Colfax County manager says Yankee Canyon road project will not move forward; residents urge continued access

County staff informed the Colfax County Commission that the previously considered project to improve County Road 825 (Yankee Canyon Road) will not move forward after the state declined to reapply for a grant and because of extreme fire danger and limited landowner access.

The decision was announced during the manager's docket. The manager said the state will not reapply for the grant and the county has decided "not moving forward with the project due to the extreme fire danger and then the lack of access for the land owners." The manager told landowners they might later consider vacating the road, which would trigger a separate process.

Public commenters had urged the county to preserve the route. "If you block this road off, then that pretty much finishes the hiker, the hunter, even the bird watcher," said Thomas Ulbury, a lifetime resident. Another commenter said locals are "in the blind" about current access and asked the county to perform maintenance so the public and landowners can continue to use the route.

Commissioners and staff discussed that a secondary access exists (a lower road from the Vukinich Ranch) but that it is currently impassable. Several commissioners asked staff to post clear notices about current access restrictions and to consider signage that limits access to landowners until a longer-term plan is decided.

Next steps: the county will not pursue grant reapplication; staff suggested the road remain closed to the public except for landowners, and commissioners signaled they will schedule further discussion, including a potential vacating hearing if that becomes appropriate.