BLM announces proposed $6-per-vehicle fee for Guffey Gorge area
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CANON CITY, Colo. – To provide much needed infrastructure and services to accommodate current visitation, the Bureau of Land Management is proposing a new $6-per-vehicle fee for a day-use pass at Guffey Gorge, also known as Paradise Cove, located in Park County, Colorado. The fee would specifically go to installing lavatories and a paved parking lot to improve the experience for the increasing number of visitors that are drawn to Guffey Gorge for its scenic value and unique, water-based recreation opportunities.
The fee would go into effect May 15 to September 30 from dawn to dusk. Passes may be purchased onsite and are not available via reservation. The BLM’s Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Council has reviewed and supports the fee proposal. Recreation on public lands contributes approximately $591 million to Colorado’s economy annually and provides for more than 4,800 jobs.
“The new fee will improve management of the Guffey Gorge day-use area by funding additional capital improvements, maintenance, and staff,” said Keith Berger, BLM Royal Gorge Field Manager. “This will support natural resource protection and enhance the overall visitor experience at this special place.”
Guffey Gorge is a remote, 80-acre public land parcel in Park County, Colorado surrounded by private land. Visitation to the area has increased significantly over the past five years, resulting in resource damage, user conflicts, and safety hazards for visitors and surrounding private land owners. Guffey Gorge is a popular location for picnicking, hiking and swimming. Recent increases in area use have resulted in significant resource damage and use conflicts.
The BLM is accepting comments on this fee proposal until February 27, 2018. For more information, contact Linda Skinner, BLM Recreation Planner, at (719) 269-8732. Comments can be submitted via email to rgfo_comments@blm.gov with “Guffey Gorge Fee Proposal” in the subject line. To review the Guffey Gorge business plan, go to https://go.usa.gov/xnKWH.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.