Annual winter road closures to motorized and mechanized vehicles begin Saturday in specific areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management’s Colorado River Valley Field Office, in an effort to protect critical big game winter range and prevent road damage.

Winter closures occur annually from Dec. 1 to April 15 in multiple locations in Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties, according to a BLM press release.

In several additional areas of Eagle County, the winter closures are in effect from Jan. 16 to April 15. All of the areas continue to be open to non-motorized and non-mechanized recreation, such as hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding and skiing.

“Most roads into these seasonally closed areas are gated,” according to the release. “The public may notice new gates in some areas, such as north of New Castle and the Crown near Carbondale, as the BLM implements its 2015 Travel Management Plan.”

A complete list and maps of the areas affected by these winter closures are available online by searching BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office in Silt.

Additional seasonal closures include the upper Transfer Trail gate above Glenwood Springs, which was closed Nov. 23 to maintain conditions for snowmobiling. The lower Transfer Trail gate will be managed based on snow conditions. BLM’s Wolcott and Gypsum campgrounds in Eagle County are closed for the winter and will reopen next spring.

“We appreciate the public’s cooperation in helping us protect wildlife and public lands,” said BLM Colorado River Valley Acting Field Manager Gloria Tibbetts.