to their public hours of operation in 2025:
- The Parks Ranger District Office in Walden, Colo., is closed to the public until further notice. Call (970) 723-2700 for information.
- The Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District Office in Steamboat Springs, Colo., will be closed to the public beginning in mid-February until further notice. Call (970) 870-2299 for information.
- Offices in Douglas and Saratoga, Wyo., as well as Yampa, Colo., currently have public office availability, but it is recommended to call for operational hours.
- Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District, Saratoga, Wyo., (307) 326-5258
- Douglas Ranger District, Douglas, Wyo., (307) 358-4690
- Yampa Ranger District, Yampa, Colo., (970) 638-4516
-USDA-