Trail conditions at Staunton State Park

The park received just a small amount of snow in this weekend's storm. This means all trails will be icy including lower trails that had dried out this past week. Users who choose to come to the park in the next couple of days should take note that extremely cold temperatures make for dangerous conditions and proper attire should be worn. Note also that ice flows from creeks and streams will be covered with a thin layer of snow, so caution should be taken at all crossings. Hikers should plan to bring some type of traction/spikes.

Later this week, as temperatures warm, expect drying conditions on lower trails. Upper trails will be snow packed and icy.

Recent photos by Ranger Dale:

Staunton State Park trails report for Sunday March 14, 2021

ALERT...The blizzard has dropped around 2 feet of snow on the park as of this date with more snow coming. Park staff are working hard to keep the road into the park open along with plowing of parking lots. It is highly recommended that visitors stay home until the weather lets up and conditions improve.

When conditions improve the best way to navigate trails will be by snow shoes or by cross country skis. Trails will be covered in deep snow and upper trails will be especially difficult to navigate without snow shoes or skis. Bikers: trails will be nearly impossible to navigate until melting occurs and trails are well packed.

Please continue to check the website for future reports on conditions.

3/15 update 830am:
The main park road is plowed but no parking lots have been cleared yet.

Trails in the park are continuing to dry out due to the warm and dry weather of the past week. Visitors can expect dry lower trails, but some upper trails are still ice packed. These conditions will continue to exist as wetter and colder weather is expected in the middle of next week through the weekend. Hikers should bring some type of traction/spikes for upper trails and bikers should check the conditions of each upper trail listed in this report as some are still not navigable.

Cautions: Any visitor intending to hike or bike to Elk Falls trail should be aware that lower Chimney Rock trail(eastern side) is extremely icy. Hikers should have good spikes/traction and bikers are discouraged from traveling this section of trail due to the icy conditions. An alternate route to the falls would be to take Lions Back trail from Elk Falls pond to the upper (western) Chimney Rock trailhead, about 2/3 mile from the pond, and travel east to Elk Falls trail from here. Return by way of the west side of CR and back down LB trail.

Mason Creek canyon is also very icy and users should take extreme caution especially coming down this section of trail. Spikes/traction are highly recommended for hikers and bikers should plan to dismount when coming down this section.

Bikers: Bear Paw and West Meadow trails are still very difficult to navigate due to some areas of deep snow that is not well packed especially on their summits. Also, the very upper regions of Mason Creek trail are unevenly packed and make for a bumpy ride.

All users please note: Lions Head trail is closed until August 1. Please respect this seasonal closure. Historic Cabin Trail is closed due to construction on the Staunton Cabin.

Lower trails: These will include Staunton Ranch (SR), Davis Ponds (DP), lower Mason Creek (MC), Chase Meadow (CM), Dines connector trail (DM), the historic cabin trail, all climbing access and the access road: These trails are mostly dry with a few areas of slush and ice...also mud in the afternoon.

Upper trails:

• Mason Creek canyon--(MC)--very icy...use caution when coming down this trail...hikers should use traction/spikes on this section of trail....bikers...it is recommended you dismount especially when coming down this section of trail.
• Upper Mason Creek--(MC)--snow packed and packed ice....upper part of this trail has some packed but deep snow and will make for an uneven ride for bikers
• Bear Paw-- (BP)--snow and ice packed....some areas of deep snow that is not well packed...this trail is NOT recommended for bikers due to uneven packing
• Border Line--(BL)--snow and ice packed on the east side and summit and drying on the western end
• Old Mill--(OM)--ice packed especially on the upper end....some drying on lower part
• Scout Line---(SL)--mostly dry with a few patches of packed ice
• Marmot Passage--(MP)--stretches of packed ice mixed with dry trail....west side is dry
• Chimney Rock--(CR)--eastern (lower) end is extremely icy from the junction with Lions Back trail to the junction of Elk Falls trail. Hikers should have GOOD traction/spikes for this section and bikers should not travel this part of the trail due to the icy conditions. See above for an alternate route to Elk Falls. Upper section (west side) is mostly dry.
• Elk Falls--(EF)--some icy patches mixed with dry trail
• Lions Back--(LB)--snow and ice packed mixed with dry trail
• Lions Head--(LH)--CLOSED---please respect this closure
• West Meadow--(WM)--this trail is drying out on the upper section but deep, unpacked or little packed snow still exists....this trail is NOT recommended for bikers due to uneven packing
• Bugling Elk--(BE)--east side is ice packed mixed with some dry....west side is dry

Due to several storms this past week, the park received a good amount of snow. As a result, ALL trails are covered and some with a deep base of snow. Lower trails have some packing but upper trails are mostly unpacked or with little packing as of this date. Snow shoeing and cross country skiing are possible. The future forecast for the upcoming week is for more snow, especially Monday through Thursday, so expect the snowy conditions noted here to continue. Hikers: Spikes/traction will be needed later in the week as the weather becomes dryer and warmer and trails become icy.

Special Cautions:
BIKERS: Some upper trails will be difficult to navigate due to deep snow and very little packing. These trails include upper Mason Creek, Bear Paw, Chimney Rock, West Meadow and Lions Back. Other upper trails such as Marmot Passage, Border Line and Bugling Elk will be easier to navigate as more packing takes place along with drying later in the week.
Mason Creek canyon is covered in packed snow as of this date.

HIKERS: snow shoes will be the best way to travel on upper trails before packing occurs, especially for Bear Paw, upper Mason Creek, West Meadow, Chimney Rock and Lions Back trails.
Notes: All users heading for Elk Falls should be prepared for deep snow conditions.

Lions Head trail is closed until August 1.

The Historic Cabins trail is closed due to construction on Staunton cabin until further notice.
Please respect all trail closures.

A lot of drying took place this past week in the park. As a result most trails are either completely dry or mostly dry with just a few stretches of ice or mud. Lower trails are completely dry.

Users who are planning a trip to Elk Falls will be delighted to find that the falls are no longer frozen and are flowing at a spring rate.. Very few problems exist on Chimney Rock trail to the Falls trail, but there are still some small areas of ice. Users coming down the trail should be cautious especially on the lower end of this trail.

Upper Mason Creek, Bear Paw and West Meadow trails are drying out rapidly but still have some areas of ice and mud.

With warmer weather, especially toward the middle and end of the coming week, trails will continue to dry and summer conditions will exist on all trails in the park. This will be the last trails report of the season unless the park receives a great deal of snow.

Note: Lions Head trail is closed until August 1.
The cabin district trail is closed due to construction on the Staunton cabin.

Thank you for following our reports. Watch for them to resume next snow season.

www.facebook.com/visitStauntonStatePark/

Some may have been wondering where the trails reports for the park have been. As of the above date, trails in the park are very dry to mostly dry with small traces of snow or patchy ice only in shaded areas. Due to warm and dry weather the park's trails have been in mostly summer (dry) conditions. This coming week is calling for some precipitation and if these conditions change this report will be updated. For now please continue to check the website for updates! cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Staunton

The park received a couple of inches of snow in the recent storm and all trails have some form of precipitation. However, most trails are well packed due to foot races on Saturday and some lower trails are mostly dry.

With a warmer and dryer forecast for the next few days, trails will continue to dry. Watch for icy and snow packed spots on upper trails and especially in Mason Creek canyon, the lower (east) side of Chimney Rock and the lower (east) end of West Meadow trails.

There are no special cautions. Snow shoeing and skiing are not practical or possible as of this date.
NOTE: Mason Creek trail is open the entire span. Also, Lions Head trail is open. A thin layer of ice is covering Davis Ponds-ice fishing it not recommended.

Please obey signs for trails that are closed for construction.

The park received a small amount of snow this past week. Much of that has melted off on the lower trails and upper trails are a mixture of light snow pack and dry trail. Skiers and snowshoers will be disappointed again as it is not possible to do either activity due to such dry conditions. Any snow currently on trails will continue to melt this coming week as warmer and drier conditions are predicted. As a result this report will hold until the park receives significant precipitation.

Lower trails, including Staunton Ranch, lower Mason Creek, Davis Ponds, Historic Cabin district, Chase Meadow and all climbing access are mostly dry with thin patches of snow in shaded areas.

Upper trails including Mason Creek canyon, upper Mason Creek, Bear Paw, Old Mill, Border Line, Marmot Passage, Scout Line, Bugling Elk, Chimney Rock, Elk Falls, Lions Head, Lions Back and West Meadow have a shallow layer of packed snow mixed with dry trail. East facing or shaded sections of trail will have the most snow and expect melting in these areas during the coming week as well.

Cautions: For all users...some creek crossings on upper Mason Creek trail have ice flows covering the trail. A large flow is covering the trail near the Old Mill. Use caution especially coming down this trail. Border Line also has a small ice flow in the area near Old Mill. This flow could possibly grow in size as melting continues.

Important information: PLEASE RESPECT ALL TRAIL CLOSINGS THAT ARE DUE TO CONSTRUCTION.

Happy Holidays from the staff and volunteers of Staunton State Park!
Photos taken on Mason Creek

The park received a small amount of additional snow this past week, but for the most part, some drying has occurred especially on lower trails. The upcoming week's forecast is for warmer and drier weather so visitors should expect to see some dry areas, especially on lower trails and thawing and re-freezing on all trails. Hikers may want to bring some form of spikes/traction as iciness exists on many of the trails. Snow shoeing is possible on upper trails and deep snow exists in some areas. Some packing exists on upper trails like Old Mill (OM), Border Line (BL), Scout Line (SL), Marmot Passage (MP) Bugling Elk (BE) and Chimney Rock (CR). Other upper trails may not be broken in or well packed. These will include Lions Back(LB) , Bear Paw,(BP) West Meadow(WM) and Lions Head (LH). The trail to Elk Falls should be snow packed with dry areas.

Lower trails include Staunton Ranch (SR), Davis Ponds (DP), lower Mason Creek (MC), Chase Meadow (CM), Historic Cabins and climbing access. These trails are ice and snow packed but are drying out quickly.

Cautions: Large ice flows are covering upper Mason Creek trail at the creek crossing above the Old Mill and also at the upper part of the aspen meadow at the creek crossing. These flows are very long. Take caution especially when coming down these areas. An ice flow also exists on Border Line trail near the Old Mill.

Bikers: Upper trails including Bear Paw, West Meadow. upper Mason Creek and Lions Back are covered in deeper snow and are not well broken in. These trails will be difficult to navigate.
Please note: All trails are open; however please observe trail closing signs for trails under construction.
The new Lazy V parking lot is now open. Please respect private residences and stay on the road.

www.facebook.com/visitStauntonStatePark

The park received more snow in the recent snow storm. As a result lower trails are snow packed with some melting and upper trails are snow packed with some deep snow covering some areas. Hikers should plan to bring some form of traction/spikes especially as the snow melts and re freezes. Snow shoeing is possible on some of the upper trails. The forecast is calling for more snow possibly by mid week so expect these conditions to continue with more snow covering the park.

Cautions: Ice flows continue to cover some of the upper trails including Mason Creek and Border Line. All users should use extreme caution at creek crossings. Mason Creek canyon is snow packed.

Bikers: Be aware that some trails including Bear Paw, upper Mason Creek, West Meadow and Lions Back may contain areas of deep snow which will be difficult to navigate since they may not be well packed.

Hikers: Lions Head trail is barely broken in. Elk Falls trail is snow packed, but Chimney Rock trail to the trailhead will be icy.

Currently all trails in the park are open. A reminder to stay on the road if you are traveling to Lazy V parking area and respect private residences.

Lower trails: These will include Staunton Ranch (SR), Davis Ponds (DP), lower Mason Creek (MC), Chase Meadow (CM), Dines Meadow (DM) and Historic Cabins....slushy, some snow packing and will be icy especially in the morning. Climbing access trails are either not broken in or not well packed.

Upper trails: These will include Mason Creek canyon and upper Mason Creek (MC), Bear Paw (BP), Old Mill (OM), Border Line (BL), Scout Line (SL), Marmot Passage (MP), Chimney Rock (CR), Elk Falls (EF), Lions Back (LB), West Meadow (WM) and Bugling Elk (BE): Some snow packing. Expect some areas of deeper snow.