Colorado Fire Threat Stops Popular Buckhorn Lakes Recreation

Summer on the Western Slope means having a couple of high-elevation destinations you can escape to when temperatures rise. In Montrose, the Buckhorn Lakes Recreation Area is an excellent option.

Colorado’s Gold Mountain Fire has closed Buckhorn Lakes Park and Recreation Area until further notice, because the park sits on the edge of a mandatory evacuation zone along the Montrose/Gunnison County lines. Here’s what residents should know.

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Where are Buckhorn Lakes?

Colorado Fire Risk Shuts Down Popular Buckhorn Lakes Park — Google Maps

If you are from Montrose, the Buckhorn Lakes Recreation Area is a popular escape just minutes from town. The park sits on Storm King Mountain at around 9.700 feet. It��s about 15 miles down U.S. 550, southeast of the city of Montrose. Most summers, you take Buckhorn Road to the top, but not this year. Storm King is part of Colorado’s Cimarron Ridge, an area directly threatened by wildfire.

Why the City of Montrose Closed Buckhorn Lakes Park

Gold Mountain Fire evacuation zones are mapped here. The mandatory evacuation issued for Zone 32 ends just south of Storm King. Castle Rock, just one peak down the ridge, sits inside that zone. That’s how close Buckhorn Lakes Park is to a mandatory evacuation. If you are looking at the map, Buckhorn Lakes is part of Zone 35. Closing this area of Storm King now will make it much easier for firefighters to get in place if conditions change. There is no timeline for the closure.

Pre-Evacuation Areas and Where Visitors Can Go Instead

Properties near Buckhorn Lakes remain under pre-evacuation status, so residents should be ready to leave quickly if evacuation orders are upgraded. Everyone else should avoid the area. The City of Montrose has several great parks that remain open, including some with pools, waterslides, and even a watersports park on the Uncompahgre River. You could also head down Highway 50 to Blue Mesa/Curecanti if you are looking for a lake away from the fires.

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Source: Colorado Fire Risk Shuts Down Popular Buckhorn Lakes Park

Filed Under: Montrose Colorado, Colorado Outdoors

Categories: Colorado Local, Colorado News