If you've dug out your camping gear from the recesses of storage for a few star-filled nights in the high country, the Forest Service is saying "not so fast."
The scheduled openings of several campgrounds in the Pike and San Isabel national forests have been delayed because of snow and freezing temperatures.
"At this time some high-elevation campgrounds are opening late because the amount of snow is prohibitive. In other cases, continued low and potentially freezing temperatures prevent the operation of our water systems," said a news release from the U.S. Forest Service's Rocky Mountain Region. "In a few locations the lakes and reservoirs are partially frozen, creating some unsafe conditions for anglers."
The delayed openings affect sites at higher elevations such as Blue Lake and Bear Lake, Kenosha and Hall Valley. The Forest Service hopes to open them by Memorial Day. Monarch Campground in Chaffee County will not be available until mid-June.
Open campgrounds include:
- Lake Isabel
- Sites along the South Platte River and in the Manitou Park area north of Woodland Park.
Campgrounds scheduled to open on time include:
- Eleven Mile Canyon.
- Jefferson Lake and the campgrounds at Rampart Reservoir are all tentatively scheduled to open on May 15.
- Twin Lakes and Lakeview in Lake County, although the recreational areas at Turquoise Lake may not open by Memorial Day weekend.