Snowmass seasonal closures

Snowmass Village will close three public trails during the last week of April as part of its annual wildlife protection program. (aspentimes.com) The first closures are Anaerobic Nightmare, Sequel and Tom Blake. The town said more trails will close and reopen through May under the same seasonal schedule. (aspentimes.com) Snowmass posts these closures under Section 10-29 of its municipal code, which makes it unlawful to access designated trails during wildlife-sensitive periods. The town said the rules are enforced with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and fines for violations can reach $5,000. (snowmass.gov) The closure calendar is not new. Snowmass has used the same spring window in recent years, with Anaerobic Nightmare closed from April 25 through June 27 and Sequel and Tom Blake closed from April 25 through June 20. (snowmassrecreation.com) Other seasonal restrictions are already in place. Rim Trail North, Seven Star, Upper North Mesa Equestrian Trail and Viewline or Deadline stay closed from December 1 through May 15, and parts of Vista and Government Trail close later in spring. (snowmassrecreation.com) Snowmass Animal Services said the goal is to protect sensitive wildlife habitat during critical seasonal periods. The town’s wildlife pages say monitoring cameras are used in closed areas and the closures are enforced with state wildlife officers and other partners. (snowmass.gov) The village has repeated the same message for several seasons: these are scheduled habitat protections, not one-off shutdowns. For riders and hikers, the practical change is simple — some of Snowmass’ best-known trails go off-limits starting April 25, and the restrictions last into late June. (aspentimes.com)