RIDGWAY, Colo. (KREX) — Colorado tourism continues to grow as people from all over the world discover the towering jagged mountains and brilliant blue lakes – one of which is right here on the Western Slope just outside of Ridgway.
Ouray District Ranger Dana Gardunio tells WesternSlopeNow the Blue Lakes Trail, located in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness, sees about 13,000 hikers through the summer season.
The hike continues to increase in both exposure and popularity, and Gardunio says some major changes need to be made to keep the wilderness wild.
The trail will limit day-use hikers to about 40 a day, and camping will only be allowed in designated spots. She says there will be only four sites available for camping each night. Permits will have no cost.
Additional changes will be seen across 16,000 acres in the same area, including limitations on canines heading to Mount Sneffels Peak. These changes will go into effect by 2026.
About four hours away in Glenwood Springs, a hike bringing in a whopping 70,000 visitors each summer also implemented a permit system back in 2019.
Visit Glenwood Director of Tourism Lisa Langer says there was a lot of pushback at first, especially by locals, but overall the permit system is seen as a big improvement for both the landscape and tourists.
Over three million people visit the Grand Junction area each year, Visit Grand Junction Director Elizabeth Fogarty tells WesternSlopeNow. She says even with all of these visitors, the city is proactively working to make sure no trails get overcrowded enough for a permit system.
Grand Junction local Pamela Schultz agrees the Grand Valley isn’t in need of a permitting system.
The Colorado National Monument is one of the main local hiking hot spots, and CNM Interpretation Program Manager Kait Thomas says more than half a million people come each year. Still, she claims visitation’s at a level the monument can accommodate, so there are no plans currently to implement a permit system.
Camping within the monument does require a reservation, though Thomas tells WesternSlopeNow if spots are available, permits can be given the day of.
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