Devils Head Closed until December

This really blows, I wonder if they will allow access to some of the climbing areas from the south and west?

https://www.fox21news.com/health/coronavirus/devils-head-recreation-area-closed-to-encourage-social-distancing/

Absolutely ridiculous 

Todd Bruns wrote: Absolutely ridiculous 

I can see why they would close the main trail to the fire lookout, it is a completely crowded shit show basically every weekend all summer long. 

I saw that the area was closed at the gate. Does this mean you can still take the right at the gate and park by the radio tower to access Wipeyer Buttress?

Glenn Schuler wrote:

I can see why they would close the main trail to the fire lookout, it is a completely crowded shit show basically every weekend all summer long. 

Yeah. That makes way more sense to me rather than close the whole area (thereby increasing impact on other areas). I’ve only climbed there once and was really hoping to hit it this year. 

Who’s National forest do they think it is?

To add a couple things now that more folks will be parking at mm10 and Jackson Creek.  The space right at mm10 only has room for 3 to 4 cars.  If it is full, do NOT park along the road. There is a large lot pretty much built specifically for climbers just around the bend another 100 yards.  The FS will ticket cars parked along the road and up by the gate to the radio towers.  If you want to climb at Radio Head, use the parking spot at the switchback a little ways past the large lot.  Parking at Jackson Creek (Devils Gate parking) could get interesting if people are camped there.  We've asked nicely and have been allowed to park in the fringes.  Again though, do not park on the road or you are risking a ticket.  The camp spot/parking below DHR and Recovery wall should still be open even though those walls are closed for raptors until August 1.

All of Rampart Range Road is closed per the order, therefore parking on MM10 will be considered illegal. Access to anything in the area would only technically be legal via other roads. Haven’t you guys all sold your $100,000 Sprinter to build a sweet home wall? Or actual private land with rock?

Actually Lauren that's not correct.  The closure starts at the split in the road.  Here is a link to the map designating the closure.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd733170.pdf

The key points of the closure (link here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd733169.pdf) are:
Pursuant to ... the following acts   are prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands, roads,  and trails located in Sections 10 and 15, Township 9 South, Range 69 West, 6th P.M., in Douglas County, Colorado, as shown on this Order’s Exhibit A and further described as: •Devil’s Head Trailhead, Devil’s Head Campground, Devil’s Head Picnic Area, and Devil’s Head Fire Lookout Tower (the “Restricted Area”); •NFSR 300.O, NFSR 300.P, NFSR 300.PA, and NFSR 300.Q (the “Restricted Roads”); and•     The Devil’s Head Trail (NFST611) and Zinn Trail (NFST615)  (the “Restricted Trails”). The purpose of this O rder is to protect public health and safety during the COVID19 pandemic...

The only restricted trails are the main tourist trails.  The restricted roads are the roads to, and thru the campground, picnic area and fire tower parking, not Rampart Range road.  

I dont own a sprinter van or my own rock unfortunately...

Edit to add that yes Rampart Range Road is currently closed for "mud season" that closure is expected to be lifted soon (this week I heard)

Ok, fine ‘all of Rampart Range Road needed to provide climbing access from the same is closed until Dec 1’ jeez. I just spent 2 hours rebutting an appraisal and you guys want to split hairs about land we don’t even own? If you want to climb, just go. Have fun. I have places to go where they won’t find me and give me a $5000 fine, so Ill just avoid DH. 

Lauren D Hollingsworth wrote: Ok, fine ‘all of Rampart Range Road needed to provide climbing access from the same is closed until Dec 1’ jeez....

seems like you are still exaggerating a bit...

Is Sin City closed for raptors currently?

Lauren D Hollingsworth wrote: ... Ill just avoid DH. 

I think it's a good idea to avoid DH. More crags for the rest of us.

Tal Wanish wrote:

Sure is - opens Aug 1 with Recovery Wall and DH Rock

Do you know this first hand? I don't plan on climbing there but I do not see anything posted on the Forest Service web page.

Sam R wrote:

Do you know this first hand? I don't plan on climbing there but I do not see anything posted on the Forest Service web page.

Sin city is just part of Devils Head Rock from what I can tell, I'm not sure how/why it got its own name. Haven't looked at the USFS site recently, but they used to not have a good grasp on which crag is which. The map clearly shows DHR being part of the closure though.

This is the biggest chickenshit move the Forest Service has pulled in a long damned time. They just don't want to do their jobs, so just close the world, baby. 

Tim Stich wrote: This is the biggest chickenshit move the Forest Service has pulled in a long damned time. They just don't want to do their jobs, so just close the world, baby. 

This is exactly my thought, too. It looks like a bunch of FS areas that were closed for winter will remain closed (e.g., Mt Evans Rd), with the excuse of COVID-19 as justification. I call BS. Restricting outdoor access will just concentrate people to locations that are open, which is the opposite of what should happen. It also encourages scofflaws.

Jonathan S wrote:

It also encourages scofflaws.

I, for one, appreciate the encouragement. 

...on topic though, yeah this is bad lol.

Jonathan S wrote:

This is exactly my thought, too. It looks like a bunch of FS areas that were closed for winter will remain closed (e.g., Mt Evans Rd), with the excuse of COVID-19 as justification. I call BS. Restricting outdoor access will just concentrate people to locations that are open, which is the opposite of what should happen. It also encourages scofflaws.

I wonder if they will even be out patrolling climbing areas and whatnot. I don't think I'll be visiting myself, but those of you who do I hope you find workarounds to the closures that skirt the letter of this order. It's pretty stupid to close major parks as that will just make people go to other open ones and crowd those. 

Big Dick Johnson wrote: This is the price you pay for not recognizing that it is government, not private entities, that is free to trample your ability to visit places without recourse or fear of accountability. 

So what you're saying is that we are now free to go climb on crags on private property, and if the land owner complains, we just tell them "screw you, only the government can keep me off this land!"

Big Dick Johnson wrote:

No. I'm saying everyone who thinks Public Lands belong to us and that guarentees access is misinformed. If the land is private, you at least have avenues to pursue access. When the State dictates land off limits, there is zero negotiation.  Because the State is never held accountable, ever, for its actions. 

Better idea: convert all important public lands to non profit land trusts.  Let them create their own funding streams, ie access 

If it its private, you have avenues to pursue access?!?! What planet do you live on? Your statements are so unbelievably misguided its hard to know where to start. US public lands are one of the most wonderful gifts that we collectively have as Americans. If you don't like it how it is, go try living in Europe where all the land is in private hands and see how you like. Yeesh.