Rocky Mountain National Park closes Chaos Canyon due to landslide – Loveland Reporter-Herald

Rocky Mountain National Park officials have closed all areas of Chaos Canyon west of Lake Haiyaha to all users due to a major rockfall on Tuesday and the possibility of increased rockfall activity. due to forecast rainfall.

A major rockslide occurred late Tuesday afternoon when boulders tumbled down the southern slope of Hallett Peak and slid into Upper Chaos Canyon.

“The rockslide area is very unstable,” park spokeswoman Kyle Patterson said in a news release Thursday morning.

She said torrential rains are forecast for the area through Sunday, which could lead to additional rockfall activity.

“This closure will remain in effect until the forecast thunderstorms pass and the grade can be assessed by National Park Service geologists,” Patterson said in the statement.

The cause of the rockfall on Hallett Peak remains unknown, she said.

The hiking trail to Lake Haiyaha, Lake Haiyaha itself, and the hiking trails on the north side of Hallett Peak remain open. The bouldering area in lower Chaos Canyon on the north and east shores of Lake Haiyaha will also remain open, according to the statement. Chaos Canyon is a popular area for bouldering, Patterson said.

There are no designated hiking trails within the closure area.

Patterson advised park visitors planning to recreate in rocky areas of the park to exercise due diligence and exercise caution. “Rocky slopes on and near mountain peaks can be unstable. Recreational users should know their own limitations and choose routes that are within reach of everyone in their group,” she said.

For more information on Rocky Mountain National Park closures, visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park information office at 970-586-1206.

Virginia F. Goins