The U.S. Forest Service, San Isabel National Forest has reopened the Rainbow Trail.
The section between roads 101 (Bear Creek) and 108 (Methodist Mountain) was closed to wheeled-uses after heavy rains created a large washout. The Forest Service trail crew worked to safely reopen the popular trail for all user groups by rebuilding the creek crossing.
Crew lead, Dani Cook, now encourages traffic to help compact the soil and prevent sloughing and overgrowth. The section of trail is within the Decker Fire burn area and Cook said, “A rainstorm could shut it down again.”
Motorized access to the trail from Bear Creek road is restricted to single-track vehicles and overnight camping within the Decker Fire burn area remain prohibited.
Another section of the Rainbow trail west of road 108 (Methodist Mountain) to road 124 (Sand Gulch) is under construction and trail users are being asked to avoid that section while a miniexcavator will be working, Mondays through Thursdays, until October 22. No construction work will be performed Monday, Labor Day.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Salida Ranger District Office at 719-539-3591.
