Colorado Gold Mountain Fire: See the Latest Evacuation Zones

Wildfires are ever-changing. The larger the fire, the more frequently things change. This update covers the evacuation zones surrounding Colorado's Gold Mountain Fire for the morning of July 23, 2026.

The Gold Mountain Fire response is led by the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2, which reports the fire has burned 38,044 acres and is 24% contained. Here are the revised evacuation zones for this week.

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What Changed With the Gold Mountain Fire Evacuation Zones?

Colorado Gold Mountain Fire: The Latest Evacuation Zones — Lookout Justin Kirsch Div P Gold Mountain Fire 20260719 inciweb.wildfire.gov

Evacuation zones around the Gold Mountain Fire have been updated this week, and this time it’s a good thing. Zones in Ouray, Gunnison, and Montrose counties have been able to reduce restrictions, allowing some residents to return to their property while remaining evacuation-ready.

The fire is active, and conditions can change quickly. Here’s the breakdown as of the morning of July 23. Gunnison County Emergency Management hosts a detailed evacuation zone map here. You can follow the descriptions below.

Evacuation Zones in Ouray County, Colorado

Zone 25: Mandatory. Silver Jack Reservoir & Big Cimarron/ County Road 858 west of Owl Creek Pass.
Zone 30: Mandatory. Cimarron Valley near Highway 50, Cimarron Campground, and residences.
Zone 25A: Voluntary. Properties surrounding the Silver Jack Reservoir corridor.
Zone 300: Voluntary. Big Cimarron Road corridor between the Cimarron Valley and Owl Creek Pass.
Zone 300A: Voluntary. Homes and ranches near the Big Cimarron drainage toward Owl Creek Pass.
Zone 31: Pre-Evacuation. Areas surrounding the Cimarron community and parts of U.S. Highway 50.

Evacuation Zones in Gunnison County, Colorado

Zone 32: Voluntary. Silver Jack Reservoir Rec Area, Gunnison County side, including cabins & properties.
Zone 33: Voluntary. Owl Creek Pass Road (County Road 8) east of Silver Jack, rural homes, and recreation access.

Evacuation Zones in Montrose County, Colorado

Zone 34: Pre-Evacuation. Portions of the Cimarron area west of Black Canyon country.

Why Drones Can Bring Wildfire Air Operations to a Halt

A reminder from the 900 individuals working hard to stop the fire: do not fly drones near a wildfire. Wildfire crews follow the simple message: "You fly, we can't." When an unauthorized drone is spotted near a wildfire, firefighting aircraft are often required to stop flying until the drone leaves the airspace. Flying a drone near a wildfire is pretty much illegal and can result in significant fines and even criminal penalties.

LOOK: Gold Mountain Battle Reaches Week Three

Wildland firefighters continue working around the clock in some of Western Colorado's steepest and most rugged terrain as the Gold Mountain Fire burns through the Cimarron Range. These photos offer a closer look at the crews, aircraft, and challenging conditions that are part of the firefight.

MORE: See Stunning Photos of Colorado's Snyder Mesa Fire

Throughout the Snyder Mesa Fire, Grand Valley listeners shared photos showing towering smoke columns, glowing ridgelines, aircraft battling the flames, and the wildfire's impact on communities west of Grand Junction.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams