Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area near the Colorado–New Mexico state line reopened to licensed hunters and anglers Friday, May 1, following 100 percent containment of the Schwachheim Fire, Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced.

The fire, which ignited April 12, burned approximately 1,582 acres within the wildlife area. The site was temporarily closed for public safety while crews worked in steep terrain and challenging wind conditions.

Not every closure ends in a reopening; CPW recently announced the permanent closure of Smith Lake SWA.

Image

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is contacting approximately 50 turkey hunters who held site-specific licenses for the area at the time of the fire. Affected hunters may choose either a license refund and restoration of preference points, or to continue hunting at the site. The agency expects to complete that outreach by Monday, May 11.

Field staff are coordinating with the City of Raton to assess on-the-ground conditions and identify restoration priorities. Suppression efforts created firebreaks and disturbed select areas, but much of the property’s vegetation remains intact.

“This fire largely burned at a low to moderate intensity, which can play a beneficial role in maintaining healthy wildlife habitat,” said Mike Brown, Colorado Parks and Wildlife area wildlife manager. “We’re already seeing early signs of green-up, which will provide nutritious forage for wildlife in the weeks ahead.”

Brown said his team and the City of Raton are developing plans to stabilize and restore impacted areas, including reseeding firebreaks, repairing parking areas and addressing potential erosion concerns to protect watershed health and support long-term recovery.

“Colorado Parks and Wildlife is grateful for the hundreds of firefighters who worked in difficult conditions to contain this fire and protect the surrounding landscape,” Brown said. “Their efforts made it possible for recovery work to begin quickly and safely.”

Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area spans roughly 4,500 acres at elevations ranging from 7,511 to 9,079 feet within Game Management Unit 140. The property offers hunting for bear, deer, elk and turkey, along with fishing in cold-water lakes and streams. Visitors also use the area for hiking, wildlife viewing and other outdoor recreation, with basic facilities including restrooms available on site.

Current access updates and additional information are available on the Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area page at cpw.state.co.us/state-wildlife-areas/lake-dorothey-swa.