2026-2027 GMUG National Forests Prescibed Pile Burn Plan

The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests are planning prescribed pile burns during the fall and winter seasons. Forest Service officials estimate this work may continue through spring 2027 as conditions allow. Fire managers use these prescribed pile burns to remove excess vegetation, reduce wildfire risk and improve habitat.

Pile Burns are planned for the following areas:

(List Format: Rx Fire Name – Closest City & State – Closest Location Description or Landmark – Size)

Ouray Ranger District

• Big Park – Gunnison County, Colo.– Little Cimarron/Fall Creek near National Forest System Road (NFSR) 864 – 1,020 acres (ONGOING)
• High Mesa – Gunnison County, Colo. – Little Cimarron/High Mesa near High Mesa and NFSR 864A – 324 acres (ONGOING)
• Moore/Payne – Montrose County, Colo. – Near Payne Mesa/Moore Mesa off NFSR 531 and NFSR 534 – 752 acres
• Pool Creek – Montrose County, Colo. – Divide Road near Houser Road along NFRS 548 and Gray’s Creek Trail – 28 acres

Norwood Ranger District

• Groundhog – San Miguel, Colo. – Beaver Creek below Groundhog Mountain near NFSR 611 –171 acres

Gunnison Ranger District

• Slaughterhouse – Near Tincup, Colo. – NFRS 764 – 448 acres
• Kentucky Ridge – Near Tincup, Colo. – NFSR 765 – 340 acres
• Millswitch – Near Sargents, Colo. – Marshall Pass Road – 932 acres
• Pass Creek – Taylor Park, Colo. – Off Cottonwood Pass via NFSR 209.1D – 164 acres
• EZ Hazard Tree Piles – Gunnison Colo. – County Road 747 and NFSR 744 – 430 acres
• Big Willow – North of Lake City, Colo. – NFSR 867 – 2155 acres
• Ridgestock – North of Lake City, Colo. – NFSR 867 – 1386 acres
• Taylor Firewood – Near Murdie Subdivision NFSR 587 – 25 acres
• Kentucky Ridge hand piles – Near Tincup, Colo. – NFSR 765, 120 acres
• Monarch hand piles – Monarch Pass along Highway 50 – 182 acres
• Tincup hand piles – Adjacent to Tincup, Colo. – County Road 742 – 240 acres
• Crossbar – North of Sargents, Colo. – via County Road 888 – 10 acres
• Bertha hand piles – North of Tincup, Colo. near County Road 742 – 67 acres
• Cottonwood Pass hand piles – Taylor Park, Colo. – Off Cottonwood Pass and County Road 209 – 1 acre
• Alpine Guard Station hand piles – North of Lake City, Colo. – NFSR 868 – 1 acre
• Holts hand piles – Taylor Park, Colo. – NFSR 752 – 77 acres

Grand Valley Ranger District

• South Shadows – Delta, Colo. – Off NFSR 125 – 150 acres
• Main Mesa Leftovers – Mesa, Colo. – Off NFSR 121 – 1250 acres (ONGOING)

Please do not report these fires, as firefighters will remain on scene throughout ignitions and patrol afterwards.

While smoke may be visible, the Forest Service works closely with air quality specialists and closely monitors smoke during prescribed fires. Prescribed fires are timed for best smoke management. Visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ for current air quality information.

The Forest Service will evaluate conditions in the days and hours before ignition. If conditions are not favorable, planned prescribed fire activities may be postponed or canceled.