October 30, 2025
The U.S. Forest Service has announced that logging operations for the Misery Timber Sale, located on the north end of the Clear Creek Ranger District in Gilpin County, are expected to begin late next week.
The timber contractor will move equipment on site Tuesday or Wednesday, with active operations starting shortly after. This work is part of the Yankee Hill Environmental Assessment fuels reduction project, which aims to reduce wildfire intensity and slow potential fire spread by thinning dense forest areas and removing excess fuel loads.
Because this contractor operates on a smaller scale, work is expected to continue through the end of December.
The remaining harvest units are located between Pickle Gulch and Cold Springs Campgrounds, behind administrative roads with locked gates, minimizing public impact. However, residents should anticipate logging activity and increased truck traffic along Highway 119 through Black Hawk during daylight hours.
Operations are planned 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with no work on Sundays.