One determined black bear has just rewritten the camping rules at Gore Creek Campground, where rangers have temporarily banned tents and other soft-sided shelters after repeated bear visits and damage to unoccupied gear.
The order restricts overnight stays to hard-sided campers and trailers at the small, 24-site campground about six miles east of Vail at roughly 8,700 feet. Forest staff says the move is meant to cut the risk of human-bear encounters after a single bear kept coming back to campsites around the clock.
What the order says
In a forest order posted June 9, the White River National Forest prohibited tents, pop-up or soft-sided trailers, and roof-top tents inside Gore Creek Campground through Oct. 4. The document, Order No. 2026-08, signed by Forest Supervisor Brian Glaspell, covers “all NFS lands within the developed campground” and notes that violations can be charged as a Class B misdemeanor with potential fines or jail time.
The alert includes a map outlining the affected area and lists the Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District as the contact for questions.
Agency observations and damage reported
Eagle-Holy Cross district ranger Leanne Veldhuis told The Denver Post that staff are “already starting to see bear activity in the campground this year, and we are taking this proactive step for public safety.”
According to the Post, the same bear damaged two unoccupied tents and was seen roaming through campsites at all hours, which pushed rangers to act before anyone was injured.
Campground at a glance
Gore Creek is a front-country campground managed by the White River National Forest, with 16 back-in sites and eight walk-in tent sites, along with bear-resistant food lockers at every campsite, according to Recreation.gov. The listing places the campground at about 8,700 feet in elevation and roughly six miles east of Vail, making it a convenient base for visitors to the resort town.
What campers should know
Anyone who reserved a tent site will now need to bring a hard-sided camper or trailer, or rethink their plans entirely. Officials advise would-be visitors to check Forest Service alerts and Recreation.gov before heading out.
The White River National Forest also has a separate food-storage order in place for its developed campgrounds that requires food, trash, and scented items to be kept in bear-resistant lockers, approved containers, or locked vehicles, as noted by the Vail Daily.
A pattern in the region
Similar tent limits have popped up elsewhere in the region after close calls with wildlife. Difficult Campground near Aspen was restricted to hard-sided campers in June 2025 after a black bear scratched at a tent with children inside, according to GearJunkie. Officials say temporary bans let rangers clean up attractants and keep an eye on bear behavior without shutting down campgrounds outright.
Reservations and contacts
Campers with reservations or questions can reach the Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District at (970) 827-5715 or check the latest status through the U.S. Forest Service and Recreation.gov. The order is set to remain in effect until Oct. 4, 2026, unless it is rescinded earlier by the Forest Supervisor.
How to stay safe
Rangers are reminding visitors to lock down all food and scented items, never leave coolers unattended, and carry bear spray when spending time in bear country, in line with National Park Service guidance on black bear safety. Officials emphasize that careful food storage and basic awareness go a long way toward preventing conflicts and keeping both people and bears out of trouble.
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