Federal, state, and local land agencies have officially shut down 94,900 acres of Colorado forest to recreational sport shooting, redirecting shooters to a new designated facility.
The Devils Nose Target Range, which opened Wednesday southwest of Idaho Springs near Echo Lake and Mt. Blue Sky, is the first of two new public shooting ranges. A second facility, the Clear Creek Shooting Sports Park, is expected to open in early 2026.
The closures stem from the 2019 Recreational Sport Shooting Management Decision, which cited safety concerns as Colorado’s Front Range population continues to grow. Rising numbers of hikers, skiers, and mountain homeowners had been increasingly at risk from largely unregulated forest shooting.
The plan was more than a decade in the making and developed by the Northern Front Range Recreational Sport Shooting Management Partnership—a coalition of the U.S. Forest Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, and Larimer counties.
The first wave of closures impacts southern Clear Creek, northern Larimer, and Grand counties. Additional closures in northern Clear Creek and Gilpin counties will follow once the Clear Creek range is operational.
The Devils Nose facility, managed by the U.S. Forest Service, is open during daylight hours and offers:
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24 shooting lanes across three galleries (25-yard, 50–75-yard, and 100-yard ranges)
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Shooting benches with shade cover
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Vault toilet facilities
Interactive closure maps are available through the U.S. Forest Service, and a full list of public ranges can be found on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website.
Officials noted the closures apply only to recreational sport shooting and do not impact lawful hunting in designated areas.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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