The National Park Service announced Thursday that it has reopened the Oak Flat and Uplands Trails at the South Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park after more than four months of restoration work.
Lightning-sparked wildfires forced the closure of the entire park on July 10. The North Rim reopened on July 30, but the South Rim gained only partial access on Aug. 29 as crews continued to address hazards.
On Nov. 19, the crews had completed enough work to open up the Oak Flat Trail and portions of the Uplands Trail to the public. The first trail covers 1.56 miles and the second 0.75 miles. All previously closed burned-over areas are now accessible to the public.
Because of damaged facilities, unstable rock and falling trees, the following trails and campgrounds remain closed:
- The Rim Rock Trail
- The Uplands Trail between the Rim Rock Trail and the South Rim Road junction
- East Portal Campground
- South Rim Campground
- The Gunnison and Tomichi wilderness routes
The National Park Service urges visitors to the Black Canyon to use caution when hiking in the park due to soil damage from the summer fires, which this time of year can result in muddy and unstable conditions due to added moisture from snow.