The U.S. Forest Service has prohibited the use of tents at Gore Creek Campground near Vail, Colorado, effective immediately as of June 10, 2026 [2].
The restriction aims to protect visitors from increased bear activity that has damaged equipment and created safety risks for those sleeping in soft-sided shelters.
Located within the White River National Forest at an elevation of 8,700 feet [2], the campground consists of 24 sites [2]. The new mandate requires all visitors to utilize hard-sided campers or trailers to prevent wildlife encounters.
"Due to an increase in bear activity, all campers at Gore Creek Campground near Vail must use hard‑sided campers or trailers," the U.S. Forest Service said [3].
Officials said the decision is a response to early wildlife patterns observed during the current season. The shift to hard-sided requirements is intended to create a physical barrier between bears and humans, reducing the likelihood of animals entering sleeping quarters in search of food.
"We're already starting to see bear activity in the campground this year, and we are taking this proactive step for public safety," a Forest Service spokesperson said [2].
The agency has not specified a date for when the restriction might be lifted, but the rule applies to all 24 sites [2] until further notice. Campers who previously held reservations for tent sites must now comply with the hard-sided vehicle requirement or seek alternative accommodations.
“All campers at Gore Creek Campground near Vail must use hard‑sided campers or trailers”
This policy shift reflects a growing trend in wilderness management where human-wildlife conflict necessitates the abandonment of traditional tent camping in high-risk zones. By mandating hard-sided shelters, the Forest Service is prioritizing physical containment over behavioral education, acknowledging that bear attraction to campsites often outweighs the effectiveness of standard food-storage protocols.
