Forest Service to designate dispersed camping sites in Homestake Valley as use increases
About 50 dispersed camping sites will be designated starting Aug. 12
Heather Sackett/Aspen JournalismHeather Sackett/Aspen Journalism
The Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District will require that campers use designated dispersed camping sites in the Homestake Creek drainage to better address impacts associated with high use. The new regulations go into effect Aug. 12.
About 50 dispersed camping sites will be designated along Homestake (NFSR 703) and Missouri roads (NFSR 704). The sites will be marked with a camping sign and available on a first-come, first-served basis only, with camping stays limited to seven days. Camping in the Homestake Valley will be limited to these sites or the developed Gold Park Campground.
“Over the past several years, camping along the roads in the Homestake Valley has significantly increased and people are beginning to camp in more sensitive areas, causing impacts to streams and wetlands,” said Eagle-Holy Cross District Ranger Leanne Veldhuis. “Designating dispersed camping sites allows us to maintain current levels of use but focus camping to the less-sensitive areas that are already being used.”
Campfires will be limited to metal fire rings provided at each site, which will be installed later this summer. The designated campsites do not have garbage service or toilets. Visitors are required to properly store and pack out all food and trash to help prevent negative interactions with bears and other wildlife. Packing out solid human waste is also a requirement in the Homestake area. Group size is limited to 40 people.
“Designating specific, sustainable sites for dispersed camping will help visitors better understand where they are permitted to camp, help prevent wildfires, and allow us to better protect natural resources,” Veldhuis said.
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The Forest Service completed occupancy surveys last summer to determine the number of sites needed to accommodate current and projected use levels. Based on this data and existing regulations restricting camping within 100 feet of water, the Forest Service will designate approximately 50 sites.
Most existing sites remain open for use, but some have been closed to better protect natural resources, for safety reasons or because they were located on private property.
The Eagle-Holy Cross District has required that dispersed camping occur in designated sites on Piney Road (NFSR 701) north of Vail for the past several years.
The maximum stay limit in designated dispersed sites is seven days. In Gold Park Campground, the stay limit is 14 days. The maximum group size in the Homestake area is 40 people.
More information is available from the Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District (24747 U.S. Highway 24 in Minturn). For more information, call 970-827-5715.
