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Summit County’s shift from winter to summer mecca is well underway, with dried-out trails beckoning people to the backcountry.
As residents and visitors plan their overnight trips, officials and wildlife volunteers are urging them to consider key ways to protect the natural landscape for years to come.
“You’re looking at the most-visited ranger district and most-visited national forest,” said David Boyd, a spokesperson for the White River National Forest, which saw the most visitation of any national forest in the country last year.
More than 100 trailheads and trail portals provide access to over 300 miles of trails in the county. While all trailheads give hikers the option of signing in before a hike, only one area requires it.
The Eagle’s Nest Wilderness, one of the most popular spots for hiking and dispersed overnight camping, requires visitors to self-register and ensure they have a permit on them while backcountry hiking. These permits are available at the area’s trailheads.
Boyd said this helps the ranger district understand how many people are in the area (something that’s especially important during a search and rescue mission) and collect year-over-year foot traffic data.
