The Bureau of Land Management will begin its annual winter restrictions on motorized travel in Grand and Jackson counties beginning Dec. 15, which continue through April 15 in most areas. The restrictions help reduce stress on wintering big game herds and prevent road damage.

“These annual winter closures are important to helping big game herds make it through the winter,” BLM Kremmling Field Manager Bill Mills said. “We appreciate the public’s support in following these restrictions and reporting any violations they see.”

The North Sand Hills Special Management Recreation Area in Jackson County is closed to motorized and mechanized vehicles, including snowmobiles, during this timeframe.

In the Wolford Mountain area in Grand County, which includes public lands between Highway 40 and Grand County Road 2 (Back Troublesome Road).

All other travel routes and areas on BLM lands on Wolford Mountain will be closed to all motorized use. Non-motorized travel typically will be permitted throughout the area during winter travel restrictions. Changing conditions may cause the restrictions to be modified in the Wolford area, so check for restriction updates.

Maps are available at the Kremmling Field Office, 2103 E. Park Ave.; at information kiosks on County Road 224 near the former landfill, County Road 26 off of Highway 40, and County Road 227; and at the intersection of County Roads 22 and 25.

The seasonal restrictions are extended in two areas of Wolford Mountain to protect nesting raptors: the Wolford Mountain Single Track closure continues through May 31 and the Muddy Creek Trail north of the Muddy Creek fishing access bridge is closed until July 31.

Additionally, motorized travel is restricted on the following routes to over-the-snow tracked vehicles when there is a minimum of 12 inches of snow. The roads may be gated until there is sufficient snow.