Recreation updates for 2023 season

As the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project continues, hiking, fishing and boating access will remain the same as the 2022 season. Below is a summary of access points and details for visitors to remember during the 2023 season.

Areas closed during the construction project:

• Osprey Point boat launch and South Boulder Creek Inlet Trailhead.
• South Shore and Windy Point picnic and fishing areas.

Areas open during the construction project:

• North Shore Picnic Area, boat ramp and parking lot at the intersection of Gross Dam and Flagstaff roads.
• South Boulder Creek Outlet Trail below the dam. (Intermittent closures are possible during days with road restrictions on Gross Dam Road near the dam.)
• Winiger Ridge Campground. (The campground is typically open mid-May through October. Some temporary closures are expected starting in 2025.)
• Forsythe Canyon Trailhead hiking. (Some temporary closures are expected starting in 2025.)

Ongoing construction activities
While recreating at Gross Reservoir, various construction activities will be ongoing around the site that may impact visitors. While traveling along Gross Dam Road, visitors may experience intermittent lane closures various construction related activities. Ongoing blasting activities around the site may close some on-water and off-water recreation activities. Please follow all posted notices and on-site personnel instructions.

Boating parking and access
Boating season runs from Friday, May 26, 2023 through Sept. 30 for human-powered watercraft, including canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. Visitors should park at the North Shore picnic area where a free shuttle bus is available to bring boats and recreators from the parking lot to the shoreline. The shuttle is currently scheduled to operate Thursday through Monday from approximately 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Recreators are also welcome to walk a roughly 1/3 mile trail to the water. Cars are not permitted on the service road due to construction activities and safety concerns.

Staying informed
If you visit Gross Reservoir during the expansion project, which goes through 2027, pay attention to all posted signs around the site and obey on-site personnel when they give notices and alerts.

A consistent place to get up-to-date information on the expansion project will be through the project website grossreservoir.org, as well as via a Google My Map.