USDA Forest Service - San Juan National Forest

15/10/2026

The Banana Peel Stewardship Project is expected to start this fall in the Upper Boggy Draw area, north of Dolores, CO.

During implementation of the fuels reduction project, some sections of the Upper Boggy OHV Loop may be impacted, and users may experience delays during heavy equipment operations. Signs will be posted at road/trail intersections directing visitors to alternative routes.

This five-year, 534-acre project is a collaborative effort between Dolores Watershed Collaborative, Mancos Conservation District and the Dolores Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest. the project is being funded from USDA Active Management appropriated funds and Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Plan (COSWAP) funding.

The intent is to continue implementing Ponderosa pine fuels reduction treatments in the House Creek priority watershed which is a collaboratively identified priority watershed for treatment. The Banana Peel Stewardship project will increase forest resilience to disturbances such as wildfire, insects, and disease, as well as contribute wood products such as firewood to the Wood for Life program. The Wood for Life program is a partnership between National Forest Foundation and the United States Forest Service that provides wood to tribal elders in need for ceremonial and heating uses.


For additional details on this and related projects, visit the Boggy Draw Vegetation Management website: https://tinyurl.com/2564zx9b

Photos: Nearby Orange Peel Timber Sale in Boggy Draw during 2026. Before and After photos of same plot, and working equipment.

14/10/2026

1st r***e season starts today, and most of our public land is multi-use, so hunters and outdoor recreationalists are sharing the same trails.
Share the space and take extra precautions: wear bright colors when you're out & give hunters space, and avoid interfering with a hunt in progress.

R***e season:
1st season - Regular Elk Season - Oct. 14-18, 2026
2nd season - Regular Deer and Elk combined season - Oct. 24 to Nov. 1, 2026
3rd season - Regular Deer and Elk combined season - Nov. 7-15, 2026
4th season - Regular Deer and Elk combined season - Nov. 18-22, 2026

Mid-October is upon us, which means first r***e season is almost here as well.

The season starts in a couple of days (October 14). In Colorado that usually means chilly mornings, walking over a fresh carpet of aspen leaves, and welcoming the fall with great friends and family. If you’re heading to camp or on your way to field, here’s a few helpful tips and tricks to keep in mind:

🏷️Don’t forget your license
🧦Put that extra pair of socks in your pack
❄️Be ready for the weather to change
🥓High calorie/protein mid-day snacks are a great idea

We hope this year is the one you talk about for years to come. Good luck out there, be safe and follow all hunting regulations to ensure a safe and sustainable hunt. Check out this year’s big game brochure and brush up on any last minute questions or plans: https://cpw.info/41ecyK3

11/10/2026

All San Juan National Forest offices will be closed Monday, October 12 in observance of the federal holiday. We will reopen Tuesday, October 13 for normal operating hours.

08/10/2026

SWISS ROLL FIRE:

What happens when a wildfire encounters the footprint of a previous fire?

Along its southeast edge, the Swiss Roll Fire on the Pagosa Ranger District reached an area that burned during the 2023 Quartz Ridge Fire. In this aerial view, you can see a noticeable change in fire effects where the two fire footprints meet.

Previous fires can change the amount, type and arrangement of vegetation available to burn. When another wildfire moves into that landscape, those changes can influence fire behavior and the resulting fire effects.

Watch the center of the video as the drone pans across the landscape to see where the 2026 Swiss Roll Fire meets the 2023 Quartz Ridge Fire footprint.

The Swiss Roll Fire was declared 100% contained on October 1, 2026. Recent infrared flights have shown pockets of heat, but no visible smoke or containment issues. Additional moisture is expected this weekend.

Archuleta County, CO Sheriff's Office Pagosa Weather Visit Pagosa Springs

08/10/2026

The Big Al Trail on the Dolores Ranger District will be closed beginning Oct. 13 for two to three weeks while crews make improvements. The Big Al Trail leads from Transfer Campground to an observation deck overlooking the West Mancos River and the La Plata Mountains. This hardened trail is designed to accommodate wheelchair users, and this project will bring the trail up to accessibility standards by repairing the trail surface, maintaining the existing benches, and by replacing the perimeter fencing and wood decking on the observation deck.

The trail takes its name from a local U.S. Forest Service employee, Al Lorentzen, who was injured while fighting a fire near Yellowstone National Park in 1988. Al was a wheelchair user and the trail that bears his name is fully Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible from trailhead to observation platform.

The San Juan National Forest has partnered with National Forest Foundation to make this project possible. The work is funded by the Great American Outdoors Act, which is nationwide effort to modernize recreation sites and improve visitor experiences. These upgrades will make the San Juan National Forest more accessible for families, seniors, and visitors of all abilities.

Read the full closure order here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/sanjuan/alerts/big-al-trail-reconstruction-area-and-trail-closure

Mancos Trails Group

07/10/2026

Rafael Salgado has led Cal-Wood Education Center in for more than two decades, helping generations of children and families build a connection with Colorado's mountains. After wildfire burned 600 acres of Cal-Wood in 2020, that mission (and the importance of preparing the forest for the future) became even more personal. Watch the video and then tell us the benefits of the Colorado forests that matter most to you.

07/10/2026

The Eight Mile Prescribed Fire Project on the Pagosa Ranger District has been canceled due to the unit receiving rain yesterday. Fuel moistures are too high for the prescribed fire to be effective.

06/10/2026

Eight Mile Prescribed Fire Project is planned for Thursday, Oct. 8 pending all required approvals and favorable environmental conditions. This project is located six miles south of Pagosa Springs on the top of Eight Mile Mesa between the communities along County Road 335/Lower Blanco and Loma Linda. Fire managers will be targeting roughly 250 acres of the total 579 acres available in the project area. Smoke will be visible from U.S. 160, U.S. 84, downtown Pagosa Springs, Loma Linda, and County Road 335/Lower Blanco.

This fuels reduction work is immediately adjacent to two subdivisions and is a critical step in protecting lives and property from unwanted fire in a landscape prone to lightning-caused wildfires. The Eight Mile Prescribed Fire will build upon mastication work funded by the Rio Chama Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) completed in 2022, as well as thinning work from 2023. These efforts on the mesa top complement critical defensible space work on adjacent private lands being implemented by partners including Wildfire Adapted Partnership, San Juan Headwaters Forest Health Partnership, as well as others.

For the full news release and map, visit: https://tinyurl.com/y72spreu

Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, visit cdphe.colorado.gov/apcd/wood-smoke-and-your-health.

Pagosa Weather Town of Pagosa Springs The Pagosa Springs SUN newspaper Archuleta County, CO Sheriff's Office Archuleta County

05/10/2026

La Plata County Government has announced a temporary road closure that will impact access to the Vallecito Campground and Vallecito Creek Trail. Plan accordingly for a closure on Wednesday, October 7, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. For more information, click the link below.

La Plata County Road and Bridge Department will close County Road 500 to all traffic on Wednesday, October 7, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., to allow crews to replace the D Creek culvert located between the 1400 block of County Road 500 and Hope Lane.

This emergency replacement is being conducted on an expedited timeline to reinforce the crossing ahead of significant rainfall forecasted to begin Sunday, October 11. Completing the work before the storm system arrives is necessary to prevent potential culvert failure and to maintain safe road conditions.

There will be no alternate route available for homes north of the closure. Trust Drive remains impassable due to heavy runoff flowing into D Creek. Residents are advised to plan accordingly for the temporary closure.

La Plata County appreciates the community’s patience as crews work to complete this critical infrastructure repair as quickly and safely as possible.

01/10/2026

What a difference three weeks makes. On September 11, the Swiss Roll Fire grew over 300 acres on a hot, dry afternoon (first photo). Today (second photo), the fire has been declared 100% contained. With the recent precipitation and moderate conditions, we anticipate no movement outside its current footprint of 777 acres.

The predicted warming and drying trend in the coming week means we may still see some residual smoke generated by pockets of burning dead and down vegetation in the interior of the fire. The fire area has received roughly seven inches of rain since the first rain event began on September 13, and has subdued the majority of fire activity. The fire is not expected to go out completely until it receives snow.