Cottonwood Road closure disrupts access to Dolores Ranger District trailheads

Cottonwood Road is shut down on the Dolores Ranger District, and that means a key access line north of Dolores is off limits for now. The closure covers mile markers 3.7 to 4.6 on National Forest System Road 532, and the Mavreeso Trailhead is closed at the road’s southern terminus where the trail meets Cottonwood Road.

The Forest Service put the closure in effect June 8 at 5 a.m. and said it will remain in place through June 19 at 7 p.m., unless rescinded sooner. The order says the restriction is needed to protect natural resources and public health and safety, and anyone heading into this corridor should plan on interruption rather than assuming a through route.

For hikers, mountain bikers and dispersed campers, the practical impact is bigger than a closed segment on a map. A trailhead closure can knock out parking, shuttle plans and the ability to start or finish a route as intended. In a forest like San Juan National Forest, where many trips depend on a chain of narrow roads and spur routes rather than a single paved approach, losing one segment can change an entire itinerary.

This closure sits inside a larger reconstruction project on Cottonwood Road that was announced February 23. Work on NFSR 532 began April 20 and is scheduled to continue through July 2026, with temporary closures and delays expected along the way. The project covers about 7.57 miles of road and includes reconstruction and resurfacing, cattleguard replacement, bridge replacement and widening.

That broader effort is aimed at improving safety and timber hauling capacity on a road north of Dolores, Colorado. It also means visitors should expect the access picture to remain fluid even after this short closure window ends, with the Forest Service warning that delays could continue through July.

For now, the clearest reading is simple: Cottonwood Road should be treated as unavailable for through travel, and the Mavreeso Trailhead should be considered closed until the order lifts. In the San Juan country, where one blocked road can reroute an entire weekend, that makes trip planning the first item on the checklist.