The following story was submitted by GARNA:
Photo Caption: According to informal observations by the volunteer group Friends of Fourmile, the past Memorial Day saw perhaps the heaviest visitation ever in the past 6-7 years in the Fourmile area east of Buena Vista. There were an estimated 235 camping units representing about 1,000 visitors at the peak (Saturday). On the order of 500 Off Road Vehicles were estimated along with smaller numbers of cyclists, hikers and horseback riders. The photo shows part of a 50-unit group of large recreational vehicles and trailers on State land in Chubb Park inside the Fourmile area.
Photo Credit: Friends of Fourmile
Since 2003, GARNA’s volunteer chapter Friends of Fourmile has joined BLM and US Forest Service staff to patrol the 100,000 acre Fourmile Travel Management Area east of Buena Vista and Johnson Village on Memorial Day weekend. According to Alan Robinson, the Friends publicity coordinator, who participated, “Visitation was very heavy, perhaps the heaviest ever seen in the past seven years. We emphasize that our observations are informal, and do not represent an official statement from the Forest Service or the BLM. But they stem from more than 50 hours of volunteer patrols and contacts, with 8 volunteers in 4wD vehicles, an ATV and a motorcycle, who are very familiar with the area and covered 80% of the 180+ miles of forest roads, singletrack and ATV routes north and south of Hwy 285.”
“Overall,” Robinson continued, “although a few camp sites were unoccupied, the total number of overnight camping units appeared to be more than we have observed in any year since 2003, especially north of 285 where favored campsites are more numerous. The majority of these (85% by informal count) were accompanied by Off Highway Vehicles (OHVs are ATVs or motorcycles, most of which are unlicensed). A few campers had a single OHV, most had two but many had 3 or more, including downsized OHVs for young riders. There appeared to be an average of 2.5 OHVs per camping unit.”
Although volunteers keep track of other things too, for estimated numbers of users, here are their main results:
Total number of camping units in all Fourmile on Saturday May 23: 235
Number of units without OHVs (kayakers, raft guides, cyclists, etc.): 35
Number of units with OHVs (70% ATVs, 30% motorbikes): 200
Number of OHVs associated with camping sites: 500
Number of overnight visitors (2 to 4 per unit): 470-940
When an unknown but substantial number of day-use visitors who are either local residents or visitors staying outside Fourmile is added, there were probably more than 1,000 total users on Saturday, the peak day. There were somewhere between 500 and 550 OHVs, with the balance being mostly kayakers and rafting visitors or raft guides who spent the day on the river, and a much smaller number of hikers or families enjoying a campout; several horse trailers were noted. The kayaking event “Paddlefest” in Buena Vista was also held that weekend.
Although observations have not been recorded every year, volunteers generally agree visitation on peak weekends like Memorial and Labor Day, but also on “normal” spring and fall weekends, has been on a strong upward trend every year since 2003. (In mid-summer people tend to head elsewhere to higher, cooler elevations and Fourmile visits decrease.) Based on expansion of favored camping areas, and creation of many new ones, it appears that between 2003 and 2009 there has been a three to five times increase in visitation. This has primarily been because more campers are bringing larger vehicles associated with OHVs, joined by larger groups of friends, family and club members. And there are also significant increases in bicyclists, hikers and horseback riders.
Robinson concludes, “Apparently Fourmile has become very well-known among Colorado recreationists and is now a very popular destination.”
The BV Cruiser Club will be hosting their second ride this Thursday, 7PM, McPhelemy Park. Check out their 
