Lory State Park Re-Opens After Closure for High Park Fire

6/27/2012

BELLVUE, Colo. – Lory State Park has reopened to the public after being closed for two weeks due to the High Park Fire, said Park Manager Larry Butterfield.

“We’re pleased to get the park open again, but we’ve still got one eye on the fire and our thoughts remain with the men and women on the fire lines,” said Butterfield. “Thanks to the fire crews and a shift in the wind, the damage to the park was minimal and pales in comparison to the suffering that many of the families in this area are going through.”

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials estimate that the fire swept through more than 490 acres within the 2,600-acre State Park, located next to Horsetooth Reservoir. Lory has implemented Larimer County’s Stage II fire restrictions, which prohibit wood or charcoal fires. Only compressed gas fires with an off switch are allowed. And, cigarette smoking in the park is only allowed in vehicles or RV’s. Use of fireworks is always prohibited at Colorado State Parks.

“Lory State Park is a part of this foothill community and we hope that the opening will be a sign to every one of better days ahead,” he said.

While the majority of Lory State Park has reopened, backcountry camping is not currently allowed at the park, said Butterfield. All trails are open to hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Hikers are cautioned to stay on the designated trails, especially along the Timber Trail. The fire burned through the upper portion of the Timber Trail and left some minor resource damage along the trail corridor.

Lory State Park, located in Bellvue, offers visitors a variety of rugged terrain and the stunning vistas of the northern Colorado Front Range. The park features 26 miles of trails that lead through forest, meadows and rock-outcroppings, offering visitors great terrain for mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, bouldering and horseback riding. Additional information on Lory State Park is available at: www.parks.state.co.us/Parks/Lory.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife was created by the merger of Colorado State Parks and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, two nationally recognized leaders in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado's wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. To learn more about Colorado's state parks, please see: http://parks.state.co.us. To learn more about Colorado's wildlife programs, please see: http://wildlife.state.co.us.