The City of Steamboat Springs (City) is collaborating with the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) to implement a Hazard Tree Mitigation Project on Emerald Mountain this summer. Work began in July and is expected to last through mid-October 2016. The City will be implementing the work plan identified in the Emerald Mountain Forest Management Plan on the Orton and Gossard Open Space parcels. This project will complete the planned tree removal operations of beetle kill trees that began in 2010.
Helicopter logging will take place to extract the logged trees from the Morning Gloria trail corridor. At this time we are anticipating a one day closure for the majority of the front side of Emerald Mountain on one of the following days:
• Thursday, September 22nd
• Friday, September 23rd
• Monday, September 26th
The helicopter will be arriving in Steamboat from South Dakota on a truck for this project, before heading to Winter Park. There are several variables that affect the date of helicopter operations including weather, travel time, and other scheduled activities. We will post the most current information possible on the City’s website and Facebook pages, as well as at the trailheads. Look for another press release in the coming days when we have more concrete closure information.
On the day that helicopter activities will be taking place, we will keep the Bluffs and Howelsen Meadows areas open up to Ricky’s Ridge Trail. Beall, Ridge, and Rotary trails will remain open on the back side of the mountain with no front side access. All other trails on Emerald, including Blackmere Drive will be closed. Please respect these closures for your safety.
The Emerald Mountain Trail Run this Saturday will occur as scheduled.