Authorities are asking for the public’s help in tracking down the vandals who defaced a popular lookout spot in La Plata Canyon.

Esther Godson, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service, said the agency received a report Tuesday of spray-painted graffiti on the “Kennebec Notch” – atop Kennebec Pass in La Plata Canyon.

“It’s a really beautiful area, and it’s just unfortunate,” Godson said.

Godson said the Notch has a history of being vandalized. The Forest Service relies on volunteers and the public to help monitor potential illegal activity in the area.

“More than anything we’re asking people to keep an eye out on the area if it happens again,” she said.

Godson said there has been a lot of focus on high visitation, and associated damage, to the high country around Silverton. But she said La Plata Canyon, too, has seen incredible use this summer.

“La Plata Canyon is a really easily accessible recreation area,” Godson said. “In general, with this much visitation and new forest visitors, we’ve been seeing a lot more litter and inappropriate dispersed campsites. But that’s been across the board this summer.”

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call the Forest Service’s Columbine Ranger District at 884-2512.

jromeo@durangoherald.com