A History of the Ridgway Area Trails

To a mountain biker, singletrack exemplifies the highest quality riding experience. In 2004, Richard Durnan, searching for quality riding experiences, approached the Ridgway State Park and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with a proposal to develop a multi-use trail system in Ridgway Colorado on  adjoining parcels of land these agencies manage. Identifying this land, which resides on the outskirts of the Town of Ridgway, as having ideal terrain, trail connectivity, and access, the process of obtaining permission for this project began.

The goal of the project is to develop a well-designed, sustainable, trail system that will enhance the quality of recreation in Ouray County. Although mountain bikers may be heading this project, it is not just for bikers. It is intended that this trail system be available to a variety of non-motorized users such as, trail runners, hikers, walkers, and horse back riders.

Development of a multi-use trail system will enhance the lives of not only the residents of Colorado’s Western Slope, but the numerous annual visitors from outside the region. This enhancement will come not only in the form of higher quality recreational opportunities, but will also increase the areas already growing tourism industry.

At this time, the process is well under way. New trail development approval and construction may begin as early as spring 2007. In the mean time, there is a wealth of good single and double track trails available to choose from within the area now. Get out there and enjoy it!

Time-Line of Activities Surrounding the Ridgway Area Trails (RAT) Project

 2004

• Richard Durnan conceives of trail development project in Ridgway area on BLM and State Park / Bureau of Reclamation lands project

2005

• April 11 – Richard Durnan has first meeting with BLM representatives and presents project concept
• September 13th, 2005 Richard Durnan begins a comprehensive inventory of the existing trail resources by GPS-ing the existing roads and trails.
• Outline for BLM lands portion developed in conjunction with BLM (see attachment)

2006

• Spring- A GPS inventory of all existing trails and routes within the area (not previously done by the BLM) is finished and entered into the BLM database March 13 – Colorado
• Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA) endorses RAT project (see attached letter)
• Spring – First Volunteer Trail Work day held to do maintenance on existing trailsAugust 15 – project plan letter submitted to Ridgway State Parks
• International Mountain Bike Association shows interest in project expressing to BLM Recreation Planner Julie Stotler-Jackson their interest in supporting the project

2007 

• December – Scope of Work/Conceptual Plan completed
• December – Final draft of Conceptual trail Plan submitted by Single Track Trails trail planner

2008    

• Town of Ridgway endorses project
• May – First RAT user trail map developed (see attached map)
• September 15 – Public meeting held with and at the request of the BLM, Julie Jackson, Outdoor Recreation Planner and Barbara Sharrow, Manager of the Uncompahgre Field
• OfficeConstruction completed on the Mountain Biking trail a trail that connects to the RAT trails area in the Town of Ridgway Weaver Memorial Park
• October – RAT applies for the 2009 Colorado State Trails Grant

 2009

• August Awarded GOCO Planning Grant, $8347.00 to help finance required NEPA studies

2010

• Winter – Flagging and mapping of proposed routes completed by trails group (see attached map Flagged Proposed Trails)June 2010 – Archaeological clearances completed for BLM segment

 

2011

• June – First Ridgway Mountain Bike Festival in support of RAT held  and raises over $2300.00 for trails
• Summer 2011 – Ridgway State Park receives a GOCO Planning grant to fund required NEPA studies for the state park segment of the project (5.4 miles) September – Completed construction McCloud 9 Trail, a trail that connects to the RAT trails area in the Town of Ridgway Weaver Memorial Park
• November –  Biological, Raptor/Aviary, Hydrological NEPA studies for BLM segment completed.  Funding for all the NEPA studies came from the GOCO grant and COPMOBA’s Assistance Agreement with the BLM

 

To learn more about the project’s development to date we encourage you to read the archived newsletters.

Click here to view the original BLM proposal letter.