By Shannon Lukens.
Work still needs to be done on the bridge at Fish Creek Falls. It is structurally compromised and has been for a few years. That’s why it is temporarily closed during high runoff in the spring. The Routt National Forest staff is having an informational meeting from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 to discuss new preliminary designs for the replacement of the Fish Creek Falls bridge, and how much the project would cost. That meeting is in the Routt County Community Room at 135 6th Street in Steamboat Springs.
Press Release from U.S. Forest Service — Jan. 10,. 2025.
Information-sharing meeting on Fish Creek Falls bridge planned
Forest Service staff will give a public update on the bridge, Jan. 21 in Steamboat Springs.
(STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo.) January 10, 2025 – Routt National Forest staff will host a public meeting this month to share information on preliminary designs for replacement of the Fish Creek Falls bridge, which has been structurally compromised for some time.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. in the Routt County Community Room at 135 6th Street in Steamboat Springs, Colo.
Due to lingering structural integrity concerns, the footbridge at Fish Creek Falls has been temporarily closed during high water months for the past two years. Short-term mitigations are in place, including limited bridge occupancy.
However, erosion of the bridge abutments continues and bridge integrity after 2025 spring runoff remains unknown. While the Forest Service has funded the bridge engineering design, construction of a new bridge will require additional funding.
The USDA Forest Service is working with an engineering firm to design a permanent bridge replacement. The intent of the public meeting is to provide information on the preliminary designs and answer questions. Public feedback on Forest plans for a permanent solution would be appreciated.
“We cannot overstate the importance of consistent, safe public access to Fish Creek Falls for viewing and enjoyment,” said Michael Woodbridge, Hahns Peak/Bears Ears (HPBE) District Ranger. “Our goal with this public meeting is to share with the community our plans for reliable viewing of and access to the falls. We’d like to hear from the community if there is anything we might have missed or should be considering with our plans at this early design stage.”
Fish Creek Falls is located just east of Steamboat Springs on the Routt National Forest. It receives heavy visitation year-round to view and photograph the nearly 300-foot-tall falls. In addition to accessing the waterfall up close, the trail crossing the bridge begins a four-mile section of Fish Creek Trail (Forest Trail 1102).
The Forest Service-managed site is both a trailhead and picnic site. It is a day-use fee area, requiring a $5 vehicle/day-use fee. Alternatively, visitors can use the Annual Forest Day-Use Pass ($30/year) or their America the Beautiful Pass ($80/year). The Forest’s annual pass can be used at all day-use sites throughout the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and the America the Beautiful Pass can be used for entrance fees at Federal public lands throughout the United States.
For information on recreation in the Steamboat Springs area, as well as National Forest access, contact the HPBE Ranger District at (970) 870-2299 or visit our website. Additional Forest information is available on social media: @FS_MBRTB on X or @FSMBRTB on Facebook. Through February 2025, the District office front desk in Steamboat is open to the public Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
-USDA-