News – Durango Trails

Durango Trails Launches Durango Trail Love Campaign

Posted on May 19, 2021May 19, 2021 by Durango Trails

We are excited to announce the launch of “Durango Trail Love,” a seasonal campaign designed to promote share the trail and leave no trace ethics.

After an unprecedented trail season in 2020, Durango Trails, in partnership with Alpine Bank and area land managers, are launching a stewardship education campaign to help combat the impact on our area trails and outdoor recreation amenities.

Trails are the gateway to the outdoors. Whether you're fly fishing, fat biking, backpacking, or hiking, you're taking a trail to your adventure.

Before COVID, the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable found about 50% of Americans were getting outdoors. In July of last year, the recent survey found 89% were getting outdoors, and 30% were new outdoorists.

With so many users on the trails, it's important we all practice proper Durango Trail Love and show some love back to our trails!

This campaign is intended not just to speak to visitors and new trail users, but also to remind locals and longtime trail users to lead by example, so that we can all understand how to better care for our land.

Help us show some Durango Trail Love this season!

Celebrate the launch of Trail Crew Brew!

Posted on March 18, 2021April 14, 2021 by Durango Trails

Drive Thru Meet the Crew | Membership Join or Renew

Earth Day

Thursday, April 22nd

12 Pm to 6 Pm

Ska Brewing, 225 Girard

Celebrate the launch of Trail Crew Brew at our Spring Fundraiser and 2020 30th Anniversary Celebration Re-Do!

This event is a “Drive-Thru” only event to support Durango Trails in partnership with our friends at Ska.

Walk, ride, or drive thru at Ska Brewing to support your area trails, meet our 2021 trail crew, and join or renew your Durango Trails membership!

Plus, we’ll be launching a new Ska beer crafted specially for Durango Trails: Trail Crew Brew.

Donate $25 or more to Durango Trails and you’ll receive 15% off a 6-pack of the limited edition brew. Or donate $100 or more and you’ll receive one 32 oz crowler!

Ride-thru, walk-thru or drive-thru to meet the crew, join or renew, and enjoy a Trail Crew Brew. We hope you’ll be able to join us on Earth Day, April 22nd, for our first fundraiser in over a year and to show your love for Durango Trails.

Trail Etiquette: Muddy Trails

Posted on March 5, 2021April 9, 2021 by Beth Stewart

It’s that time of year, shoulder season, mud season but certainly not riding your mountain biking at lunch time season.

It’s best to avoid standing water and mud. Right now, the snow is melting on the south face, and still present on the north faces, making the space in between mud.

Trails are very susceptive to damage during this current freeze/thaw process.

The soil displacement from riding, walking and running at this time carries the soil away. If the trail is 90% rideable, the 10% that is muddy can still ruin your derailleur or running shoes.

Technically, it’s best to turn around once you encounter muddy trails. If you need to ride, walk or run through mud to get back to dry dirt, run right through the puddles and mud thereby not causing damage to trailside vegetation or unnecessary trail widening.

Even if you find it rideable, it’s best to wait until things dry out.

South facing in Dalla Mountain Park on 3.4.21

North facing in Dalla Mountain Park on 3.4.21

What can you do?

Read the Durango Trails Trail Conditions Report before heading out

Like the Durango Trails Facebook and Instagram pages for up to date trail beta

Join the Durango Trails Facebook Trail Conditions group

Ride Gravel

Explore the Animas River Trail

Hike or run in the early morning (before 9:30 am) or late afternoon (after 5:00 pm) – muddy areas are more likely to be harder (colder air temps) and less messy since harder soils are much less likely to erode.

When possible, stick to south-facing trails, which tend to be drier – the drier the trail, the less damage done – if any

Donate to Durango Trails to help support our ongoing trail maintenance efforts

For more information:

Visit American Trails’ guide to trail etiquette when mud is present.

Seasonal Wildlife Closures Dec. 1 through April 15

Posted on November 23, 2020April 9, 2021 by durangotrails

Video campaign highlights the importance of respecting seasonal wildlife closures in Durango – in effect Dec. 1, 2020.

Ever wonder why certain trails in Durango have seasonal wildlife closures? During the winter months, deer and elk need safe harbors and seasonal wildlife closures are essential for the animals to survive. Even when there is no snow on the ground these areas are critical for animals to make it through the winter. That’s why Durango Trails this week launched an informational and educational video campaign aimed at educating and inspiring users to follow certain etiquette and safety guidelines when traveling on trails in Durango and the surrounding area. The first video, “It’s Up To Me,” highlights the importance of abiding by the winter seasonal wildlife closures.

It’s up to me. It’s up to us. It’s up to all of us to protect wildlife in Colorado.

The seasonal wildlife closures go into effect Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, until April 15, 2021, on the following areas:

Grandview Ridge

Big Canyon and Sale Barn trailheads (access located east of U.S. Highway 160)
Grandview BLM trails

Animas City Mountain

BLM lands above the lower loops (about 1.5 miles above the 32^nd Street Trailhead)

Twin Buttes Area

The upper trails only, as marked.

Bodo State Wildlife Areas

This area is closed with the exception of the Smelter Mountain Trail that is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dogs are prohibited.

Perins Peak

Please note this area is closed through July 31, 2021, to protect nesting peregrine falcons.

Watch the video here or by clicking the video above. Visit our Trail Conditions Report for up to date trail conditions. You can also learn more about wildlife in Colorado by visiting the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website.

Campaign video made possible through Durango Trails receipt of the Partners in the Outdoors grant from the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) in partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). The videos were produced by Coldstream Creative and include local talent.

RidgeView (formerly SkyRaider) Trail Opens!

Posted on June 19, 2020March 22, 2021 by Beth Stewart

Durango Trails is excited to announce the opening of a new trail connecting Powerline to Extended Ridge!

After an unprecedented spring season, Durango Trails, working with the City of Durango, has completed the construction of the RidgeView Trail. Work on RidgeView was initiated last season by our hard-working volunteers and was completed this season by the Durango Trails Crew Leader team, as volunteer trailwork days have been put on hold so far this year due to COVID-19.

“Durango Trails has been working with the City for over two decades, planning, building, and maintaining our area trails; partnering on education, outreach, and helping connect our town. We are so pleased that they are visionary and solution-oriented and can deliver top-notch trails to our community,” said Councilor Chris Bettin who also sits on the Park and Recreation Advisory Board.

“Trails are the cornerstone of our community, the gateway to the outdoors, and the work of Durango Trails can not be overstated as it relates to the branding of Durango and its role in our recovery from this global pandemic,” added Rachel Brown, director of Visit Durango, Durango’s destination marketing organization.

As a celebration of the Solstice, the RidgeView Trail will officially open on Saturday, June 20. Since the opening celebration will be virtual, please help us celebrate by viewing and sharing the celebratory video below.

The trail is located off of the Powerline Trail and connects Powerline to Raider Ridge.

Updated COVID-19 Recreation Guidelines

Posted on June 18, 2020November 23, 2020 by Beth Stewart

Updated Nov. 20, 2020

If you’re seeking best practices while on our area trails, here are suggestions. As of November 20, 2020, the state of La Plata County’s COVID-19 restrictions are now labeled as Level Red . Please care for yourself and your neighbors and safely connect through the outdoors. Connecting to the outdoors is still recognized as essential to our mental and physical health.

When visiting area trails and public lands, please follow these guidelines to ensure a safe environment for all:

Social distancing: Keep a safe physical distance of at least six feet from people you do not live with.
Go solo or only with people you live with: This isn’t the time to hold even small social gatherings on public lands, as that could increase community spread of the virus. Please save the group runs, rides or hikes for after the order is lifted.
Avoid the crowds: Look for nearby nature to enjoy; the closer to home the better.
Share the wealth: Whether it’s sharing trails and yielding to others in order to maintain a safe distance, or limiting your time on public lands so that more people can have a safe experience, please keep your larger community in mind.
Leave no trace: Pack out what you pack in, as garbage collection is currently very limited.
Use common sense: Stay at home if you or others in your household are feeling sick.

With a large number of new, local trail users out, please remember to follow “Share the Trails” ethics and proper trail etiquette by announcing yourself, slowing down, communicating with others about how to proceed, and always keeping your dog on a leash. Remember, just say “hi”.

Trails are the gateway to the outdoors; please continue to follow all local guidelines and public health orders so we can all continue to enjoy the outdoors together!

Have you been enjoying our local trails more than usual while quarantined this year? Please consider donating to Durango Trails during this season of giving so we can continue to build, plan, and maintain the regional trails you love. We also have awesome merchandise to help rep your #DurangoTrailLove!

Resources:

State of Colorado Department of Public Health

Watch This: COVID-19 Video Learning Series: Passing, Dogs on Leash and Land Manager Message

Posted on May 22, 2020June 24, 2020 by durangotrails

Stage I Fire Restrictions Now in Place

Posted on May 21, 2020November 6, 2020 by Beth Stewart

As of May 12, 2020, La Plata County and the San Juan National Forest have enacted Stage I Fire Restrictions.

Under the restrictions, the following acts are prohibited:

Building, maintaining, attending, or using any type of fire, campfire, coal or wood burning stove, any type of charcoal fueled broiler, or the burning of any material on public or private property. The use of charcoal or gas barbecue grills, ovens or smokers on private property is not prohibited.
Smoking, in or on all City-owned, operated, or managed property, including but not limited to: all sidewalks, parks, recreation areas, open space, natural lands, reservoirs, the Animas River corridor, the Animas River Trail, and all other trails within the City. This restriction does not prohibit designated smoking areas.
Using explosive material (i.e., fireworks, blasting caps, or any incendiary device which may result in the ignition of flammable material).
Welding and/or operating an acetylene or similar torch with an open flame, except that, as long as a fire watch individual is on site and readily available with proper hand tools and either one 2 ½ gallon pressurized fire extinguisher, one 5 pound ABC extinguisher, or pressurized water supply, welding and/or operating an acetylene or similar torch with an open flame in a 20-foot radius safe zone free of vegetation is not prohibited
Operating or using any internal combustion engine, except that operating or using any internal combustion engine equipped with an approved, properly installed, and properly maintained spark-arresting device meeting either Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-1 or Society of Automotive Engineers recommended practice J335(b) and J350 (a) is not prohibited.

The purpose of these orders are to decrease the risk of fire and to maximize scarce resources otherwise needed to respond to the COVID-19 health crisis.

Please follow all local fire restrictions and help keep our lands safe!

Safe Trail Use During COVID-19

Posted on March 27, 2020May 22, 2020 by durangotrails

Updated May 22, 2020.

The Colorado Stay at Home Order that went into effect March 26 was changed to a “Safer-at-Home” order on April 27th. It continues to allow exercise outside the home, and travel via foot, bike or car to trailheads. Outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, fishing, biking, or running are still permitted under the order. State parks will remain open for the previously-mentioned activities.

The COVID-19 situation and subsequent Stay at Home Order by San Juan Basin Health is not something to be taken lightly. Getting exercise and getting outside is extremely important for our well-being and mental health, but we must keep open spaces safe and uncrowded. Here’s what Durango Trails is doing and our recommendations for safe trail use during this time.

TRAILWORK EVENTS ARE POSTPONED

All Durango Trails trail building events, parties, and other social events are postponed until such time as group activities are deemed safe again. We continue to look forward to our upcoming 2020 Trailwork Kick-Off Event, as well as our 30th Anniversary Celebration, and we will update you when new dates have been chosen for both.

TRAILS: THE GATEWAY TO OUTDOOR RECREATION

The current guidelines list biking, walking, hiking and other outdoor activities as essential, permitted activities while following social distancing. In order to comply with all social distancing orders, do not organize a group activity of more than 10 people and maintain a distance of 6 feet between all. Please remember, no matter how you choose to get outdoors, social distancing is not optional. Please abide by all guidelines and rules listed below.

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Stay alert, slow down, and communicate with each other from a distance about how to proceed. With local gyms and rec centers closed, there may be new users on the trails. Now is a great time to educate the community on responsible trail use, and to be patient, exemplary stewards and neighbors. Remember, great communities build great trails and great trails build great communities.

TRAIL RUNNING

To follow proper social distancing guidelines, please do not run in groups. Please announce yourself.

DOG WALKING

Dogs must be on a leash! Please don’t put anyone at risk by not having your dog on a leash and please, always pick up after your dog.

KEEP OPEN SPACES UNCROWDED

Pick off-peak times to ride, or choose less-used trail areas. If there is no available parking at a trailhead, it is too crowded!
Ride fewer times a week.
Remember to keep your dogs on a leash; this is important to help keep everyone protected and reduce the impact on emergency services.

PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING

Don’t carpool, unless with household members.
Don’t do shuttle rides.
Ride solo. If you do ride with others, the intention is that you only go with people in YOUR HOUSEHOLD, and maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance at all times.
Give plenty of room to all users on the trail. Instead of the MTB Lean, step off the trail and lift your bike with you to let others pass. Please don’t take a longer path and ride off-trail to avoid users.
Check out our video learning series on current best trail practices
When in doubt, remember the llama rule!

AVOID CONTAMINATION

While masks are not required while recreating, please be conscious of conditions where passing one another at close proximity is required. Watch our video learning series on safe passing and keep a mask in your pack when needed, or for visiting public areas and shops.
Don’t ride if you are sick.
Avoid touching others’ bikes, racks or equipment like pumps and tools.
Don’t share drinks, food, or anything else that goes in your mouth and can be inhaled.
Be mindful of your snot rockets and loogies.
Use the bathroom before you leave the house. Some trailhead restrooms are open but aren’t being maintained, others are closed.

KEEP TRIPS SHORT AND CONSERVATIVE

Ride and hike within your limits and don’t take risks. Now is not the time to go big; our healthcare system has enough to do without setting your broken collar bone.

KEEP IT LOCAL

If you can safely ride to the trailhead, please do so.
Do not get in your car and travel to other communities. Communities like Moab shut down camping and request visitors to stay home. They do not have the resources or infrastructure to handle visitors during this time and are trying to stop the spread of COVID-19 in their own towns.

GRAVEL RIDING

Our trails have been very busy since COVID-19 was first detected, so now is a great time to explore https://gravelmap.com/browse/colorado/durango.

No special bike required, just turn off your suspension and have a sense of adventure.

BE SAFE AND BE SMART

We want to get outside with you when this is over, please take this pandemic seriously!

RESOURCES

Please Volunteer: Sign Up to help Durango Trails 2000 at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Holiday Bloomer Sale

Posted on November 13, 2019April 11, 2020 by durangotrails

Volunteer spots have been filled. Thank you to everyone who signed up to help!

Volunteers are needed to work the RMCF Holiday Bloomer Sale next weekend November 22 and 23, benefitting Trails 2000. It’s a fun day, helping customers with chocolate purchases (and maybe eating a piece yourself) and giving back to your local trails!

Please sign up this week. All details, along with the signup form, are outlined below.

Trails 2000 Volunteer Details for November 22 and 23, 2019

Trails 2000 is pleased to invite volunteers to volunteer at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Holiday Bloomer Sale.

This year’s sale will again benefit local organizations, which may include United Way of Southwest Colorado, Trails 2000, and Civitan International.

We would greatly appreciate volunteers on one, or both days and even for setup. Not only would you help us with the largest sale of the year, but your work would help us contribute to these great local organizations! Plus… employees and volunteers receive employee special pricing.

We will need help on Friday with setup and during the evening sale (2-7 pm) and Saturday (8 am-2 pm). We have to clean up after and even sweep the floor.

Actual sale hours are Friday 5-7 (invitation) and Saturday 9 AM to 1 PM (general public, advertised)

Most volunteers hand out candy to customers by the piece or the box, work in a section by types of candy or help carry items to the cars. You are on your feet the entire time. Volunteers team up with RMCF employees to answer questions about candy.

Subway sandwiches or pizza along with various drinks are provided for each sale with a break for eating.

When: Friday, November 22, 2019 OR Saturday, November 23, 2019

Where: LaPlata County Fairgrounds

What to wear: Volunteers should wear closed-toe very comfortable shoes or boots, long pants, and bring a water bottle, and a jacket (optional)

Check In at the front when you arrive

Thank you for volunteering and giving back to Durango Trails 2000!

Happy Trails!

ALL GUARDIANS MUST REGISTER IF THE PARTICIPANT IS UNDER 18 YEARS OLD