Chaffee County Trails System & Conservation Plan to encompass trailheads, trail corridors, parking, restrooms and more
A coalition of local leaders in outdoor recreation has come together to develop a Chaffee County Trails System & Conservation Plan. The goal is to create a community-driven strategic plan for conserving natural resources while providing a spectrum of sustainable, trail-based outdoor recreation experiences across all lands countywide.
The coalition members are Salida Mountain Trails (SMT); Buena Vista Singletrack Coalition (BVSC); National Forest Foundation (NFF); Envision Chaffee County; and a representative for outfitters and guides.
Planning will encompass trailheads, trail corridors and infrastructure like parking, restrooms and pet waste stations. The process will first assess and prioritize improvements to the 500 miles of current, designated trails in Chaffee County. From there, it will identify opportunities for new trails and related infrastructure to address growth in outdoor recreation and visitation in ways that retain the exceptional forests, waters and wildlife that make Chaffee County such a special place to live and visit.
“This collaborative process will result in a remarkable trail network right-sized to our community,” said SMT Executive Director Jon Terbush. “By holistically planning new trails and improvements to existing ones, we can ensure the entire system will be sustainably managed to improve user experience and protect natural resource health.”
The process will coordinate with federal land management agencies and local governments and be supported by community input. Coalition partners convened a working group of stakeholders and are providing opportunities for public comment throughout the process. To be kept informed of the planning process, send a note of interest to info@envisionchaffeecounty.org.
Chaffee Recreation Council Member Chuck Cichowitz, a long-time backcountry outfitter in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, will represent outfitters and guides on the partnership.
Once completed, the Trails System and Conservation Plan is expected to be added to the Chaffee County Outdoor Recreation Management Plan, which was developed by the Envision Recreation in Balance program and approved by the County Planning Commission in 2021.