The National Forest Foundation (NFF) announced today that the public can donate to the White River National Forest Restoration Fund to support critical restoration work including the Hanging Lake trail system, which was severely damaged by debris flows in July 2021 and will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

The massive debris flows in Glenwood Canyon that stranded motorists and closed Interstate 70 for weeks have decimated the beloved Hanging Lake trail system. The debris flows, triggered by heavy rain in the Grizzly Creek burn scar on July 29^th, deposited over 16 million pounds of rocks, mud, and debris on the roadway. The highway has since reopened for limited through traffic, and the White River National Forest is assessing the damage to the recreation areas in the vicinity of the slides.

Most of the trail to Hanging Lake, a rare travertine formation that is a favorite destination of locals and visitors alike, was destroyed by the debris flows, along with several bridges. The White River National Forest needs your help to restore this special place. Restoration of the recreational areas impacted by the debris flows is critical to the local communities that steward these lands, as well as the small businesses and industries that rely on tourism, recreation, and healthy landscapes.

The Grizzly Creek Fire, which started as a small brush fire on August 10, 2020, changed the landscape of the White River National Forest and its surrounding communities. While the flames have been extinguished on the fire’s 32,421 acre scar, the post-fire effects continue to impact the on a daily basis.

Donated funds will be available to the White River National Forest and its partners and may be used to implement a variety of projects to help restore the landscape as well as repair important infrastructure for public access. Together we will identify priority projects to address urgent, on-the-ground needs through investments from the White River National Forest Restoration Fund.

More information about how to donate is available on the White River National Forest Restoration Fund page: https://support.nationalforests.org/wrnf