U.S. Forest Service - PSICC National Forest

10/23/2026

A lifelong Estes Park resident, Bill Van Horn's connection to MacGregor Ranch represents generations of stewardship. His story connects forests with working lands, wildlife, community protection, and preserving a Colorado way of life.

10/21/2026

The PSICC will host an in-person public meeting to provide information on projects under the Lower North-South Vegetation Management decision on the South Platte Ranger District of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands.

The public is invited to attend an in-person meeting scheduled for Nov. 20, at Elk Creek Fire Station 1, located at 11993 Blackfoot Road, Conifer, Colorado, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to learn more and share comments.

To share input on the upcoming Lower North-South Vegetation Management project, please complete the survey at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/MAkXgBZcSZ.

You can also read the full press release at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/psicc/newsroom/releases/share-your-input-projects-under-lower-north-south-vegetation-management

10/15/2026

“My hope for this place is that it continues to be a wild space that people can explore," said Zach Miller. “Whether that’s thinning of the forest, burning out the undergrowth, just taking care of the place now so that it’s set up for success in the future."

Zach Miller is a professional ultrarunner whose life and career have been shaped by Colorado's mountains. His story explores the powerful connection between place, identity, and the wild spaces that help make us who we are.

Learn more about Zach's story in the full video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9imXCTsWtTY

Zach Miller
U.S. Forest Service-Arapaho & Roosevelt Natl Forests Pawnee Natl Grassland
The Colorado Nature Conservancy
Forest Trends
Pikes Peak - America's Mountain

10/14/2026

As first r***e season kicks off, stay alert and put safety first. Know your surroundings, know what’s beyond your target, and stay aware of other visitors who may be hiking or recreating in the area. Please respect all closures and posted signs, as they are in place for your safety and the safety of others. Check with Colorado Parks and Wildlife for more information on hunting seasons, licenses and restrictions.

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

10/14/2026

Snow and colder temperatures are arriving in the mountains! by checking weather, road conditions and closures. Be prepared with proper gear, extra layers and a plan for rapidly changing conditions.

It will be much cooler today across the region. Snow will occur over the higher mountains, with rain showers over the valleys and plains. Some thunder will also be possible, especially over the plains. Small hail will be possible.

10/13/2026

On Oct. 12, 2026, Pikes Peak - America's Mountain and the U.S. Forest Service hosted the fourth annual Indigenous Peoples Day Sunrise blessing and celebration. Members of the Colorado Indigenous community were invited to attend and proudly display their Tribal Nation flags.

The event brought together visitors to the mountain, multiple land management agencies, students from various colleges, and multiple local Tribe representatives atop the 14,115 foot summit of Pikes Peak for a powerful celebration of unity and empowerment.

Pikes Peak is home to multiple Native tribes and is considered a sacred mountain to many. At least 48 federally recognized tribes have deep connections to the Colorado landscape and continue to foster their relationships with this land. These tribes include, but are not limited to, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Comanche Nation, the Pawnee Nation, the Kiowa Tribe, the Northern Arapaho Tribe, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.

We recognize and honor these Indigenous peoples as the original inhabitants and stewards of this land while we also acknowledge their present and future relationships to this place.

(Forest Service Photos by Josh Cowden)

10/12/2026

Ignition operations on have been completed, treating 112 acres. Smoke is highly visible and will continue to be for the next few days from Conifer, Evergreen, Pine, Bailey, Woody, Highway 285 and metro areas along the I-25 corridor in Jefferson and Douglas County. Firefighters will continue patrolling the unit into the evening and throughout the week. To view air quality impacts, please view a smoke map at fire.airnow.gov.

A reminder that Harris Park Recreational Shooting Area and Forest Service Roads 108, 108.A, 108.B, and 107 are temporarily closed for public and firefighter safety. View the closure order and a map on our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/psicc/alerts/harris-park-rx-area-and-road-closure


We would like to thank our partners and cooperators, including the Aurora Fire Department, Platte Canyon Fire Protection District, Elk Creek, the The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and Student Conservation Association (SCA).

Park County, Colorado, Park County Sheriff's Office, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

10/12/2026

ignition operations are progressing with low intensity fire within the unit. Surface fuels like pine needles, grasses, leaves, small branches, shrubs and woody debris left over from earlier stages of this mitigation project are being consumed.

Objectives of the Harris Park Prescribed Fire include:
1. Reduce overall fuel loads to lower the risk and potential impacts of high‑intensity wildfire to the Harris Park and Bailey communities.
2. Reintroduce prescribed fire into fire‑adapted ecosystems to restore historical fire regimes.
3. Create healthier, more resilient forest conditions that support wildlife habitat, recreation, and watershed health.

Check back for ongoing updates on the Harris Park Prescribed Fire.

Park County, Colorado, Park County Sheriff's Office, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

10/12/2026

Weather and fuel conditions on the ground are currently within the prescribed fire prescription. The test fire was successful on the and crews are continuing with ignitions.

The 112-acre prescribed fire is on the near the Harris Park, Elk Creek Highlands and Forest Ridge communities in Park County. Smoke may be visible to Conifer, Evergreen, Pine, Bailey, Woody, Highway 285 and metro areas along the I-25 corridor in Jefferson and Douglas County. To view air quality impacts, please view a smoke map at fire.airnow.gov.

Please remember to be extra cautious when recreating and visiting the area as there is still fire traffic present. As a friendly reminder, the Harris Park Recreational Shooting Area and Forest Service Roads 108, 108.A, 108.B, and 107 are temporarily closed for public and firefighter safety: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/psicc/alerts/harris-park-rx-area-and-road-closure

Platte Canyon Fire Protection District, Park County Sheriff's Office, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Conifer Fire Dept

10/12/2026

Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grassland offices will be closed Monday, Oct. 12 for the federal holiday. National forests and grasslands remain open for your enjoyment.