By Shannon Lukens.

 

Recreation sites and the campground up at Dry Lake will be closed this summer.

 

The U.S. Forest Service says the trailhead parking will be redesigned. The new configuration will make it easier for vehicles pulling trailers to park there. You can still park there this summer, while work is being done.

 

 

The number of campsites at Dry Lake will triple to 23 total. Right now, there are eight.

 

Work starts June 1, and should last all summer and into the fall. There is now a day-use fee at the trailhead of $5/day or $30/year.

 

 

The trails at the Dry Lake/Buffalo pass area are closed until June 15 due to elk calving.

 

Press Release from Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest; May 31, 2024.

Improvements planned for Dry Lake area recreation sites, campground to close for the season

 Camp sites to triple from existing and trailhead parking will be redesigned.

(STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo.)  May 31, 2024 – Dry Lake Campground and Trailhead, near Steamboat Springs, is scheduled to undergo an improvement project this summer, resulting in temporary campground closure and limited trailhead parking. Work will begin as early as June 1, 2024.

Routt National Forest has partnered with the National Forest Foundation to implement the project.

It is anticipated that project work will take the entirety of the summer and into the fall. The campground will be closed for the entire 2024 season.

The existing campground is undersized for desired public use, so improvements will triple the number of camp sites from the existing eight sites to approximately 23, along with a new Campground Host site. Additional planned improvements/amenities are redesigned sites, improved parking and traffic flow, picnic tables, vault toilets, trash services, fire rings, and bear boxes. Once completed, and as a result of the recent unit-wide recreation site fee changes, cost per night/site will be $26.

Trailhead and parking improvements will include one-way directional traffic (counterclockwise) to improve safety for Forest visitors and to improve trailer parking opportunities. New this year, day-use fee at the trailhead is $5/day or $30/year.

Phased closures of the parking areas will be implemented while work is being performed. A full parking area closure is not anticipated. During the project there will always be parking available in the lot and at the trailhead. However, visitors should develop a backup plan in case parking is unavailable where expected. Consider shuttles and carpooling or find a different destination for the day.

Dry Lake Campground and Trailhead is located eight miles northeast of Steamboat Springs, Colo. on Buffalo Pass Road (County Road 38).

During the temporary closure, alternate Forest Service campgrounds include Granite and Summit Campgrounds, which are further up Buffalo Pass Road, as well as Meadows and Dumont Lake Campgrounds on Rabbit Ears Pass.

Dry Lake Campground and Trailhead are managed by the Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District.

As a reminder, Dry Lake/Buffalo Pass area trails aren’t officially opened to public use until June 15 due to an elk calving closure in the area.

Information on the Routt National Forest can be found on our website or on the Forests’ X and Facebook accounts. The Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District office can be reached at (970) 870-2299.

-USDA-