ARTICLES LIBRARY | ADOPT-A-TRAIL

With the warmth of summer comes the joy of hiking and mountain biking in Grand County, home to one of the most extensive trail systems in Colorado. Fraser Valley formed the first ever mountain bike Adopt-A-Trail program in the country. This program thrives today and has expanded to include all user groups for both summer and winter. All trails are solely maintained by volunteers from local businesses and individuals who adopt and take care of them. More and more people are enjoying the great outdoors; therefore, more and more impact is put on the trails. If it weren't for the Adopt-A-Trail program in the Fraser Valley, our trails would not be as nice as they are.

Because of the intensive use the trails receive, coupled with continued budget cuts within most land management agencies, the need exists for groups and individuals to play a part in caring for trails throughout Grand County. That is where the Grand County Adopt-A-Trail Program (AATP) steps in.

In conjunction with the US Forest Service and other land management agencies, the Adopt-A-Trail Program gives businesses, groups and individuals the opportunity to become stewards for the trails and provide the volunteer labor and resources needed to maintain them.

You too can volunteer your time. After all, we spend so much time riding and hiking the trails, why not give some time back to improve them. Add to your "summer fun badges" by spending a day working on a trail. Volunteers need only provide time and enthusiasm to keep the trails in good repair.

For more information on this program, please contact The Forest Service by calling (970) 887-4100. Volunteers are also needed for trail days sponsored by the Red Cross, Headwaters Trails Alliance, local businesses, and on National Trails Day.

GuestGuide® Publications has adopted three trails. Over the years, volunteers helped build a much needed footbridge over Cabin Creek on the Devil's Thumb trail. The pride on everyone's face when they had finished told the entire story. We have also re-routed parts of heavily used trails to St. Louis Lake and Byers Peak. The volunteers come from Denver to Granby, ages seven to sixty. Local students have worked off volunteer requirements for their school programs. At the end of the day everyone has had great pride in "our bridge" and "our trail" and the volunteers all asked, "What do we get to do next year?" Enjoying a hike in the great outdoors is important, but so is taking responsibility for the care of those trails.

When you come to a bridge in the middle of the woods, enjoy it and remember it is there because of volunteers who took time to build it.

For a complete list of hiking-only trails, buy a copy of The Official Hiking Guide to Grand County™. This book, retailing for only $9.95, has detailed information on 18 trails from Winter Park to Grand Lake. Directions to each trailhead, difficulty ratings, and elevation graphs help you choose the hike or walk that is best for you. A portion of the proceeds helps maintain local trails.

Ask for The Official Hiking Guide to Grand County™ in local stores or order on the web at www.guestguidepublications.com.