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# Wildfires Force Major Detours on the American Discovery Trail in Utah
- URL: https://www.hikingamerica.com/wildfire-detours-new-routes-august-2024/
- Published: 2024-08-25T14:06:53.000Z
- Updated: 2024-08-26T11:06:09.000Z
- Description: Explore Hiking America's latest updates to the American Discovery Trail, including new wildfire detours, route adjustments, and essential camping and resupply information.
- Author: John Wesley Brett
- Tags: Utah, Colorado, Iowa

**The Little Twist Wildfire** in southwestern Utah, which forced hiker **Mike Crowley** to take a southern detour earlier this year, continues to grow and spread. The nearly 5,400 acre fire has now engulfed parts of the **American Discovery Trail** route through the **Fishlake National Forest.** As of today, the flames are less than a mile from the route a **U.S. Forest Service Ranger** had originally suggested for Mike, posing a significant threat to those attempting to traverse this segment of the trail.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/0f/28/0f286572-aa37-49a3-8704-f6d42aa3a69a/content/images/2024/08/LittleTwistDetours.jpeg)

The Little Twist Wildfire has overtaken the American Discovery Trail and moving closer to a previous USFS recommended detour. A new Northern Detour is now in place. Hiking America graphic.

In response to the ongoing danger, alternative routes have been put in place to ensure the safety of all trail users. This week, hiker **Marshall Travis** successfully navigated through the Fishlake area using a northern detour recommended by the **ADTS'** **Utah Coordinator, Bob Palin.** This alternate route takes hikers north of the **Little Twist Wildfire** and strategically south of the **Silver King wildfire**, burning fiercely to the north.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/0f/28/0f286572-aa37-49a3-8704-f6d42aa3a69a/content/images/2024/08/travisFire.jpeg)

Smoke from the ****Little Twist Wildfire** can be seen south of the new Northern Detour - Screenshot [****Marshall Travis video**](https://youtu.be/ACU4Zn%5FF5wM?si=WFScc9Wzp3dfGi28&t=762&ref=hikingamerica.com)

Given these wildfires' dynamic and unpredictable nature, we have temporarily replaced **Segment 2: Beaver to Circleville** of the trail with a **new, dual-directional detour.** This new dual-directional route comes complete with **ten pages of updated maps, 26 waypoints, and Hiker Notes**, all of which are now available in both the Turn-by-Turn guides and on Gaia GPS.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/0f/28/0f286572-aa37-49a3-8704-f6d42aa3a69a/content/images/2024/08/climbcategories.jpeg)

Hiking America data includes ****Climb Categories** ranked from 0-5, with 0 being the most difficult.

We have also updated our **Climb Category charts** for both directions. With Westbound, the direction Marshall is hiking is MUCH more challenging than Eastbound. Excellent work, Marshall!

Hikers should stay updated on current wildfire conditions – Gaia GPS has several smoke and wildfire map layers providing up to date information. These are available to both free and premium users. Follow the recommended detours to ensure your safety. Conditions can change rapidly, so be prepared for further adjustments.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/0f/28/0f286572-aa37-49a3-8704-f6d42aa3a69a/content/images/2022/12/Hiking-America-wordmark-GreenSlogan.jpg)

Not affiliated with nor authorized by the American Discovery Trail Society®

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/0f/28/0f286572-aa37-49a3-8704-f6d42aa3a69a/content/images/2022/07/Swoosh_UPDATES.png)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/0f/28/0f286572-aa37-49a3-8704-f6d42aa3a69a/content/images/2024/02/travis.jpg) 

#### Marshall 'California Chrome' Travis

Began: February 13, 2024 - Westbound  
Support Links: [****YouTube**](https://www.youtube.com/@CaliforniaChrome?ref=hikingamerica.com), [****Facebook**,](https://www.facebook.com/marshall.travis.3) [****GoFundMe**](https://gofund.me/553ec9d4?ref=hikingamerica.com)

## Utah

### Segment 4 & 5

Marshall Travis recently stayed at **Duke’s Campground** in **Hanksville, Utah.** Although the campground is **23 miles north of the American Discovery Trail,** Hanksville remains the closest resupply town for hundreds of miles in either direction. Thankfully, the **ever-reliable Utah Coordinator, Bob Palin,** was there to help, giving Marshall a lift to the town!

Hitch-hiking to Hanksville is also a possibility. For those following in their footsteps, [**Boston and Cubby noted back in 2012**](https://www.trailjournals.com/journal/entry/389746?ref=hikingamerica.com) that there’s a particular spot where you can successfully get a lift. Hanksville is strategically located on a corridor between the wildly popular **Bullfrog Lake** and **Interstate 70**, ensuring a steady flow of traffic from which hikers can often catch a ride.

All of Marshall Travis’s dispersed campsites for these two segments are now noted on. Additionally, we have updated the status of the **Hite Campground** at the junction of Segments 4 and 5\. It is **temporarily closed** until a new vendor is found by the Park Service for this remote location. However, there are alternative camping areas and pit toilets available on the north side of the river near the **Hite Bridge.**

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/0f/28/0f286572-aa37-49a3-8704-f6d42aa3a69a/content/images/2024/08/mattNjenn.jpg) 

#### Matthew Hengst (Masochist Hikes)

Starting: March 27, 2024  
Support Links: [****LinkTree**](https://linktr.ee/masotaters?ref=hikingamerica.com), [****Youtube**](https://www.youtube.com/c/FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes?ref=hikingamerica.com), [****Facebook,**](https://www.facebook.com/matthew.hengst) [****Patreon**](https://www.patreon.com/FirstChurchOfTheMasochistHikes?ref=hikingamerica.com)

## Colorado - South

### Segment 4

Big thanks to Matt and Jen for providing information about new services available in **Cripple Creek!**

**Segment 5:** Unfortunately, the **hotel in Bent Fort** is no longer in operation. Matt and Jen reported that the Bent Fort Inn appeared to be a “flop house,” but upon further research, we discovered it had been shut down after health officials determined it was **being used as an illegal drug lab.** **WOAH!** 👀

You can read more about it [here](https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-colorado/bent-fort-inn-in-las-animas-shut-down-after-determined-to-be-illegal-drug-lab?ref=hikingamerica.com).

[Bent Fort Inn in Las Animas shut down after determined to be illegal drug labA hotel in Las Animas was shut down after health officials determined it was being used as an illegal drug laboratory.![](https://www.koaa.com/apple-touch-icon.png)KOAA News 5By: James Gavato![](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/983adbd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1008+0+36/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx-default-stgec.uplynk.com%2Fause%2Fslices%2Fe6a%2Fb2da66f716dc47439b09dfbbeb8a98d1%2Fe6a768eed1a34dcfb4e0acd62b0817bf%2Fposter_3aeabd75e1ec424a9e892df4d8c9e0c3.jpg)](https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-colorado/bent-fort-inn-in-las-animas-shut-down-after-determined-to-be-illegal-drug-lab?ref=hikingamerica.com)

There are also updates on available lodging in **Rocky Ford,** water sources in **Manzanola**, and even a Porta John location discovered along the straight stretch of road—all thanks to the invaluable information shared by Matt and Jen.

## Iowa - North

You may recall that **Marshall Travis** and **Bernie Krausse** were the first to test out our new **Iowa-North Segment** earlier this year. They encountered a few minor detours due to construction, but great news: those detours are no longer an issue! 

**The entire route officially opened on Saturday, August 17th.** This exciting development also marks the debut of one of the longest paved trail loops in the U.S., thanks to a newly completed connection between the **Raccoon River Valley** and **High Trestle trails** in central Iowa. 

[One of the longest paved trails in the U.S. opens in Iowa this weekendA long-anticipated connection between the Raccoon River Valley and High Trestle trails in central Iowa opens on Saturday, Aug. 17.![](https://www.iowapublicradio.org/apple-touch-icon.png)Iowa Public RadioRachel Cramer![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/13dee1f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3508x1842+0+0/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F30%2F6e%2Fc8e1c1c146f9a88fc34b55780104%2Fhtt-extension-map-8-6-24.png)](https://www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2024-08-12/bike-trails-raccoon-river-valley-high-trestle?ref=hikingamerica.com)

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