The U.S. Forest Service issued a public safety order Wednesday banning tents and tent-trailers at Gore Creek Campground after a bear attacked a camper's tent [1, 2].

The restriction is a response to a bear that has shown little fear of humans and repeatedly targeted camping equipment. Because the animal continues to return to the site and damage shelters, officials determined that soft-sided camping poses an unacceptable risk to public safety [2, 3].

Gore Creek Campground is located near Vail, Colorado, at an elevation of approximately 8,700 feet [1, 2]. The facility consists of 24 sites [1]. Under the new regulations, all visitors must now use hard-sided vehicles or structures for their overnight accommodations [2].

“The order requires all campers at Gore Creek Campground to use hard‑sided vehicles or structures and temporarily bans tents and tent‑trailers,” the U.S. Forest Service said [2].

Local management noted that the bear's behavior has become increasingly bold. “The bear has been visiting at all hours, day and night, showing little fear of humans and damaging tents,” a campground manager said [1].

The agency described the move as a preventative measure to avoid one of the bold animal's encounters from escalating into a serious injury. “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 [1].

The safety order went into effect on June 10, 2026 [1]. Campers who have already booked sites may need to adjust their equipment to comply with the hard-sided requirement to remain at the campground [2].

““The bear has been visiting at all hours, day and night, showing little fear of humans and damaging tents,””

This policy shift highlights the increasing conflict between human recreation and wildlife in high-elevation corridors. By mandating hard-sided shelters, the Forest Service is attempting to remove the 'reward' of easy access to food and scent that attracts bears to tents. This move may signal a broader trend toward more restrictive camping regulations in Colorado as bear habituation to human presence increases.