WILDFIRES: 14er Peak/TH Closures

[BillMiddlebrook]

As of Thursday, 7/2/2026, there are several 14ers that must (or should) be avoided due the ongoing wildfires:

Gold Mountain Fire, near Ouray:
Wetterhorn Peak access is closed
Links:
Gold Fire - FB page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HPMGxJe ... tid=wwXIfr
Gold Fire - Closure order

Elk Fire, near Lake City:
Wetterhorn Peak access is closed
Uncompahgre Peak is OPEN as of 7/28/2026
Links:
Elk Fire - Closure order

Willow Fire, near Leadville:
Mt. Massive - All trailheads closed and inaccessible.
Mt. Elbert - All trailheads closed and inaccessible.
Links:
Willow Fire - Lake County Emergency Management: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BjxbRtA ... tid=wwXIfr
Willow Fire - Closure order

Watch Duty (General fire info for Colorado) - https://app.watchduty.org/

If you hear of new or updated 14er/trailhead closures that I should add to this list, feel free to post in this thread.

[seannunn]

I apologize Bill if this is the wrong place for this post.
It is relevant however.

A huge wildfire now raging in Pueblo and Custer Counties (the Aspen Acres Fire) and at 0% containment as of this morning.
There are no 14ers in that portion of the San Isabel National Forest.
My very limited atlas map seems to show a gap of several miles between that portion of the national forest and the more southwest portion of the forest near the NE edge of the Great Sand Dunes.
69 Highway runs SE through the gap from Texas Creek to Walsenburg.

I realize this is kind of staring into a crystal ball, but does anyone with knowledge of the area want to predict whether the fire can jump that gap to reach the Crestones and/or Little Bear?
Trying to tentatively plan out a trip beginning July 12th or so. I realize things are changing day to day.

Sean Nunn
Peculiar, MO

[SkaredShtles]

A huge wildfire now raging in Pueblo and Custer Counties (the Aspen Acres Fire) and at 0% containment as of this morning.
There are no 14ers in that portion of the San Isabel National Forest.
My very limited atlas map seems to show a gap of several miles between that portion of the national forest and the more southwest portion of the forest near the NE edge of the Great Sand Dunes.
69 Highway runs SE through the gap from Texas Creek to Walsenburg.

I realize this is kind of staring into a crystal ball, but does anyone with knowledge of the area want to predict whether the fire can jump that gap to reach the Crestones and/or Little Bear?

I'd say fairly unlikey, given the prevailing winds. Something *major* would need to change for the fire to head that direction. That said, given the right conditions, there is little doubt the fire could "jump" that gap.

[interloper]

*Edit* Ignore this post.

[RhodoRose]

In addition to Gold Mountain and Willow Fire road/trail closures, CDOT just posted new road closures for the Aspen Acres fire. Hwy 69 is the only open road to South Colony/Crestone Group. Westcliffe has set up evacuation shelters and the area is packed with firefighters, emergency crews, and evacuees from Custer County. As Sean said, this is a very large, fast-moving fire which has now spread to over 50,000 acres with 0% containment. Please steer clear.

CDOT Road Closures for the Aspen Acres Fire

Colorado Highway 96 – Closed from mile point 3 (Butler Street in Silver Cliff) to mile point 33.55 (Siloam Road)

Colorado Highway 67 – Closed from mile point 0 (Wetmore) to mile point 3

Colorado Highway 165 – Closed from mile point 0 (McKenzie Junction) to mile point 35.1 (Interstate 25)

Colorado Highway 78 – Closed from mile point 0 (CO 165) to mile point 23 (Rock Creek Road)

https://www.cotrip.org/map.htm/@-104.97 ... erWarnings

[cottonmountaineering]

A huge wildfire now raging in Pueblo and Custer Counties (the Aspen Acres Fire) and at 0% containment as of this morning.
There are no 14ers in that portion of the San Isabel National Forest.
My very limited atlas map seems to show a gap of several miles between that portion of the national forest and the more southwest portion of the forest near the NE edge of the Great Sand Dunes.
69 Highway runs SE through the gap from Texas Creek to Walsenburg.

I realize this is kind of staring into a crystal ball, but does anyone with knowledge of the area want to predict whether the fire can jump that gap to reach the Crestones and/or Little Bear?

I'd say fairly unlikey, given the prevailing winds. Something *major* would need to change for the fire to head that direction. That said, given the right conditions, there is little doubt the fire could "jump" that gap.

yeah all the big CO fires in my memory seem to generally travel west to east, at this point aspen acres fire has reached the plains so i would imagine containment starting, but im not an expert

[climbingcue]

If you want to see where the smoke is going, this is a good map. That also tells you which way the wind is blowing.

https://wildfiretrackers.com/f/map

[goingup]

I know this is 14er focused but there are a lot of people on this site that climb 13ers as well. The Gold Hill Fire in Ouray has triggered a major closure that butts up against Big Blue and has closed down the area that Fortress, Precipice, Red Cliff etc are in. I live in this area and recreate in the West and East Fork regularly, climbing not only the 13ers but the 11ers and 12ers too, there is just so much fuel and I think the fire is going to make a good run and overtake the West Fork. I know fire is a necessary part of a forest's life cycle, but it is heart breaking. So many good climbing, trail running, and back packing memories back there. I hope I appreciated it enough because the landscape won't be the same, at least not in my lifetime. As well, and this is personal opinion, there has been a mega ton of confusion and poor communication with the 550 corridor from Ridgway to Ouray (southbound) being opened to all. They finally did open it yesterday at 1 pm under the conditions that 'no one look at the fire' (which is in fact burning right along the canyon and is highly visible - I drove through to Silverton yesterday). Today at 3 pm they closed it again because guess what, everyone stopped and looked at the fire causing major congestion. They are now detouring all traffic on CR 23 and CR 17. If you are unfamiliar this is a narrow, bumpy, 2wd dirt road. Think about all the RV's towing razors that travel this corridor. Again, personal opinion but I think there are some fierce politics within the town of Ouray because of the amount of tourism they will lose on their biggest weekend of the year and because of this there are some bad calls being made on public safety. If the detour does remain open, please use your own brain if going into the town or through the town. There are very few options to get out of the town of Ouray and that fire is one change in wind direction away from causing a disaster for the town of Ouray and the corridor leading in from the north. If you are thinking about driving through, I would expect serious delays because once again, county road 23 is not designed or in the right condition to handle the amount of traffic 550 typically sees. Anyway, here is the most up to date land closure. Please be safe if going to or driving through Ouray and respect the firefighters and first responders working in the area. Additionally, respect the residents, many who are friends of mine, who are stressed beyond recognition right now with how much traffic is coming in and out of town clogging their only evac route.

https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files ... re_MAP.pdf

[cottonmountaineering]

I know this is 14er focused but there are a lot of people on this site that climb 13ers as well. The Gold Hill Fire in Ouray has triggered a major closure that butts up against Big Blue and has closed down the area that Fortress, Precipice, Red Cliff etc are in. I live in this area and recreate in the West and East Fork regularly, climbing not only the 13ers but the 11ers and 12ers too, there is just so much fuel and I think the fire is going to make a good run and overtake the West Fork. I know fire is a necessary part of a forest's life cycle, but it is heart breaking. So many good climbing, trail running, and back packing memories back there. I hope I appreciated it enough because the landscape won't be the same, at least not in my lifetime. As well, and this is personal opinion, there has been a mega ton of confusion and poor communication with the 550 corridor from Ridgway to Ouray (southbound) being opened to all. They finally did open it yesterday at 1 pm under the conditions that 'no one look at the fire' (which is in fact burning right along the canyon and is highly visible - I drove through to Silverton yesterday). Today at 3 pm they closed it again because guess what, everyone stopped and looked at the fire causing major congestion. They are now detouring all traffic on CR 23 to CR 17. If you are unfamiliar this is a narrow, bumpy, 2wd dirt road. Think about all the RV's towing razors that travel this corridor. Again, personal opinion but I think there are some fierce politics within the town of Ouray because of the amount of tourism they will lose on their biggest weekend of the year and because of this there are some bad calls being made on public safety. If the detour does remain open, please use your own brain if going into the town or through the town. There are very few options to get out of the town of Ouray and that fire is one change in wind direction away from causing a disaster for the town of Ouray and the corridor leading in from the north. If you are thinking about driving through, I would expect serious delays because once again, county road 23 is not designed or in the right condition to handle the amount of traffic 550 typically sees. Anyway, here is the most up to date land closure. Please be safe if going to or driving through Ouray and respect the firefighters and first responders working in the area. Additionally, respect the residents, many who are friends of mine, who are stressed beyond recognition right now with how much traffic is coming in and out of town clogging their only evac route.

https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files ... re_MAP.pdf

agreed that is a very special area of the state and a shame to see it burn, also the fire is getting into an elk population concentration which also sucks, hopefully the fire is not destroying the soil

[Trotter]

Marking this for later,

Man this is bad considering its barely July

[Ptglhs]

As much as it sucks I think a lot of us, me included, are going to have to alter our summer plans. Getting within 50 miles as the crow flies of these widlfires is just a bad idea:

Adding to congestion.

Putting our own health at risk breathing smoke and eating ash.

If we get really close and the fire shifts tracks or expands the 1st responders are already stretched in and I wouldn't blame search and rescue for not hiking into a wildfire to save my happy ass.

Hopefully the Elks are still hikable but we'll have to see.

[pvnisher]

What about front range, specifically pikes peak?
Probably less actual fire danger them smoke and wind conditions.

Looking to go on 5 July, but it seems so smokey and windy hard to know if we should.