The officials voiced those concerns Wednesday as a brigade of state firefighters trained at the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel, spraying water from a $700,000 pumper truck, a smaller “quick reaction” pumper truck, and hoses. Another brigade trained at the Hanging Lake Tunnel in Glenwood Canyon. A few years ago, CDOT crews at the Eisenhower Tunnel, which runs for 1.7 miles under the Continental Divide, relied on a single 30-year-old fire truck.

At least four certified firefighters man the Eisenhower tunnel around the clock, tasked with responding in seconds if sensors detect flames — first evacuating people, then clearing vehicles, then activating a $25 million automated spray system. “We never know what’s going to happen. We always have to be ready,” four-year firefighter Damion Sands said during a break. They count on support from full fire crews arriving from Summit County to the west or Clear Creek County to the east.

For decades, CDOT has managed the vehicle fire risks from industry tanker trucks hauling oil, gas, and other hazardous materials on I-70. State officials have relied on the practice of diverting all hazmat trucks off I-70 and over 11,990-foot Loveland Pass.

But now there’s a new threat.

“What we’re worried about is the EV fires. They don’t go out,” said Jori Ernst, CDOT’s emergency manager, during the training. “We’re not going to be able to fight them.”

Firefighters in full yellow garb, lugging respirators, practiced with hoses and water spray guns that can be controlled using joy sticks inside the trucks. They’re developing strategies for removing burning EVs from the tunnel and letting them burn outside. Crews are practicing with EV fire blankets — heavy tarps they can throw over burning vehicles to contain flames.

There’s never been a fatality caused by a vehicle fire in the Colorado I-70 mountain tunnels. But the a year ago in Wyoming that killed three people, and the 1999 in Europe that killed 39 people, have spurred safety efforts worldwide.

While EV risks aren’t fully understood, firefighters know the batteries that power them “burn hot, and release a lot of toxins,” complicating responses, CDOT fire program manager Peter Igel said. “Do we prevent the exposures and let those fires burn? Or do we try to suppress the fire? If the fire is in the tunnel, hopefully, we can move the burning vehicle outside.”

Since 2017, vehicles have caught fire and burned in the Eisenhower tunnel five times, forcing closures that lasted up to 14 hours, said Paul Fox, manager of CDOT’s tunnels.

The last fire on July 17, 2023, engulfed a van carrying 10 tourists, leading to an eight-hour closure. “We got them all out. They were worried about their luggage,” Fox said.

Another fire broke out in a box truck loaded with cardboard, he said. And one broke in an RV when a generator ignited.

“In the end, it doesn’t matter what starts the fire. It is if the big one happens. We are just worried about that.”

Kenny Espinosa, 27, is a suspect in the death of a man found shot to death at Wolff Run Park early Saturday morning, Westminster Police Department spokesperson Samantha Spitz said.

She confirmed that he had been taken into custody shortly after 2:30 p.m. in a text message to The Denver Post.

Westminster police responded at 7 a.m. Saturday to a request for a welfare check at the park after people found the man lying face-down in the parking lot near West 76th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard. The man, who was dead, had several gunshot wounds, police said.

Eagle County sheriff’s deputies forced a suspect car linked to a Westminster homicide to a stop on eastbound I-70 early Tuesday morning. Espinosa then fled the scene after a shootout with law enforcement that injured another person in the car, according to a from the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office.

Eagle County Sheriff James Van Beek previously identified Espinosa as a 30-year-old man.

The Westminster shooting victim will be identified by the Adams County Coroner’s Office.

Vail Public Safety Communications, the dispatch center that serves all of Eagle County, received an alert just after 4 a.m. Tuesday that Espinosa may be traveling near Gypsum, according to the release.

Espinosa was believed to be armed and accompanied by hostages, Eagle County sheriff’s officials said in the release. Investigators have not yet determined if the five people in the car with the homicide suspect were hostages or how they were related, Van Beek said.

An Eagle County deputy found a car matching the suspect vehicle’s description speeding down westbound I-70 near Glenwood Springs early Tuesday morning and pursued it, according to the release.

Deputies tried to pull the driver over after he exited the westbound highway at No Name and got back onto eastbound I-70, but the driver refused to stop, sheriff’s officials said. Eagle County deputies then forced the car to a stop with a spike strip near milemarker 130.

Two people got out of the car, at least one of whom had a gun, and shots were fired between the two and law enforcement, Eagle County sheriff’s officials said. Sheriff’s officials did not specify if Espinosa was the driver.

One of the two was shot during the exchange and one fled the scene, prompting a manhunt, according to the sheriff’s office.

The remaining four passengers in the car were then contacted by law enforcement, according to the release.

As of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, I-70 had reopened between exit 114 for west Glenwood Springs and exit 147 in Gypsum, .

Updated 2:56 p.m., Jan. 14, 2026: Because of incorrect information from a source, a previous version of this story incorrectly spelled Kenny Espinosa’s last name. The story has been updated.

The iconic 6-mile roundtrip hike is in a red-ribboned rock formation in the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness (which are actually in Arizona, near the Utah border). But because of its delicate nature, would-be visitors have to enter a daily lottery to get a permit, helping limit the number of people tramping over the sandstone. The in-person lottery has since been replaced by a daily online lottery that is monitored by a “mobile geofence system,” meaning you have to be nearby to fill it out. There is also an advance lottery four months out.

It wasn’t my lucky day, though, and the trip is still a goal.

The Wave may be one of the oldest (since the 1980s) and most familiar examples of land managers instituting a system to protect special places from excessive use, but it����ap not alone. Perhaps thanks in part to social media, some spots are just too popular for their own good.

Below is a list of some of the best and most famous lotteries. It’s by no means complete, and you can find more under the “permits” tag at .

UTAH/ARIZONA

The Wave in Coyote Buttes North

As mentioned above, if you want to hike the Wave, plan to spend some time in the BLM office in Kanab, Utah; that’s where you’ll go to pick up the permit and attend a safety lesson. Understand more about the process at . If you strike out with The Wave, you can still have a pretty epic day of hiking in this area, though. We ended up at nearby White Pocket. You must have a high-clearance vehicle to get to the trailhead as it is on unimproved roads with sand drifts. Or, speak to the experts at the BLM about how to get to the trailhead or hire a local guide. Other hikes with groovy natural formations in the area include the Sand Caves and Red Canyon Slot.

Angels Landing in Zion National Park

As someone with a fear of heights, I can’t understand the appeal of Angels Landing, but lots of other people do, which is why it is so popular. This 5-mile hike includes narrow strips of rock with sheer drops on both sides. The payoffs are 360-degree views and bragging rights.

To obtain a permit, go to the , and pay a $6 non-refundable fee to enter the lottery up to seven days in advance for up to six people at a time. You will be redirected to recreation.gov, which manages all permits. If you score a permit, you’ll pay $3 per person to do the hike. Note that due to limited cell phone service, you need to print or download the permit before coming to the park. Hiking choices are limited to the next day (not the day of) or a week in advance. Getting to the trailhead requires taking a shuttle, so check the schedule or you’ll miss your time slot.

Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park

In 2006, the National Park Service switched from a waitlist to a lottery for noncommercial rafting permits on the portion of the Colorado River that snakes through the Grand Canyon. In season, about 450 permits are awarded for 12 to 25-day raft trips. Before the lottery system, the waitlist was exceeding 25 years for some boaters!

This is a “weighted lottery” where a person’s previous experience — or lack thereof — is factored in. This is not a trip for novices, so the permitting process includes meeting park service standards for the skills to raft this river.

Once you get , know that it can’t be traded, deferred, or changed. And bring your wallet — the lottery application fee is $25, a river permit costs $90 per person, and an entrance fee is $20 per person. There is also a trip deposit of $200 to $400.

Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon

The Havasupai Indian Reservation is in Havasu Canyon, which is part of the Grand Canyon. Supai Village is only accessible by foot or horseback (or mule), and no day hiking is allowed. Depending on your final destination, the village or campground, it’s an 8- to 10-mile hike down into the canyon and along the bottom. Temperatures can exceed 115 degrees in summer.

The attraction here is the icy blue waters that tumble across red rocks, including Havasu Falls. Devastating floods wrecked the area in 2024, but it has since reopened and is still a stunning locale that attracts many more requests to visit than it can handle.

Which is why there is a lottery system; and aren’t managed by the National Park Service.

If you aren’t going to set up your own camp, you can make a reservation at the lodge in Supai Village. There are detailed rules for when you can hike in and back out based on your reservation dates, along with a need to have a group leader and to bring your paperwork. Another option, which I used with success, was to go with a commercial guide who secures the permits so you don’t leave it up to chance. You will be camping with your group, and not staying in the lodge, which means carrying more gear on your hike.

For the lucky ones who score a permit for a non-commercial excursion, don’t expect to buy any supplies in Supai Village. Pack in everything you need, and pack everything back out with you.

COLORADO

Maroon Bells

The most photographed destination in Colorado, the twin peaks of the Maroon Bells, outside of Aspen attract 300,000 visitors every year, according to tourism officials in the area.

Once you’re here, there are many hiking options, from easier ones like the one-mile loop around Maroon Lake to harder trails, like the 11-mile one-way trek across 12,500-foot West Maroon Pass to Crested Butte.

Unless you are riding your bicycle here, during peak months. Reservation costs range from $10 to $20, depending on whether you’re parking your own vehicle or taking the shuttle. Note that there is a fee between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to get picked up by a friend, and all commercial ride services are not allowed for drop off or pick-up.

Much harder to get are backcountry permits for the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, which go on sale each year and allow access to the famed Conundrum Hot Springs, as well as Capitol Lake, Crater Lake and the Four Pass Loop.

Hanging Lake

Tucked inside the White River National Forest in Glenwood Canyon is Hanging Lake, a thanks to its exquisite beauty.

The trail is only a little over a mile long, but it is steep and rocky. The reward for your efforts is a waterfall pouring gently into clear, bluish-green lake. A wooden walkway hugs the side of the lake and provides a clear place to remain on land, not in the tempting cool waters.

What could be called a series of unfortunate events — overuse, wildfire, debris runoff — culminated in multiple closures of the trail in the past few years for repair and restoration. It’s now scheduled to reopen as of July 1, 2025. And reservations are required. There is a $12 per person permit cost; no dogs are allowed. .

CALIFORNIA

Half Dome in Yosemite National Park

Half Dome is one of the most recognized places in Yosemite National Park for its unique shape: one sheer face and three rounded sides, making it look like a dome cut in half.

The 400-foot climb to the top is one of the more sought-after experiences in the park, so there is a seasonal permit lottery system. The fixed cables that make this climb possible are put in each spring and removed in the fall, so access is limited.

There is a preseason lottery and then the daily lottery for two days in advance with six permits per application. Only 225 hikers are permitted per day through recreation.gov. The cost is $10 for each lottery application and each award hiker pays $10 for their permit.

A climbing harness is recommended, but not provided. This is not a guided experience so each hiker is responsible for their own safety.

TENNESSEE

Synchronous fireflies in Great Smoky National Park

Surprisingly, one of the most limited and dicey lotteries is the one to view the synchronous fireflies in Great Smoky National Park during eight days in June. Everything about this is limited, and then there are no guarantees that the wildlife will perform on cue.

The lottery for a vehicle reservation opens on April 28 at 10 a.m. EDT and closes by 8 p.m. on May 1. Less than 1,000 vehicles are allowed during the entire event, predicted to peak June 4-11. There is a $1 nonrefundable application fee and a $24 registration fee if you win a permit.

For those who do get a permit, there are strict guidelines about the lighting you bring with you, such as using a red flashlight rather than a bright cell phone light.

After 35 years with the forest service, the last 15 as the man in charge of Colorado’s sprawling White River forest, Fitzwilliams took advantage of buyouts offered to federal employees last month as the Trump administration sought to cut the size of government.

He maintains he was not making a political statement, though.

“I was probably going to retire in the next year anyway,” said Fitzwilliams, 60. “I have 35 years in, and I want to do some other things. With everything going on, I thought, ‘Well, now is a good time.’”

While not politicizing his departure, he worries about the short-term future of the 3,600-square-mile forest he managed — which stretches from the Continental Divide to Glenwood Springs and beyond — as well as other national forests.

Because of its 11 ski areas, which operate on forest land with special use permits, along with 10 fourteeners and other exceptional hiking opportunities, White River is the busiest national forest in the U.S.

“When you don’t have boots on the ground — and that����ap the people we’re getting rid of, seasonal and part-time people — that concerns me,” Fitzwilliams said. “Maybe it����ap short-term, and through whatever plan is put in place, we’ll get through it, but I’m really worried about this upcoming season with so few people working in the field.

“I say that now as what will be a retired user of public lands,” the Wisconsin native added. “I want trails clear. I want bathrooms cleaned, toilets pumped. That stuff is just basic services that, right now, forests are struggling to figure out how that can get done.”

He’s also troubled because many experienced forest service lifers are taking the same exit path he did. White River’s deputy supervisor, Heather Noel, also resigned.

“People are signing up for early retirement,” Fitzwilliams said. “The amount of institutional knowledge that is about to walk out the door should worry everyone.”

Joe Lavorini, Rocky Mountain region program director for the non-profit National Forest Foundation, says Fitzwilliams was a one-of-a-kind leader who was an “amazing advocate” for public lands.

“His team admired Scott for his innovation, but also the high standard to which he held himself,” Lavorini said. “He knew what the land needed, protecting the resource, but also protecting the user experience. I really admired the balanced approach that he took to managing national forest service lands.”

Because the mandate of the forest service within the U.S Department of Agriculture is to manage its lands for “multiple use,” making decisions for White River involves mineral exploration, grazing, logging and oil and gas development. Recreation is its top priority, though. The forest attracts approximately 10 million visitors annually.

That means many of the issues Fitzwilliams worked to solve involved growing visitation pressures, such as implementing a reservation system for Hanging Lake and requiring permits for backcountry camping in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.

“Anytime you talk about permitting to go camping, just to stay overnight, that����ap hard because the great part about national forests is that you’re free to roam,” Fitzwilliams said. “But the impacts were such that we had to do something. There was human feces all over the place. There was garbage all over the place. There was no solitude. Campsites were trashed. It wasn’t a wilderness experience, and we weren’t meeting the intent of the (federal) wilderness act.”

Parking reservations at the Quandary Peak trailhead, managed by Summit County, were another innovation to address increasing visitation during Fitzwilliams’ tenure. Yet another was summer closures of the parking area at the Booth Creek trailhead near Vail, where hikers access the popular trail via shuttles from Vail parking structures.

Massive challenges came from the Grizzly Creek wildfire in 2020, which was followed by flooding and debris flows a year later which severely damaged the iconic Hanging Lake trail in Glenwood Canyon. White River collaborated with Great Outdoors Colorado, the National Forest Foundation and others to fund trail reconstruction that the forest otherwise would not have been able to afford.

“I don’t have the exact numbers, but let’s just say it was a $4.5-million remake, and less than a million was taxpayer money,” Fitzwilliams said. “Shared stewardship — that’s people coming together and solving a problem. It’s an example of the work we were able to do, and that’s what I’ll miss most.”

Lavorini admired the way Fitzwilliams brought those stakeholders together to rebuild the trail better than it was before. The project is expected to be finished this summer.

“He recognized we were going to need to bring in other partners in order to raise the funds and give Hanging Lake the care and attention it needed after the Grizzly Creek fire,” Lavorini said. “He recognized that in order to manage these lands sustainably, we need to foster stewardship and create the next generation of environmental stewards. To do that, people need to interact with their public lands. They need to be able to visit these places.”

Fitzwilliams and Gov. Jared Polis alarmed locals in Garfield and Eagle counties in 2021 after the governor announced that Sweetwater Lake would become Colorado’s 43rd state park on land owned by the forest service but managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Three and a half years later, it remains unclear whether CPW will manage the property and, if it does, whether it will be designated a state park.

Locals in Garfield and Eagle counties feared Sweetwater would be overrun by visitors. Fitzwilliams insisted that visitors from afar were going to discover Sweetwater no matter what, but concedes White River could have done a better job communicating why asking CPW to administrate it was necessary.

“That whole vision of state park, and what a state park looks like, took over a little bit,” Fitzwilliams said. “We had to backtrack, and hopefully they will be able to catch up.”

Fitzwilliams says his White River tenure was a dream job, and that he turned down promotions at the regional and national level because he enjoyed “rolling up sleeves with partners and communities, solving problems.”

Despite the current challenges facing federal land managers, Fitzwilliams calls himself an “eternal optimist,” and he notes that the national debt stands at $36 trillion.

“There’s no bigger advocate of getting rid of inefficiencies in government than I am, especially when you live it for 35 years,” he said. “But short-term, it����ap going to be a bumpy ride, and I’m a little worried about how you bounce back.”

The stunning 1.2-mile trail in Dead Horse Canyon, which climbs 1,200 feet to a picturesque lake fed by waterfalls, underwent a major reconstruction project last summer with work left to be finished this spring. Crews need to complete trail work, assemble seven bridges over Dead Horse Creek and build a boardwalk at Spouting Rock, which is a short hike above the lake.

The trail was open off and on last summer during construction. Lisa Langer, tourism director for Visit Glenwood Springs, got to preview the lower part of trail last fall.

“The first part is so nice now,” Langer said. “They’ve levelled off things and made smaller steps. It’s much more manageable, especially for people that maybe have knee issues and things. It’s lovely.”

Project managers expect most of the work to be finished by July 1, the first day for which reservations will be available starting Monday at 8 a.m.

The trail was severely damaged by the Grizzly Creek wildfire in 2020 and subsequent burn-scar debris flows caused by torrential rains in 2021. Officials of the White River National Forest decided to do more than repair the trail, opting to modernize it by making it more user-friendly and better able to withstand runoff from summer downpours.

“It’s much more stable than it was,” Langer said.

The trail is currently closed. Because the progress of construction is dependent on when the trail is clear of snow and ice, the boardwalk at Spouting Rock may not be finished when the trail opens on July 1. “It just depends on the weather,” Langer said.

Reservations will cost $12 per person and will be . Trail reconstruction was funded by Great Outdoors Colorado, the Colorado Lottery, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the National Forest Foundation, city of Glenwood Springs and the U.S. Forest Service.

The interstate was closed about 10 miles east of Glenwood Springs, between exit 125 for Hanging Lake and exit 129 for Bair Ranch, . It reopened just before 6 p.m. Sunday.

Multiple Waze users in the area reported standstill traffic backing up 2 miles east of the crash during the closure.

This is a developing story and may be updated. 

“The trail looks amazing with significant stonework completed, including rock steps and retaining walls,” Eagle-Holy Cross district ranger Leanne Veldhuis said in a news release. “With the new bridges still needing to be stabilized and the final climb to the lake still under construction, we will keep the trail closed through the winter for public safety.”

The trail can be even more beautiful in the winter than it is in the summer, turning the famous waterfalls at the lake into icicles. And, unlike other seasons of the year, trail reservations are not required during the winter.

The trail was open intermittently this past summer when construction activity allowed for it. The materials for replacing seven bridges were transported to the trail by helicopters last month, and construction will resume in the spring when snow cover is not an impediment. The bridges need to be finished and a boardwalk will be constructed at Spouting Rock above the lake.

The trail sustained serious damage from a series of debris flows in 2021 that were associated with burn scars from the Grizzly Creek wildfire of 2020. A temporary trail was reopened in 2022, which was followed by a more elaborate modernization reconstruction this year.

To the consternation of us Colorado natives and those who live in mountain communities, inconsiderate people have spoiled a rite of autumn — leaf peeping. Even on weekdays, roads to scenic aspen byways nearest the Front Range have become nearly as congested as Denver city streets during rush hour. Illegally parked cars further narrow the mountain roads worsening traffic. Sherriff deputies in rural counties have to cover hundreds of square miles and may be called away from traffic enforcement to handle real emergencies. This limits the number of vehicles they can ticket.

Worse, some tourons dump trash at the trailhead or leave bags of dog waste along the trail for the rest of us to enjoy. One frustrated woman picked up 110 bags of poop on a single hike. Do we have to bring the famed “Crying Indian” — Italian actor Iron Eyes Cody — out of retirement? How about the Woodsy Owl? Some people need a refresher about polluting our public lands.

It����ap a shame there are too many people on the road, too many illegally parked vehicles, and too many selfish hikers to enjoy the color-changing aspen like we once did. There’s nothing we can do about the population increase — 2 million people moved here since we hiked these trails in the 1970s — but for the latter two problems, there are options.

We could encourage people to take selfies with mountain fauna especially large wild ungulates and/or mama bears. Stand close for the perfect shot! Kiss that cub! We could put up misleading traffic signs to encourage detours to New Mexico. Tell released wolves that if they like the taste of Hereford calf, they’ll love tourists. Give that civically minded citizen who cleaned up after other hikers a tow truck and license to remove vehicles parked illegally or owned by litterers. Install cameras so the rest of us can relish the moment of understanding. Bet they’ll give a hoot now.

Faced with 21.8 million international visitors this summer, not all of them well-mannered, Spain’s native sons and daughters took to the streets demanding curbs on mass tourism. Maybe mountain residents could do the same. Hey ho, Front Range leaf peepers have got to go!

In all seriousness, authorities should levy higher fines for illegal parking and littering to deter these behaviors. Other changes may be necessary so that everyone can enjoy these once a year views. Just as park services have required reservations for hiking Hanging Lake trails and the Manitou Incline, it may be time require reservations for narrow scenic byways and trails. Otherwise, longtime residents will resent new comers, especially the inconsiderate ones.

Colorado’s population growth hasn’t been all bad, not by a long shot. Benefits include economic growth, new artistic, recreational, and cultural amenities, regenerated urban neighborhoods, and more public revenue for parks and trails. There have been costs, too, including more traffic, higher housing costs, and crowding of public spaces. Additional mitigation is necessary to ensure equitable access to public land.

Until then, I’ll settle for viewing aspen’s less flamboyant lower elevation relative — the humble cottonwood. With its deeply grooved bark and shimmering gold leaves, cottonwood, along with orange- and red-eafed scrub oak, stately ponderosa pine, and rugged juniper make a Foothills hike nearly as rewarding. When desperate for aspen vistas, I’ll head to Wyoming’s Snowy Range Mountains to peep.

Krista L. Kafer is a weekly Denver Post columnist. Follow her on Twitter: @kristakafer.

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We designed four different road trip routes that start in Denver and take drivers to some of the state’s best waterfalls. They vary in distance and region, so you can choose one that fits your schedule and destination preferences.

The waterfalls on these itineraries are just as variable. Some can be viewed from easily accessible overlook areas and short, paved paths, while others require a moderate or potentially arduous hike to view the falls. By now, most trails should be melted, but it����ap worth doing extra research to ensure you’re well-equipped for each respective environment.

Lastly, remember these are just suggestions. The perfect waterfall road trip isn’t defined by how many Instagram-worthy destinations you check off a list, but rather the memories you make along the way.

So start your engines, the waterfalls are waiting.

Route 1: The south loop

Estimated drive distance: 334 miles

Travelers looking to stay relatively close to the Front Range have waterfall options before they even stray from I-25. Start this journey at in Colorado Springs, a storied and well-developed tourist attraction that takes you to multiple waterfalls in less than a mile’s walk. (Requires an entry fee; $13-$19)

Thereafter, hop in the car and head west to the Buena Vista area where there are waterfalls aplenty. in Nathrop, Colo. is one of the most accessible requiring a short out-and-back hike with about 500 feet of elevation gain. Another popular option nearby is , though the hike to get there is much longer.

Enjoy a scenic drive north before stopping at Staunton State Park near Conifer for a lengthy trek to Elk Falls. Thanks to a new parking lot, the hike has been shortened to 8 miles from 12 miles, and our resident outdoorsman said the falls are worth every step.

The last stop on this road trip is just a short drive to Conifer where you can see by hiking a roughly 4-mile loop before heading back to Denver.

Route 2: The extended south loop

Estimated drive distance: 650 miles

If you have a few extra days, you can make a larger loop by starting with The Broadmoor Seven Falls and then heading south to hit near Alamosa, billed as a rocky oasis surrounded by desert.

From there, venture to near Creede, which cascades more than 100 feet down canyon cliffs. This one doesn’t require much of a hike, as there is an observation point that����ap accessible by car.

To make a loop, swing through Lake City. If you have enough time and the right kind of vehicle, you could traverse , . Otherwise, hit Gunnison and then head east toward Agnes Vaille Waterfall in Nathrop and back to Elk Falls in Staunton State Park or Maxwell Falls in Evergreen, or both.

Route 3: I-70 and north loop

Estimated drive distance: 523 miles

I-70 may be one of Colorado’s busiest highways, but it����ap also an apt thoroughfare for waterfall viewing. Drivers starting in Denver could stop as soon as Idaho Springs, park and walk a paved path to see the flanked by a waterfall up close.

Continue driving to Dillon to hit the , located on a 6.3-mile out-and-back trail. That may sound long, but there’s very little elevation gain, so the trail is accessible to many skill levels.

Further west, there’s in Vail. The trailhead is close to the highway, though seeing the falls requires a steep out-and-back hike over the course of 4 miles. Next, you could snag a highly coveted reservation ($12 per person) to hike to the iconic in Glenwood Springs; however, reservations are few and far between this year due to a reconstruction project that seeks to mitigate the damage from wildfires that ravaged the area in 2021.

The next stop on this itinerary is where the falls are visible with just a short walk from the parking lot. It����ap worth hiking around the falls to see limestone caves and a hatchery. There are additional trails near the falls for those looking to add a few more miles to the excursion.

After Rifle, prepare to swing north for a scenic drive that takes you to Fish Creek Falls in Steamboat Springs. The is a quick, quarter-mile walk from where the parking area, while a is a longer and more moderate adventure.

On your way back southeast, go by the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby and hike the lush, 2.2-mile , which requires a day pass to access ($29 for adults, $14 for children, free for YMCA members). On your way home, take Berthoud Pass and pull off at to enjoy the scenery before jumping back on I-70 and heading east to Denver.

Route 4: A statewide tour

Estimated drive distance: 1,015 miles

If you want to see Colorado’s largest, free-standing waterfall, you need to visit Telluride, so why not make a statewide waterfall tour out of the journey? Our suggested route combines the best of the aforementioned loops and could go in either direction.

To start with a scenic drive, head southwest out of Denver on U.S. Highway 285 to Maxwell Falls in Conifer first, with the option to hit Elk Falls in Staunton State Park next. Trek far south to Zapata Falls near Alamosa and hit North Clear Creek Falls while in the area.

Next, the route swings through Pagosa Springs, Durango and Cortez – all destinations in their own right – on your way to Telluride’s , a stunning 365-foot waterfall accessible by an equally stunning hike. Since you’re there, consider checking out as well.

Leaving Telluride, head north and stop off in Ouray, home to several, easily accessible waterfalls such as and (entry $5-$7 per person). Take US-550 north until you hit I-70 in Grand Junction and head east with detours to Rifle Falls State Park, Booth Falls in Vail, and Snake River Falls in Dillon.

UPDATED on May 22 at 10:30 a.m.: An earlier version of this story erroneously stated there was no fee required to hike at the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch. There is a day pass requirement.

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But the payoff at the top, where waterfalls spill into the picturesque blue-green lake, is breathtaking for an entirely different reason — its natural beauty.

The past four years have been hard on the popular Colorado trail, the lake and the surrounding White River National Forest. Hanging Lake survived the Grizzly Creek fire that burned 33,000 acres in Glenwood Canyon and surrounding areas in 2020, but the damage triggered a series of floods that have led to closures off and on in the years since.

Now, the U.S. Forest Service is leading a $4.5 million reconstruction project that local leaders hope will help the Hanging Lake trail hold up to future natural disasters. Work starts this week with plans to replace bridges, add a boardwalk, rebuild some sections of the trail and other measures to protect the surrounding forest.

The goal is to create a durable trail that can withstand almost any natural disaster for the next 100 years, said Leanne Veldhuis, district ranger for the White River National Forest’s Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District.

“It’s truly a one-of-a-kind gem,” Veldhuis said Thursday during a news conference to kick off and to take visitors up to the lake before work starts. “We have been through a journey with Hanging Lake over the years.”

On Thursday morning, Hanging Lake sparkled in the sun, showing off its turquoise hues while two ducks floated on top. The waterfalls were flowing fast and splashing into the lake, creating ripples across the water.

Two brilliant blue Steller’s jays sat in pine trees and a spring white butterfly flitted around.

Above the lake, the Spouting Rock waterfall roared with the fury of spring snowmelt. Its whitewater burst over the top and through the hole in the rock that gives the waterfall its name.

The scene helps visitors immediately forget their burning quadriceps and lungs gasping for air following the steep climb.

“We call this a treasure for a reason,” said Colleen Pennington, Glenwood Canyon manager for the White River National Forest.

When the Grizzly Creek fire consumed the canyon, everyone held their collective breath over how it would impact Hanging Lake. While trees along the surrounding canyon burned and fell into the stream and along the trail, the lake suffered little damage.

That was a relief to people across Colorado, but especially those in nearby Glenwood Springs, where the economy depends on tourism. And Hanging Lake is a huge attraction — so much so that about 1,000 people would use the trail on summer days before the pandemic and wildfire.

Glenwood Springs Mayor Ingrid Wussow called the lake’s survival a miracle.

“This was saved,” she said on Thursday. “A gift from Mother Nature.”

Access to trail limited by fire, floods

Although it was saved, public access to Hanging Lake has been limited since the wildfire.

Damage from the Grizzly Creek fire forced the U.S. Forest Service to close the popular hiking area for 10 months until May 2021. It was not safe for visitors.

Then, in July 2021, heavy rains sent wildfire debris — fallen trees and branches, boulders and rocks — through the canyon and wrecked the trail, knocking out bridges and blocking the path in multiple spots.

The Forest Service built a temporary trail and reopened the area in June 2022 so people could visit the beloved lake.

But the spring of 2023 brought more flooding and debris slides due to heavy snowmelt, and the trail needed to be closed intermittently throughout the season.

Now it’s time to take long-term measures to prevent further closures, Veldhuis said.

Multiple agencies are kicking in money to fund the $4.5 million project. Great Outdoors Colorado, funded by the Colorado Lottery, is contributing $2.3 million. The rest will be funded by the White River National Forest, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the National Forest Foundation and Glenwood Springs.

“We’re building a really complex trail through a burned landscape and making it last 100 years,” said Marcus Selig, chief conservation officer for the National Forest Foundation. “That is not an easy task.”

At the trailhead, workers will construct a pergola in a newly expanded walkway with new informational boards. Planners hope the expanded trailhead will eliminate some of the trampling of vegetation that happens now as people stop to rest or play along the creek before it splashes into the Colorado River.

Building seven new bridges

Workers also will replace seven bridges along the trail. All will look the same, Pennington said.

On Thursday, she stopped to talk about a bridge that had been rebuilt after debris flows knocked it out of place in 2021. She and a work crew carried the wood up the trail to build the crossing so people could visit Hanging Lake.

“It was a test of teamwork,” she said.

The new bridges will be constructed with similar labor, although some pieces will be flown by helicopter into the canyon. The new crossings also will be wider and longer so they can better withstand the fallen trees and rocks that might spill down the canyon in future floods, Veldhuis said.

Two of the bridges will be relocated to crossing locations that provide better stream clearance.

The project also calls for a new boardwalk around Spouting Rock, the waterfall that blows through a hole in the rock wall 200 feet above Hanging Lake. In the past, visitors have trekked through mud and climbed over rocks to see the waterfall. That damages plants around the waterfall, and the boardwalk will prevent erosion.

Finally, the trail was a Civilian Conservation Corps project in the 1930s, and a small shack and some portions of a rock wall still stand. Those structures will be stabilized in hopes of improving their longevity.

“Worthy of all the energy we’re putting into it”

But there is a downside to the upcoming work for Hanging Lake’s fans: Reservations to access the trail will be hard to get.

The Forest Service, along with Visit Glenwood Springs, started a reservation system after the pandemic to alleviate overcrowding on the trail and in the parking area. That system allowed for 615 daily visitors.

This summer, the trail will be closed Monday through Friday and then on some weekends once bridge replacement starts. Reservation slots will be released at 8 a.m. each Tuesday at .

The closures, though, are necessary to save a Colorado landmark.

“When we look around, it is so worthy of all the energy we’re putting into it,” Wussow said.

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