Efforts to restore the Hanging Lake Trail have spanned the 2020s. In the spring of 2024, a $4.7 million complete reconstruction project launched to expand access to the trail to pre-2020 levels, with everyone involved targeting June 18, 2026, as the date to unveil the final product to the public.

That day finally arrived, with the Hanging Lake Trail restored to its former glory — and beyond.

“There was no simple path forward. What followed was years of planning, collaboration, investment, hard work and conversation. An extraordinary coalition came together not just to restore the damaged Hanging Lake Trail but to rebuild it for the next century and create a more resilient trail designed to withstand future challenges while preserving future access to one of Colorado’s most beloved trails,” said Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl, the president and CEO of the National Forest Foundation, during the Hanging Lake Trail Restoration Ribbon Cutting celebration near the trailhead.

The effort brought together the U.S. Forest Service, the National Forest Foundation, the City of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and more organizations. Funding came partially from Forest Service appropriations, a CPW grant, and more than 6,000 visitors who donated their canceled reservation fees to the restoration.

Read the full story from our partner at .

announced the shortly before 6:15 a.m. Monday. The park will reopen “when it is safe to do so,” county officials said.

A woman hiking in the park at about 5:20 p.m. Sunday noticed a bear approaching humans and following hikers, according to a news release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. She told wildlife officers that the bear grabbed her backpack and “made contact” with her leg.

The bear followed the woman down the trail for more than 30 minutes, despite her attempts to scare it off with sticks, rocks and loud noises, state wildlife officials said. The bear finally left after two other hikers joined in, but it started following a separate pair of hikers on a neighboring trail, according to the release.

The nearly 800-acre Apex Park offers more than in Colorado’s foothills, including several that venture up Lookout Mountain, .

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers responded to the area Sunday night, but were unable to find the bear, according to the agency. Jefferson County officials then closed the park for “aggressive bear activity” on Monday.

“This is the first reported bear attack in Colorado for 2026,” wildlife officials stated in the release. “Bear reports to CPW are high this year, likely due to the generally warm and dry winter Colorado experienced, impacting natural forage opportunities for bears.”

A bear was sighted in a residential area near the park on Monday morning. State wildlife officers are investigating whether it’s the same bear involved in Sunday’s incident.

As of June 12, Colorado Parks and Wildlife had received 1,192 reports of bear activity across the state for 2026, .

Any bear sightings should be reported to Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Denver Office at 303-291-7227 or by calling the Colorado State Patrol at *277.

“Most conflicts between people and bears begin when bears gain access to food, garbage or other attractants left by people,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife Area Wildlife Manager Tim Kroening said in a statement. “Properly storing food, securing trash and pet food, and keeping campsites clean helps protect both people and bears.”

If a bear visits a campsite, campers can make loud noises by yelling, clapping, blowing a whistle or using an air horn, and they should always give the bear a clear path to leave, Kroening said. These actions can discourage bears from becoming comfortable around people and help prevent future conflicts.

State wildlife officials said last month that bear sightings are likely to increase in the Denver metro amid Colorado’s ongoing drought, which can deplete the animals’ natural food sources. When resources disappear in the wild, bears venture into human-populated areas in search of food.

“Bears have to eat, and they normally would be eating things like berries, cherries, nuts — things they can find in the wild,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife Public Information Officer Kara Van Hoose said in May. “When you have drought that����ap affecting the bounty of all of these, … the easiest food sources are things like human trash, bird feeders, pet food.”

This is a developing story and may be updated.

The warning comes after several people picked up or touched an injured bat near the on Sunday afternoon, according to a news release from Jefferson County Public Health. Animal control officers searched for the bat but could not find it, so the bat could not be tested for rabies.

However, several other bats found in homes or on trails in Jefferson County in recent months have tested positive for rabies, health officials said.

Anyone who touched the bat may have been exposed and should contact a healthcare provider or Jefferson County Public Health as soon as possible, officials stated in the release. Rabies is a serious disease affecting the brain and nervous system that can be deadly to people and animals if not treated right away. Treatment can prevent rabies if it is started soon after an exposure, health officials said.

Rabies is spread through the saliva of infected animals, including bats. Bats are the most commonly reported animal with rabies in the U.S., .

“Many folks want to help when they see an animal that looks hurt or injured,” Rachel Reichardt, who leads , said in a statement. “The best way we can help is to make sure that our local animal control agencies can step in.”

Signs of rabies in bats include being active during the day, being found in unusual places like inside a home or on the ground, being unable to fly or making contact with humans, according to the CDC.

“Avoid touching bats,” CDC officials wrote on the agency’s website. “Bat bites can be tiny, and you may not even know if you were bitten. If you do know that you were bitten or scratched by a bat, wash the wound with soap and water and get medical help right away. If bat saliva or brain material gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound, see a healthcare professional urgently.”

If a bat is found in a home, residents should call animal control or their local health department to capture it for rabies testing. The bat should not be released without speaking to a public health expert, and the resident should not try to touch or catch the bat themselves, CDC officials said.

Roughly 20 bat species live in Colorado, some year-round and others that only migrate through the state, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The animals “can be found in every habitat in the state, from the eastern plains to the high mountain forests and western deserts, from rural towns to downtown Denver,” .

Bats are most active during the summer and spend the winter either hibernating in underground roosts throughout the state or migrating south, .

“As temperatures are continuing to heat up, these Colorado natives are emerging from hibernation and scaring the bejesus out of us!” . “This slithery guy or gal was outside when it was discovered by a passer-by who called us to humanely relocate it to somewhere less terrifying.”

A posted by the department shows the snake curled up on the floor of the backseat of a police cruiser. Two officers are seen using a looped tool to pull the snake from the car, relocating it to a field away from the school.

Colorado’s rattlesnakes started waking up for the season in March, . They retreat to their dens in winter.

Anyone who encounters a rattlesnake should remain calm and give it plenty of space, wildlife officials said. Hikers should also let others nearby know they’ve spotted a snake.

“While you’re hiking, keep an eye out along the trail, including around large rocks and spots where a snake might be sunning itself,” wildlife officials wrote on social media. “Keep any children close by and don’t let them climb over rocks or through areas with brush. Keep dogs on a short leash and keep their noses out of holes, rock piles and thick brush.”

Rattlesnakes are more likely to be heard than seen, wildlife officials said. If someone hears one, they should freeze until they spot it so they don’t accidentally wander closer. That will also help make the person appear less threatening to the snake, .

People should stay at least five feet from rattlesnakes, which can strike at a distance up to half their body length, according to the agency. Anyone bitten should call 911 immediately.

Rattlesnake bites are usually not fatal, but can be very painful and should always be considered a medical emergency, wildlife officials said.

Beyond the opportunities for family bonding, fishing offers kids a big dose of Vitamin N (The fresh air! The Colorado sunshine!) while boosting confidence, building patience, and encouraging teamwork to boot. If nothing else, it gets everyone off screens for a few glorious, undistracted hours.

Here in Colorado, anglers have access to 6,000 miles of streams and 1,300 public lakes and reservoirs. There are some excellent mountain fishing holes, but with kids in tow, you might want to skip the long drive and instead opt for one of these local, scenic — and well-stocked — spots. We can’t guarantee a bite, but these destinations are your best bet for ensuring young anglers will actually experience the thrill of a first catch.

Know before you go

In Colorado, youths ages 15 and under fish for free. Anyone 16 and older, though, including parents helping out, should have a valid state fishing license. Purchase your annual license online, through the , or at local sporting goods stores. Keep in mind that fishing sites themselves generally don’t sell licenses.

Before you cast, be sure to brush up on local laws and statewide daily bag limits, which can vary by species and location. The , available on Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s website, has the information you’ll need. To keep Colorado’s waters healthy, anglers should always clean, drain, and dry their gear before and after use to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species. For a quick tutorial, CPW offers an excellent instructional video on YouTube titled “.”

Denver area reservoirs

Cherry Creek and Chatfield state parks are two heavy-hitters for city-proximate fishing. Periodically stocked with rainbow trout, these reservoirs also house walleye, bass, perch and catfish. Because both parks are popular with motorized boaters and swimmers, the key is finding a tranquil pocket of shoreline.

At , skip the main docks and try the south side of the reservoir. My kids and I have had luck along the low-key banks near the Platte River Trailhead parking lot. If you head to , check out the reservoir’s quieter south end as well as the shores beyond the Tower Loop parking area, near the dam. (Just remember to keep a 60-foot distance from the tower structure itself.)

Don’t discount east Aurora, which has some of the best water in the metro area. is a fantastic multi-use spot for families. Even if the tiger muskie, catfish and smallmouth bass aren’t biting, kids usually get a kick out of the crawdads and abundance of waterbirds, from herons to plovers.

Anglers with disabilities will find an ADA-accessible pier on the south side of the upper parking lot. Unlike Chatfield and Cherry Creek (above), Aurora Reservoir is not a state park, so your Keep Colorado Wild pass won’t work here; expect to pay a day-use fee ($10 in the off-season; $15 during the summer months).

For a more tucked-away feel, there’s . With 160 surface acres of water, this destination is teeming with bass, trout and perch, but take note: Only artificial flies and lures are allowed at Quincy Reservoir; bait of any kind is prohibited. Pack a picnic to enjoy at the gazebo near the water just below the ranger’s office.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocks both Aurora reservoirs; check Aurora’s municipal website for specific bag limits before heading out. No matter where you settle in, remember that the best fishing action usually happens during golden hours, in the early morning and evening.

Commerce City’s wildlife refuge

Measuring 15,000 acres, the is a Commerce City gem and one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the country. More than 300,000 visitors come each year to observe some 330 species of wildlife safeguarded by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services — and the on-site fishing is also a big draw.

Anglers of all ages are invited to try catch-and-release fishing at lakes Mary and Ladora now through November for $3 per day. (That����ap $3 in addition to the standard Colorado fishing license, but high school and college students can fish at the refuge for free with a current student ID.) All fishing is catch-and-release only; anglers must use barbless hooks, and live bait is prohibited.

You can pay any required fees at the super-fun Visitor Center, where my kids always love exploring interactive exhibits on prairie wildlife. For families totally new to the sport, the refuge offers free learn-to-fish programming all summer long. Gear is provided, and rangers are on hand to teach the basics. Consult the refuge’s website for specific dates and times.

Creek dishing in Golden

Clear Creek runs through the city of Golden, and tubers know firsthand that its rapids can get wild. For youth fishing, park at Lions Park (1300 10th St.) —  (the massive playground will be an incentive to any young holdouts — and follow the Clear Creek Trail upriver, until the cement turns into gravel. Eventually you’ll arrive at shallow banks that make it easy for little ones to access the water safely.

If you’re short on equipment, you can rent fly fishing gear nearby, at . All the normal Colorado fishing rules apply on creeks, and before heading out, always check the runoff report to ensure the water level isn’t too high to fish.

A private pond experience

Also known to some as Grandma & Grandpa’s Fishing Pond (4125 Chicago Creek Road),   g is a delightful little lake that����ap stocked so generously with rainbow trout that kids are practically guaranteed to hook something — just keep in mind that fishers pay for every catch they keep. (But since the water is privately owned, there’s no fishing license required.)

Poles and tackle are available to rent in the main office, where staff members will answer questions and clean your fish for a nominal fee.

Family-forward programming

All summer long, through its Fishing is Fun! program, urban rangers from Denver Parks and Recreation team up with local recreation centers to introduce fishing skills to families, while discussing topics such as gear, local fish species, and water safety. Nominally priced drop-in style events take place at several sites, including Garfield Lake, Berkeley Lake, Washington, Harvey, and Huston Lake parks. Equipment is provided through a Colorado Parks & Wildlife grant, while supplies last, but families with poles are encouraged to BYO.

Register online on the Denver Parks & Recreation Activities and Programs page at .

If you can’t make it to a clinic, Colorado Parks and Wildlife publishes excellent learn-to-fish pamphlets and digital guides .

Mark your calendar

On Saturday, June 27, Colorado takes over Coors Field for its annual . From noon to 5 p.m., the open concourse transforms into a giant, fly-fishing-themed expo. Expect a family-friendly lineup of activities, including casting areas, fly-tying tutorials, youth crafts, and stadium tours. Entry is free, but you’ll need to snag tickets in advance on the Troutfest Colorado website. Enter through Gate A and come hungry for standard ballpark fare.

After Parks and Wildlife agents “lethally removed” the uncollared gray wolf in Routt County, agency officials were able to confirm it was the same wolf that attacked livestock in Rio Blanco County in 2025 and early 2026.

Most recently the wolf attacked two sheep in Routt County on Wednesday and Thursday, state officials said in a news release Saturday.

Agency leaders did not specify whether all of the sheep attacks were fatal, and spokesperson Luke Perkins said more information will be included in a final report published on Parks and Wildlife’s website.

Ranchers tried to deter the wolf by sending out range riders, using livestock guardian dogs and “scare devices,” having herders present with the sheep and applying for non-lethal hazing permits, state officials said.

The ranchers worked with the wildlife agency to use “all viable and reasonable non-lethal tools and techniques” to stop the attacks, Parks and Wildlife Director Laura Clellan said in a statement.

“The decision to pursue lethal actions is never an easy one, but the circumstances around this wolf’s made this a difficult but necessary decision,” Clellan said.

The wolf was originally part of the Copper Creek Pack but has not been part of the pack since September 2024, state officials said.

Colorado’s handling of gray wolf reintroduction has remained in the spotlight since voters approved the measure in 2020.

Parks and Wildlife’s reintroduction efforts are being reviewed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which received tens of thousands of public comments about the program as of last week. One comment came from a Western Slope rancher who said her employee killed a wolf in March as it was running toward cows and calves.

The state previously rejected her application and appeal for a lethal take permit, she said.

State officials also are spending more money to reimburse ranchers for wolf attacks than is allocated to the program, approving more than $1.3 million in claims compared with $875,000 set aside as of this spring. The agency has said it has the money to pay for future claims.

Two children were sitting on a float near the reservoir’s swim beach in Cherry Creek State Park at about 4 p.m. Saturday, according to a news release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Neither child was wearing a life jacket.

One child left the float while in shallow water and walked back to shore, but the other continued floating deeper into the reservoir, agency officials said in the release. Witnesses saw the second child go underwater shortly before 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

A seasonal park ranger with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and other state park visitors jumped into the reservoir to attempt a rescue, according to the release. South Metro Fire Rescue’s dive team was conducting water rescue training in another part of the park, and divers were searching near the swim beach within minutes, according to state wildlife officials.

The child’s drowned body was recovered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s at 10:20 p.m. Saturday, according to the agency. Officials have not identified the child who died.

The West Metro Fire dive team and Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in the search and rescue operation, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

“One of my employees ended up shooting the mother female. The investigation is still ongoing and extremely stressful, costing me tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees to protect myself and my employee from facing criminal charges,” she submitted on April 7.

USFWS is obtaining has handled the reintroduction of gray wolves in the state. It had received more than 31,500 comments from around the country as of Thursday, the day before the June 5 deadline it had set.

Nottingham’s letter criticized CPW for not granting the 20,000-acre ranch, which is in Eagle and Routt counties, a “chronic depredation lethal take permit” despite three confirmed deaths of her animals due to wolves in October 2024. CPW cited a historic trash dump that Nottingham’s outfitter used during hunting season in its denial. Her appeal was also denied.

The father of the King Mountain pack died in January 2026 while CPW officers attempted to replace his GPS collar. Left to their own devices, the mother and four pups moved into a hay meadow Nottingham owned, a place where more than 1,100 cows go to calve.

Nottingham estimates she ended the previous year 60 calves short, a loss she valued at approximately $180,000. She said she and her staff were on heightened alert, on edge and vigilant during the 2026 calving season.

Her ranch hand was tending the new calves on March 10 when he noticed the mother wolf running towards some cows and their calves. He fired two warning shots, Nottingham told the . He fired a third shot, unsure if it had hit the wolf, which ran off.

On March 11, CPW received a mortality signal from Wolf 2310’s collar.

“Colorado Parks and Wildlife is leading the mortality investigation in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We are unable to share more information, including a final determination of the cause of death, while the investigation is ongoing,” CPW spokesman Luke Perkins said in a statement.

The King Mountain wolf pack was identified as its own group in the summer of 2025, and CPW highlighted it on social media, including providing video feeds from a trail camera. The mother of the King Mountain pups, an Oregon transplant, became a known entity to those watching.

Because gray wolves are considered an endangered species in Colorado, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has its own rule, known as 10(j), that applies when wolves and other predators can be harmed. Limitations include when livestock and working dogs are physically attacked or are being chased, molested or harassed in a way that would indicate they are about to be attacked.

The King Mountain case, if it moves forward, would be the first Colorado case where the 10(j) rule applies.

Colorado voters in 2020 approved Proposition 114, mandating the reintroduction of gray wolves west of the Continental Divide. The program remains highly controversial, but it has strong backing from Front Range residents.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife was put in charge of the program, which got underway in late 2023. Twenty-five wolves came in two waves — half of an eventual goal of 50 animals.

But of the 25 introduced, only a dozen or so are left. CPW is under intense pressure from wildlife advocates who don’t want to see any more losses and from the Trump administration, which wants to block future relocations, especially from Canada.

The state has tried to strike a balance between protecting the economic livelihood of ranchers and establishing an apex predator that was once active in the state.

“Wolves are vital members of many ecosystems and thrived in Colorado for a long period before being driven out of the state,” Thomas Kettner of Colorado Springs, wrote in . “At a time when the moose and elk populations are growing to levels that threaten wetlands and other ecosystems through over-grazing, we need more predators to help cull these herds.”

But ranchers argue that the CPW’s dual mandate of monitoring and protecting the new packs and of also investigating their attacks and making payments for damages creates an inherent conflict of interest that is harming them.

The issue has become even more politicized after the Trump administration issued a “desist” demand on importing wolves from Canada. In an October 2025 letter, USFWS Director Brian Nesvik threatened to strip CPW of oversight of the existing packs if the importation ban was not followed.

“The wolves are not at fault; they simply do not belong here and cannot survive,” Nottingham wrote. “Meanwhile, the emotional and financial stress on ranchers is immense and ongoing.”

Larimer County emergency crews responded to reports that a in the 3100 block of North County Road 19 at 6 p.m., the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

As swift water rescue teams searched the ditch, a neighbor found the child and started CPR. He was taken to the hospital by emergency medical crews but did not survive, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office is investigating the case and victim advocates are supporting the boy’s family and neighbors, according to the agency.

The boy’s name, cause and manner of death will be released by the Larimer County Coroner’s Office.

“Sudden loss is never easy, but losing a child is especially hard,” Undersheriff Joe Shellhammer said in a statement Wednesday. “Our hearts are heavy today for this family and everyone who knew this little boy.”

A 4-year-old boy also died Tuesday night after falling into St. Vrain Creek southwest of Lyons in Boulder County, where he was camping with his family.

Anyone who witnessed the Larimer County incident and has not spoken to police can contact Investigator Marcus Simelane at 970-498-5515.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocks life jacket loan stations at dozens of state parks and has more online. Many Denver-area and Colorado outdoor gear stores also offer life jacket rentals.

Wildlife officials recorded wolf activity from along the Wyoming border near Steamboat Springs to as far south as Gunnison. The wolves’ territory extended west to near Grand Junction and east to Vail Pass.

The map released Wednesday shows watersheds where at least one wolf was active between April 21 and May 26. The map shows that the wolves’ general locations changed little from the month prior.

CPW officials said then that spring denning had begun, limiting the movement of many of the canines. Wolf pups are born in the spring, and their birth limits the travel of their pack. State biologists are monitoring dens for signs of new pups.

At least 14 pups were born last spring, CPW officials announced earlier this month. Those births brought the total known wolf population in the state to 32.

A different map released earlier this month showed that much of the wolves’ activity over the last year has been concentrated in the mountains that stretch south from Walden and Steamboat Springs to Vail. The area between Glenwood Springs and Gunnison, too, has seen a more consistent wolf presence.