DENVER, COLORADO — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is urging outdoor enthusiasts to leverage the Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) mobile app to stay informed on active wildfire alerts as fire activity across the state intensifies. In response to these growing threats, COTREX has temporarily increased its wildfire update frequency from once a day to once an hour, ensuring that trail users have the most current information before heading out.
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
The COTREX app, a free and user-friendly tool, offers authoritative trail information sourced directly from over 236 local, state, and federal land managers. Covering more than 45,000 miles of trails across Colorado, COTREX stands out as a reliable resource for outdoor recreationists. Its unique collaboration with various land management agencies ensures that all trail data and alerts are accurate and up-to-date.
More than 36 agency partners actively contribute to the app, posting real-time advisories on wildfire closures, safety hazards, and other essential trail updates. Beyond wildfire alerts, users can plan routes, view permitted activities like hiking, biking, and off-highway vehicle (OHV) use, download offline maps, and access trip recommendations from partners across the state.
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
Staying Safe with COTREX
Wildfires are notoriously unpredictable, and the status of fire restrictions and bans can change rapidly. Before venturing outdoors, COTREX is an invaluable tool for staying informed about current conditions, helping users avoid hazardous areas and potential search-and-rescue operations. The app integrates wildfire and prescribed burn alerts from trusted sources, such as Inciweb and the National Interagency Fire Center. These alerts, complete with detailed descriptions, boundaries, and links to additional resources, are automatically updated on the app and website.
“COTREX is a one-stop shop for up-to-date trail information,” said Joe O’Brien, CPW’s State Trails Program Coordinator. “As recent fire activity picked up, we quickly increased our update frequency to every hour to provide the public with a clearer picture of fire activity throughout the day. While there are other systems for tracking evacuation orders and real-time developments in dynamic fire situations, COTREX is an excellent tool for anyone looking to get outdoors during fire season.”
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
Fire Safety: A Collective Responsibility
CPW emphasizes the importance of practicing fire safety both for residents and visitors in Colorado. To minimize the risk of starting a wildfire, CPW advises the following:
- Keep allowable fires small and manageable.
- Use designated campfire areas whenever possible.
- Extinguish fires completely with water until the embers are cool to the touch.
- Never leave a campfire unattended.
- Avoid parking or driving on dry grass.
- Regularly check tire pressure and ensure no chains or exposed wheel rims are dragging from your vehicle.
Outdoor first responders from various agencies are working tirelessly to protect Colorado’s communities and natural landscapes from wildfires. To support these efforts, CPW encourages residents to purchase a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass with their next vehicle registration, which directly aids local search and rescue teams.
For more information on how to support Colorado’s outdoor spaces and first responders, visit cpw.info/keepcoloradowild.
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