Single Publication

DOLORES, Colo., April 8, 2024—The Boggy Draw Trailhead and portions of the Boggy Draw trail system will temporarily close to the public beginning April 9, 2024, for public and firefighter safety during prescribed fire operations. 

The San Juan National Forest’s Dolores Ranger District is planning to conduct several prescribed burns in the Boggy Draw area over the next few weeks. Burning operations will take place over multiple days when weather and fuel conditions are favorable. A trail and area closure will allow for the safe application of prescribed fire to the landscape to achieve ecological and long-term risk reduction to surrounding communities. Following burning operations, hazards adjacent to the trails will be assessed and the area opened back up to the public.

The closure is in effect through Nov. 30, 2024, but may be terminated earlier if prescribed fire operations and trailside hazards can be addressed sooner. 

“We understand the unique relationship our communities have with the Boggy Draw trail system,” said Dolores District Ranger Nick Mustoe. “We will do everything we can to make the closure as brief as possible. We will reopen the area after operations conclude and fire related hazards to trail users are mitigated.”

Reintroduction of prescribed fire is necessary to improve and restore vegetative conditions. This effort will reduce hazardous ground fuels, lessen the risk of unplanned large-scale wildfire, help restore ponderosa pine ecosystems, and improve wildlife habitat. Prescribed fire also reduces the ladder fuels that can carry fire into the canopy, killing mature trees.

While fire managers always seek to give ample notice of prescribed fire plans to area residents, prescribed fire plans are always tentative and subject to change last minute if conditions are not met.

During burning operations, smoke may be visible around Mancos, Dolores, Dove Creek, Cortez, Towaoc, and HWY 491 between Dove Creek and Pleasant View. Smoke may settle into low lying valleys and the Dolores River Canyon overnight. Forest Service personnel will conduct smoke monitoring, and ignitions will be scheduled to minimize smoke impacts to communities. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. More information can be found online: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health 

Maps of the prescribed burn units and additional San Juan National Forest prescribed fire program news can be found on InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/cosjf-san-juan-national-forest-prescribed-fire-program.

For more information, please contact District Ranger Nick Mustoe at Nicholas.Mustoe@usda.gov or call (928) 266-5226.  

For information on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874, visit the forest website, or follow us on social media (X and Facebook).

-USDA-

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