Starting in December, deer, elk, and other non-human wildlife will be the only animals allowed on the McPhee Overlook Trail west of Dolores.
The U.S. Forest Service will close the trailheads at the Dolores Cemetery and at House Creek Campground on December 1st. The closure is intended to protect winter habitat for deer and elk as they move to lower elevations during the winter. Tom Rice, Forest Service Recreation Program Staff Officer, explained the reason for the closure.
"In order to survive these winters, elk and deer need to be able to have unfettered access to the range that they feed off of,” he said.
Bicyclists, horses, and hikers can disturb the animals and keep them from accessing the nutrients they need, he said. Though the Forest Service has not kept a detailed count of visitors, Rice estimated seeing around 50 people on the trail on Sunday. He said the seasonal closure will help reduce disturbances to wildlife during the winter.
“By reducing human pressure in an important area, you are effectively making their table a little more robust, a little more full of food,” he explained.
The seasonal closures will occur each winter under the Boggy-Glade Travel Management Plan. The first mile of trail from Dolores to May Canyon will re-open on April 15, and the more remote six-miles of trail between May Canyon and House Creek Campground will re-open on May 1.
You can listen to an audio version of the story below.
