The purpose of this project is to rehabilitate, enhance and restore the trail and recreational features of the Hanging Lake Trail Recreation Area. This trail and its infrastructure were adversely impacted by post-fire debris flows in summer 2021.
The USDA Forest Service is soliciting comments on a project to redesign, repair and reconstruct portions the Hanging Lake Trail. Located on the Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District of the White River National Forest (WRNF), Hanging Lake is one of the most popular hiking trails in Colorado and is beloved by local, national, and international visitors for its beautiful and rugged canyon leading to a rare example of a lake formed by travertine deposition on the side of a cliff. The trail corridor was burned in the 2020 Grizzly Creek fire and then damaged by flooding and debris flows in 2021. Temporary trail improvements to address immediate debris flow damage and safety hazards allowed the trail to reopen in summer 2022, however, impacts from the fire, debris flows, as well as decades of heavy visitation are still prevalent along the trail. With funding support from the US Forest Service, National Forest Foundation (NFF), and Great Outdoors Colorado, WRNF now has the opportunity to more comprehensively address damage and improve the sustainability and resiliency of the trail and enhance key points of interest to improve the recreation experience for current and future visitors.
This comment period is intended to provide those interested in or affected by this proposal an opportunity to comment on the proposed action before the Responsible Official makes a decision. The Forest Service would appreciate your input to identify issues that would be addressed in the forthcoming environmental review. Additional project information can be found on the project web page:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63318.
How to Comment and Timeframe:
This scoping period is intended to provide those interested in or affected by this proposal an opportunity to comment on the Proposed Action before the Responsible Official makes a decision. Comments will be accepted at any time but will be most helpful if submitted prior to February 25, 2023. Comments should include: 1) name, address, email, telephone number and organization represented, if any; 2) title of the project (Hanging Lake Trail Redesign), and 3) specific facts, concerns, or issues, and supporting reasons why they should be considered.
Comments can be submitted electronically through the Comment and Analysis Response Application (CARA) at:
https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=63318. Written comments may be submitted to: Leanne Veldhuis, District Ranger, c/o Colleen Pennington, Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District, PO Box 190, Minturn, CO 81645. Names and contact information submitted with comments will become part of the public record and may be released under the Freedom of Information Act.
For additional information please contact Colleen Pennington at colleen.pennington@usda.gov.
