Closures at Twin Buttes Open Space

Durango, CO: To protect critical wildlife habitat, the annual winter closure of the Twin Buttes Open Space, lands managed by the City of Durango, will go into effect on Tuesday, January 31. This closure will remain in place until at least March 1, 2012, but no later than April 15, 2012.

The City of Durango works collaboratively with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to use a “conditions-based” management approach, which allows the urban interface lands surrounding Durango to be open to the public until deer and elk have migrated into these areas. However, when Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports that significant numbers of deer and elk have moved into the area, a closure is put in place on City Open Space in Twin Buttes as well as BLM lands in the Grandview and Animas Mountain areas.

The closures of Grandview Ridge, Animas City Mountain and Twin Buttes Open Space prohibits all public access until conditions allow wildlife to move back to higher elevations. These closures protect the deer and elk to conserve energy in the winter to survive.

Signs will be posted at the base of the Twin Buttes Open Space, near U.S. Highway 160 West. There are many other opportunities for winter recreation near Durango. Areas open to the public include Horse Gulch and Raiders Ridge areas, Fort Lewis College Rim, Durango Mountain Park and Dalla Mountain Park.

For additional information or to report violations in these areas, call Durango Parks and Recreation at (970) 375-7300.