The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office recently aided in the clearing of an illegal campsite located between the mountain towns of Manitou Springs and Green Mountain Falls.

The effort followed local residents reporting signs of illegal camping, including large amounts of trash being left by the campers and repeated trespassing on private property.

On March 11, deputies responded to the area, finding a vacant campsite and posting a notice to vacate the area. Information was also left that included information on community resources for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Deputies then returned to the area with El Paso County Code Enforcement and a contractor called Junk King on March 25 to clean and restore what was described as a “remote wilderness area.” During this time, a man-made structure made of tree limbs along with additional evidence of illegal camping on a nearby plateau was also discovered. The illegal campsite was cleared with enough trash found to fill a “small roll-off dumpster,” according to a report on the matter.

The sheriff’s office noted that illegal campsites of this nature continue to be a local concern in terms of pollution. It’s also worth noting that concerns of fire risk related to illegal campsites have been expressed in the past, as well.

Due to associated risks – especially that of wildfires amid a dry year like this, it’s important for Colorado’s trailgoers to report illegal campsites when found. It’s also important for the state’s campers to camp according to established rules and regulations of the local area in places where camping is allowed, also ensuring that the guidelines of Leave No Trace are followed, as well.

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