So what’s happening in the world of trails with COMBA? Our Trails Team has a ton of projects going on all over the Front Range. Below is a down and dirty recap of what’s been going on. Wanna get involved? Just shoot us an email to trails@comba.org to let us know.

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Outside 285 – Gil McCormick

• Goal: Create a regional master plan for public lands management in an area southwest of Denver along the Highway 285 corridor to balance the needs of conservation and recreation.

  • Colorado The Beautiful planning grant awarded to COMBA​

• Collaborating with Bailey HUNDO and Team Evergreen Cycling

• Hold a board member seat on the Bailey HUNDO board

• Leading the effort for the establishment of the North Elk Creek trail system north of Staunton State Park and connecting to Cub Creek Trail in Evergreen

  • CPW/GOCO grants awarded to COMBA for planning and construction

  • Grant administration and project management

 

Buffalo Creek – Greg Sprenger

• Goal: Keep trails well-maintained and bike-optimized

• Conducting corporate work days and volunteer work parties

• Providing work opportunities for youth corps groups

• Planning and conducting trail reroutes on Baldy, Buck Gulch and Strawberry Jack

 

City of Golden – Jerry Harcek

• Supporting the Giddyup Trail Team's refresh and expansion of the Golden Bike Park​

• Working with a team to create singletrack sidewalks in Golden.

 

City of Lakewood – Gil McCormick

• Goal: Enhance Beginner & Intermediate trail experiences

  • 2017 construction of Lower Box Of Rox

  • 2018 realignment of the Rooney Valley Trail

  • Providing training for trail staff in modern trail building

  • Provided crew leaders and volunteers for National Trails Day work party

 

Clear Creek County – David Knox

• Goal: Establish new bike-optimized trail systems

• Collaborating with Idaho Springs and partners on a new system called Virginia Canyon Mountain Park, ~ 12 miles

  • Helped City win planning grant and develop master plan

  • Working as consultants to the City of Idaho Springs

  • Pursuing grant funding for construction of trails in 2021

• Providing guidance and support for developing Clear Creek trails initiatives in Floyd Hill, Arapaho NF, and Cub Creek

• Key partner in developing the Floyd Hill Open Space Trails

  • Helped fund professional master plan

  • Raised $50K for downhill, bike-only trail The Sluice

  • Provided machine trail crews and volunteers for construction and maintenance

 

Colorado Trail / Denver Water – Joe & Kristin Tonsager

• Goal: Maintain and optimize Segment 1 of Colorado Trail

• Conducting annual work party on CT1 for National Public Lands Day

• Collaborating with Denver Water to plan new 6 mile singletrack trail to move foot and bike traffic off of the Waterton Canyon service road

 

Denver Mountain Parks – Tom Furgason

• Goal: Establish a working relationship with DMP to facilitate better designed/maintained trails, as well as improve collaborations between DMP and JeffCo

• Meeting with DMP personnel to offer resources and expertise

• Participating in Denver Mountain Park volunteer days

 

Golden Gate Canyon State Park - Dylan Monke

• Goal: Rework trail systems to provide better MTB experiences

• Performing trail assessments

• Installing trail counters

• Collaborate on new trails master plan

 

Indian Creek/Roxborough – Douglas County – David Knox

• Goal: Improve current trails and establish opportunities for youth corps and volunteer work parties to assist with maintenance

• Conducting trail assessment operations using Avenza mapping software

 

Jefferson County Open Space – Peter Thomas

• Goal: Optimize existing trails for bikes and add new trail segments  

• Shaping Wonderful Optimized Trails (SWOT) Team

  • Dedicated group focused on JCOS trail opportunities

  • SWOT Team trail optimizations on Dakota Ridge, Morrison Slide, etc.

• Conducted survey of JCOS visitors to provide MTB community feedback to JeffCo management

• Trail Etiquette programs

  • Funded $4,500 in bike bells for JCOS handouts at trail head events

  • Producing etiquette education video series

 

Urban (Denver Trails & Parks) – Gil McCormick

• Goal: Establish more natural surface trails near disadvantaged and underage populations to provide more off-road riding opportunities

• Working relationship with Groundwork Denver

• Providing input and driving public comments for Lakewood Parks  & Rec “Imagine Lakewood” comprehensive recreation plan

• Supporting and contributing to the Everett Middle School perimeter trail project

• Providing input and guidance to Foothills Parks & Rec for a potential bike park

• Member of the steering committee for the Sheridan GOCO Inspire Initiative

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