Wildfire mitigation project to impact Staunton through fall season

Kara Van Hoose
Northeast Region Public Information Officer
303-829-7143 / [email protected]

September 11, 2025
 

Wildfire mitigation project to impact Staunton State Park through fall season

PINE, Colo. — Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) will begin a wildfire mitigation project at Staunton State Park on September 15. The 73-acre forestry project will include tree thinning and helicopter operations to reduce wildfire risk and improve watershed health. Recreation opportunities on the east side of the park will be heavily impacted Monday through Friday, with minimal effects expected to wildlife.  

Multiple trails, parking lots, campsites, climbing areas and the archery range will be affected from Sept 15 through Oct 31, depending on favorable weather. Hand-cutting operations are expected to start in mid-September. Helicopter removal operations will begin Oct 1, and flying will be during daylight hours on weekdays only. The popular track chair program at Staunton will be minimally affected. 

Closures and affected areas:

• Mason Creek trail: closed from the Mason Creek parking lot to Bear Paw trail Sept 29 - Oct 31

• Dines Meadow trail: closed from the Spruce and Aspen Loop campgrounds to the Mason Creek parking lot Sept 29 - Oct 31

• Mason Creek parking lot: closed Sept 29 - Oct 31

• Archery Range: closed Oct 1 - Oct 31

• Raven Wall climbing area: closed Sept 15 - Oct 31

• Dines Wall climbing area: closed Sept 29 - Oct 31

• Reynolds Wall climbing area: closed Sept 29 - Oct 31

• Amphitheater: closed during weekdays Sept 15 - Oct 31

• Ponderosa Loop campsites 1-10, Spruce Loop campsites 11-19, Aspen Loop campsites 20-25: closed Mondays - Thursdays from Sept 29 - Oct 31

“We thank the public for their patience while CPW and CSFS complete the important work of reducing wildfire risk to Staunton and the surrounding neighborhoods,” said Staunton Park Manager Zach Taylor. “Fall is an especially popular season to visit the park, and we appreciate the understanding from visitors during the project. While this may not be the ideal year to enjoy the changing aspens at Staunton, we look forward to welcoming leaf peepers back in 2026.” 

Crews will be working to remove beetle-infested and diseased trees while thinning overly dense stands to improve forest health by reducing the spread of insects and disease. The result will be a healthier, more resilient forest that is better able to withstand future beetle outbreaks and other stressors. By removing ladder fuels and increasing spacing between tree crowns, the forest will be less prone to crown fires, limiting flames to the surface where they are easier to manage. Protecting this landscape also safeguards water quality, as Mason Creek flows into Elk Creek before joining the South Platte River. 

“This project is about setting the forest up for long-term success,” said CSFS Forestry Supervisor John White. “By reducing insect and disease pressure, encouraging ponderosa pine and aspen regeneration, and lowering wildfire risk, we’re helping this landscape stay healthy and resilient for both people and wildlife. The work we’re doing today will pay dividends for decades to come.” 

Immediate impacts to wildlife are expected to be minimal. Forest thinning has been shown to have long-term benefits to wildlife like improved corridor connectivity and habitat quality by opening the forest canopy to allow more sunlight. No nesting raptors have been observed in the work area. 

Most of the trees removed during the project will be processed on site. Some trees will be left as slash piles on the hillside to be burned in future years. CPW will restore and reseed the affected meadow area. 

Staunton will host a public meeting to answer questions from the communities and park visitors on Wednesday, Sept 24 starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Visitor Center. 

Work continues to rehabilitate the Elk Falls Reservoir dam on the west side of Staunton. Further information about the wildfire mitigation project and impacts to the park can be found on Staunton’s website, the CSFS website or by calling the park office at 303-816-0912. 

###