Rainbow Trail camp, U.S. Forest Service report progress on proposed land exchange

Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp representatives and the San Carlos Ranger District updated the Fremont County Board of County Commissioners on a proposed land exchange that would convey the camp’s private parcel into federal ownership in exchange for other lands.

"The land exchange proposal that we submitted back then in essence has not changed," said Dave Jarvis, executive director of Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp, during the board meeting. Chris Lieber, a camp board member, described appraisals, monument setting and acreage adjustments that have taken place and said the parcel under consideration is approximately 94 acres. "One of the very next steps that we're headed towards is another round of public comment period. We expect that to take place in the month of November," Lieber said.

U.S. Forest Service district ranger Destiny Chapman said the agency needs concurrence from the State Historic Preservation Office and a Bureau of Land Management mineral potential review before it can issue a final decision. She said the parcel that would transfer into federal ownership is a private inholding on Lock Mountain in Fremont County, and that the swap would provide additional public recreation opportunities including hunting and hiking. "We do expect there'll be a couple of groups that have some comments that just aren't in favor of land exchanges in general," Chapman said, and added the agency will respond to comments during the environmental review process.

Camp and Forest Service staff said they expect to complete the public-comment phase and address review items before moving toward a mid‑2026 exchange, though they cautioned that several procedural reviews remain and timing could change.