State installs Steptoe Butte barrier

A gate has been installed on the road up Steptoe Butte. The state parks department plans to close the gate when road conditions become impassable.

This is the first time the park has had a gate to stop traffic from entering. In past years, state park staffers put barricades up to stop traffic when the road was hazardous, but people often moved the barricades and ended up stuck on the road at higher elevations.

Due to the number of the calls from motorists in need of emergency services, the parks department put in a request to install the gate. The process took a year to obtain permits and get approval for the project.

Landowners and others who could be impacted were notified in advance of the project.

Parks staff members will continue to monitor road conditions and weather.

Visitors to Steptoe Butte, are required to have a state Discover pass or pay a $10 daily visitor pass.