Visit Montrose Visitor Guide - 17

Fire Prevention
Fire safety on the Western Slope
is a high priority for emergency
responders and firefighters alike.
When visiting the Montrose area or
anywhere on the West Slope, local
emergency officials urge anyone
using public lands and forests to
practice diligent fire safety.
Stay up-to-date with local fire news,
safety reminders and fire restrictions
at westslopefireinfo.com.
West Slope Fire is a partnership
of regional agencies to provide
fire restriction information on the
Western Slope of Colorado. The
majority of wildland fires are started
by humans (campfire, sparks,
fireworks, etc) and with increased
understanding of fire restrictions
and what activities are restricted, the
goal is to drastically reduce wildfires
in our region.
West
While not sporting any dramatic, craggy
peaks, the Uncompahgre Plateau is a tapestry
of remote landscapes and scenic vistas. With
its labyrinth of designated roads and trails
and abundant elbow room, the plateau is a
prime venue for camping under a sparkling
blanket of stars. Dispersed camping options
abound; just be sure to follow the rules that
apply to the area and respect our treasured
public lands by leaving your campsite as it
was, or better, than when you arrived.
Tips and Info: Extend your
Uncompahgre Plateau excursion by
following the Rimrocker Trail all the way
to Moab, Utah. Some primitive trails and
routes can become inaccessible during
or immediately after periods of
heavy precipitation.
Getting there: While there are several
possible routes to access the plateau, the
most direct from Montrose is to head west
on State Highway 90 and choose routes via
County Road 90 or Dave Wood Road.
Travel time: 20 minutes to the public
lands boundary then additional travel time
to the desired destination.
VISITMONTROSE.COM 17
Need more info?
For detailed information to plan
out your western Colorado camping
adventure, visit the Grand Mesa
Uncompahgre and Gunnison National
Forests website: fs.usda.gov/gmug.
Notes about offroad vehicles: While
these vehicles are a great way to
visit more remote areas within our
public lands, please observe a few
simple and important reminders:
Never venture off of designated
OHV routes.
Some routes have width restrictions
for OHVs.
Respect hikers and riders who often
share OHV routes.
Go slow - routes are for access, not
for racing.
Agencies meet together often
during fire season and regularly
evaluate fire conditions. Fire
restrictions are implemented
based on specific criteria that
include the moisture content of
vegetation, weather outlooks, and
human risk factors. The data and
potential for significant wildfires
are balanced with potential impacts
on the communities.
photo credit: Alcorn Collection
http://westslopefireinfo.com http://fs.usda.gov/gmug https://westslopefireinfo.com/ http://www.VISITMONTROSE.COM
Visit Montrose Visitor Guide

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Visit Montrose Visitor Guide
