Arrowhead & Beaver Creek Seasonal Wildlife Closures
From December 1 through April 15, Arrowhead, Beaver Creek, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife has implemented a seasonal wildlife closure on three Arrowhead area trails:
- Ute
- Dakota
- Apache (East side)
We strongly support these seasonal closures as an important step to protect critical winter habitat for local wildlife. We are grateful for the opportunity to recreate on these trails in the summer and deeply appreciate access to the incredible Arrowhead trail system. These trails will reopen for summer use once the closure period ends.
The Ute, Dakota, and Apache trails should have had a seasonal wildlife closure on them since they were built. And beginning this year, we as trail users and outdoor recreationalists, need to respect these closures to ensure that these trails remain open for our community to use.
Below is a map showing all seasonal trail closures from Meadow Mountain over to Arrowhead. Read up on all the seasonal closures on our page here.
Taking the seasonal closure map above and overlaying CPW’s Elk Winter Concentration Area data, it is easy to see why many trails are closed in the area in blue below.
Furthermore, turning off the Elk Winter Concentration Area and then adding the Elk Calving Area in green, you can see why seasonal closures in the Beaver Creek area extend until 7/1.
To help keep the closure clear and effective, gates and signage have been installed at key access points explaining the purpose and duration of the restriction.
Thank you for doing your part by respecting seasonal closures and to Respect the Wild, staying on open routes, and giving wildlife the space they need to make it through winter.
