BOULDER – Jasper Reservoir in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area on the Boulder Ranger District is currently drained for operational maintenance of the reservoir. Please be advised that if you are planning to hike or camp in the area that the lake has been emptied and the lake bottom is muddy. Visitors will need to adjust recreational plans accordingly.

The 76,711 acre Indian Peaks Wilderness Area was dedicated by Congress in 1978. Jasper Reservoir was originally constructed as a reservoir around 1907. The water rights of Jasper Reservoir are under private ownership. Their rights to maintain the reservoir predate the 1978 Indian Peaks Wilderness designation and are valid under the 1964 Wilderness Act, allowing for some management activities that would otherwise not be allowed in Wilderness.

Indian Peaks is one of the most visited Wilderness areas in the United States. Elevations range from 8,300 to 13,500 feet. To encounter fewer people, hike and camp on weekdays and use less popular backcountry zones. Trailhead parking is limited. Always use Leave No Trace techniques to help keep this area wild, clean and pristine.

For additional information about Boulder Ranger District call 303-541-2500 or visit the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grasslands website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/arp, follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/usfsarp and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/usfsarp