To the Editor,

On Saturday, June 6, more than 60 volunteers gathered near Howard to celebrate National Trails Day by giving back to one of Chaffee County’s most valued recreation resources: the Rainbow Trail.

The project was organized by Central Colorado Mountain Riders (CCMR) in partnership with the Trails Preservation Alliance (TPA) and marked CCMR’s 10th consecutive National Trails Day work event. What began as a small volunteer effort in 2017 has grown into an annual tradition demonstrating the motorized recreation community’s long-term commitment to trail stewardship.

The impact extends well beyond volunteer labor. During that same period, CCMR has worked with partners to help secure more than $1.5 million in Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) OHV grant funding for trail maintenance, improvements, equipment, and stewardship projects in the region. Combined with thousands of volunteer hours, these investments have helped ensure multi-use trails in the area remain sustainable and a valuable recreation asset for residents and visitors alike.

This year’s project brought together volunteers  from CCMR, TPA, Monarch Ski Area, the Salida High School Cross Country Team, the Salida Ranger District, and the CPW Upper Arkansas Good Management Crew (also funded by OHV grant dollars). Working on foot, mountain bikes, E-bikes, and motorcycles, crews completed maintenance on 13.5 miles of trail.

Volunteers cleared debris, improved drainage, performed corridor maintenance, and completed tread improvements, contributing more than 240 hours of trail work in a single day.

While motorized recreation often receives public attention, events like this highlight an important but less visible reality: these same users are among the most active stewards of the trails they ride. For ten consecutive years, local riders have donated their time, labor, equipment, and resources to help maintain mulit-use trails in the area and support the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Colorado Parks and Wildlife in caring for these important public assets.

The success of this year’s project reflects what is possible when local businesses, clubs, public land managers, schools, and volunteers work together toward a shared goal. The Rainbow Trail is enjoyed by hikers, runners, equestrians, mountain bikers, and motorcyclists alike, and maintaining it requires continued collaboration from all user groups.

A sincere thank you to everyone who participated and helped continue this decade-long tradition of stewardship on our public lands.

Sincerely,
Chad Hixon
Executive Director
Trails Preservation Alliance