Major improvements are being planned by the U.S. Forest Service for four of the most popular hiking areas in Summit County to enhance infrastructure and establish “maximum visitation” limitations during peak seasons.

The forest service is soliciting comments regarding its proposed plan for managing Quandary Peak, Blue Lakes, McCullough Gulch and Spruce Creek, which are located along the foot of the Tenmile Range south of Breckenridge. Visitation in those areas is running at about 237,000 annually, according to a forest service document detailing the plan that was released Thursday.

The aim is to improve the visitor experience at those areas, but also to address the negative impacts of high visitation including accumulation of trash and human waste, erosion and trampling of native veget

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