MINTURN — The parking lot at the Meadow Mountain Trailhead will be arranged by the U.S. Forest Service. The lot will be closed Feb. 23 and 24 and maybe Feb. 25. This lot is next to the Forest Service office in Minturn, near the Interstate 70/US Highway 24 interchange.

The original intention of the lot was to provide parking for users of the Meadow Mountain Trail. Currently, the parking lot fills beyond capacity every day with a variety of users, including bus riders, construction workers, skiers, forest visitors, and others. The U.S. Forest Service has determined that this situation is unacceptable. Existing regulations for the lot prohibit overnight parking, parking vehicles for other than recreational use in sites designated for such, and parking in front of gates.  

With the redesign, there will be 12 parking spaces for bus riders. These spots will be located closest to the bus stop. Thirty spaces will be allocated to local, free parking. Forty-three spaces, including trailer parking, will be reserved for recreation, including the tubing hill and forest visitors using the Meadow Mountain trail. The design also will allow snowmobile loading and unloading

“While we realize that these changes may inconvenience some users of the Meadow Mountain area, our goal is to ensure safe and reasonable access for those who wish to enjoy their public lands,” said Acting District Ranger Don Dressler,

Bus riders will get space on a first come, first served basis between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Daily permits will be required for vehicles parked in spaces designated for tubing hill customers and other forest visitors. Permits are available free from the tubing hill vendor or the Forest Service office. Parking in front of the Forest Service office is for office visitors only. Parking regulations will be enforced beginning Feb. 26.

For more information, contact Brenda Rebitzke at the Forest Service office at 970-827-5715.