'Significant' construction will limit access to Colorado's popular Hanging Lake Trail this summer

Access that has been limited over the years to one of Colorado's most famed natural sites is set to be even more limited this summer.

The U.S. Forest Service has announced what it calls "significant" construction that will close Hanging Lake Trail on weekdays beginning in May.

The trail has been hiked by reservations only — reportedly up to 615 people per day — which have been especially coveted on weekends. The Forest Service's news release added that closures could happen some weekends as well "once bridge replacement begins later in the summer."

The steep, mile-long trail's seven foot bridges are to be replaced as part of a $4.5 million job outlined last year. Work has been sought since the 2021 Grizzly Creek fire burned slopes above the trail and sent damaging water, rock and debris rushing down.

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Last year's contractor request also outlined some realigned trail sections, revegetation, several erosion-mitigating structures and a new boardwalk at the destination's waterfall-fed pool.

That request document traced Hanging Lake Trail's original construction nearly 100 years back, with modifications by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The hope is "a more sustainable and resilient trail to match this world-class destination for the next 100 years," the form read.

White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams said at the time: "Our intent is to minimize the amount of time the trail is closed."

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That was indeed the intent, said a spokesman for the national forest, David Boyd.

"We knew there'd be some impact, but until we got the plans developed and the contract out, you just don't know for sure," he said.

Hanging Lake's weekday closures promise to make weekend hiking reservations even more coveted. The Forest Service's news release indicated dates and times would be released every Tuesday at visitglenwood.com, beginning at 8 a.m. April 30.

"It's going to be week by week, just because we don't know each week what all will be happening," Boyd said.

Construction is expected to continue into the fall. The hope is for work to finish around then.

"That's our hope," Boyd emphasized. "With any kind of construction project, you just don't know."

Also through the summer, the popular Grizzly Creek and Jessie Weaver (No Name) trails in Glenwood Canyon will see portions closed for reconstruction. Updates are expected to be posted at fs.usda.gov/whiteriver.