A scenic destination in southwest Colorado has closed for the summer, marking the start of more changes to come.

This month marked the start of a U.S. Forest Service order closing the trailhead for Blue Lakes — the launch point for the chain of turquoise waters high in the San Juan Mountains. The closure is expected to last through August or “as soon as it is safe to access the area,” according to the Forest Service notice detailing reconstruction of the parking area southwest of Ridgway.

The project calls for new vault restrooms, kiosks and educational signage, while other work seeks to revegetate and restore the land that has seen a surge in visitors over the years. The Forest Service plans to catalog invasive plants, install fences “to preserve restored areas,” establish campsites and develop “a monitoring plan for improved visitor use metrics.”

The notice adds: “These efforts kick off the first phase of the Blue Lakes visitor use management plan, aimed at improving visitor experiences and ensuring long-term sustainability of the site’s natural resources.”

The plan was approved last year, following years of studies and public surveys.

One study found as many as 509 people visited the trail one summer day while campsites proliferated unchecked; the 148 sites tallied in 2021 were up from 97 in 2019. The study detailed damage and threats to vegetation, wildlife and water quality around Blue Lakes.

Hence the permit system that could start next summer.

Blue Lakes day hikers will be capped at 40, and overnighters will be limited to 24. The management plan also outlines a goal to cut back dispersed camping and create designated, “sustainable” sites in the surrounding Mount Sneffels Wilderness.

The goal is to preserve the wilderness setting and “have people be able to enjoy their public lands and maintain the experience they came here for,” Ouray District Ranger Dana Dardunio said in a previous news release.

During the Blue Lakes trailhead closure, portions of the adjacent Dallas and Wilson Creek trails will be closed as well. The Forest Service deems the closures “necessary to ensure the safety of visitors and workers during the construction period.”