San Juan NF in SW Colorado to be closed!
I started another thread on the 416 Fire north of Durango, but this closure will affect a much greater area. So if you have plans around Durango, Pagosa Springs, Dolores up to Lizard Head Pass, be ...
Forum Discussion
mekkerl wrote:I think you will be fine. Mesa Verde isn't in the San Juan NF and isn't subject to that closure. If you're staying up at Mesa Verde, you'll be above the smoke.
I'm following this thread...as we are scheduled and booked to be in this area (I believe) later this summer.
As I am very unfamiliar with this area, and with forest fires, being from upstate NY :)
Do you think I should look at re-routing and finding new places to go?
This is a 32-day family trip from NY for our four kids (5,7,9,11) and us.
We are booked:
Arrive in Mesa Verde on August 14th for 2-ngts (from Moab)
Arrive in Ouray on August 16th for 3-ngts
Arrive in Salida on August 19th for 3-ngts
Any advice?
Thank you thank you thank you!!!!
Getting to Ouray, there are two main routes. One is US 550 through Silverton and over several big passes. Many here have suggested that it isn't a route to take with a big rig if you haven't done much mountain driving. US 550 is the one highway currently closed or subject to night closures.
The other route is to head west to Cortez and take CO 145 etc. through Telluride and then to Ridgway. No problems on that route at the moment.
From Ouray to Salida there are no issues. But as mentioned, you'll need to keep yourself informed as you get closer to your travel dates.
For those who don't follow these things (count yourself lucky) a good resource to keep track of current fire activity is Inciweb. There's a US map that you can zoom into the areas you might be travelling in.
