(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Officials with the City of Colorado Springs said North Cheyenne Canyon Road and Gold Camp Road will remain closed indefinitely while they wait for rain to let up in order to assess the damage from a washout on Wednesday, June 4.

According to an update sent by the City on Thursday, the significant amount of rain the City has received, along with a number of other unknown factors, caused the washout of an entire lane of Cheyenne Canyon Road about 1.5 miles up the Cañon from the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center.

In the interest of safety and to allow crews to continue assessing and mitigating the damage, the City said both gates into the park remain closed. 

View Wednesday’s press conference on the collapse below:

Gold Camp Road remains closed to the public but is accessible to neighbors who live in the area. The City said the public closure ensures people who live in the area and use Gold Camp Road to access their homes can do so safely. The closure is also a safety precaution for the public to alleviate congestion on the narrow, steep road as this road now becomes the only way in and out of North Cheyenne Cañon. 

“Our primary focus remains on keeping people safe,” said Gayle Sturdivant, the City Engineer and Deputy Director of Public Works. “That includes people who want to visit the park, as well as those who reside in it.”  

More rain is forecasted for Thursday and Friday, and the City’s Public Works Department said it must wait for rain to end before fully assessing the damage and creating a plan to repair the road. The City Engineer needs to certify the road as safe before it can reopen.

City crews placed large boulders in the newly created washout channel on Wednesday and Thursday to prevent further roadway damage. 

For now, City officials recommend people use one of the many other recreational spaces and trails throughout the city and region, including Ute Valley Park, Pulpit Rock, High Chaparral Open Space, and Sondermann Park, Stratton and Red Rock Canyon Open Spaces.

Finally, the City said it is working with Pikes Peak APEX officials to stage the Sunday event in North Cheyenne Cañon, dependent on road safety and weather. More details will be available at the APEX rider meeting on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Scheels, 1226 Interquest Parkway, or via its website.

Those who cannot attend the meeting can follow updates on the APEX Instagram account.