Council reviews Camp Hale access plan, hears trade-offs between visitor access and habitat protection

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center consultant Sophie Abo presented draft access recommendations for the Southern Tenmile portion of the Camp Hale Continental Divide National Monument, including expanded paved parking and shuttle changes at Quandary Peak, formalized parking and a trail link at Blue Lakes, a 12‑space turnaround and a new automated gate at Upper McCullough Gulch, and phased parking plus a reservation system at Spruce Creek.

The proposals aim to match trailhead infrastructure with visitor demand while protecting high‑elevation resources. Sam Massman, Recreation Program Manager for the Dillon Ranger District, told the Council that the White River National Forest receives roughly 3 million non‑skier visits annually and about 200,000 at these trailheads; McCullough Gulch visitation dropped from about 70,000 to about 12,000 between 2020 and 2024. "If we don’t provide those opportunities in these high‑demand areas, then we will potentially push those users to areas where we haven’t intentionally provided the appropriate facilities," Massman said.

Council members supported improvements at Quandary Peak and Spruce Creek but raised concerns about increasing vehicular access into Upper McCullough Gulch, where members said added parking and shuttle access could change the character of the landscape and threaten sensitive habitat. "I’m worried about inviting more vehicular traffic past the current gated access," said Peter Grosshuesch, an OSAC member. Libby Pansing and Laura Rossetter asked staff to prioritize biodiversity protections and to avoid routing new trails through unimpacted areas.

Volpe recommended several site‑specific measures: expanded, paved parking and more consistent signage at Quandary Peak; parking delineation, a vehicle turnaround, restrooms, and a trail connection between Blue Lakes and Quandary; using the current turnaround for 12 parking spaces at Upper McCullough Gulch with a relocated shuttle turnaround and a new automated gate to control shuttle and utility access; and a phased Spruce Creek expansion tied to a reservation system whose revenue could support a Breckenridge–Spruce Creek shuttle.

Forest Service staff said conceptual drawings are being used to narrow alternatives; any final engineered design will be vetted with the Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue, Colorado Springs Utilities, and other partners as part of NEPA and project engineering. Council members noted that some access changes (for example, closing or restricting roads) could be difficult under NEPA but could nonetheless improve habitat and water quality if implemented.

Council discussion also touched on roadside safety at Lower McCullough Gulch (poor sightlines on Highway 9), dispersed campsites along McCullough Gulch and Spruce Creek that draw unregulated parking, and potential limits on oversized vehicles. Members recommended adding mapped social trails to better understand user movement and stressed coordination with the County‑wide Recreation Access Management Initiative (RAMI) that Volpe is also helping to lead.

Next steps include further NEPA scoping and engineering studies by Forest Service staff (analyzed in 2025 with a decision targeted for 2026), continued refinement of trail connection options, and follow‑up work to identify actions that protect biodiversity while accommodating sustainable access.