The Rio Grande Trail
Another important issue to help the RFVHC acquire more soft track for our equestrian use.
History: The Rio Grande Trail traces a 42-mile transportation corridor between Aspen and Glenwood Springs that has functioned as a key connector in the Roaring Fork Valley since the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad raced to lay tracks to Aspen more than a century ago.
Unique Qualities: The Rio Grande Trail is a long Rails-Trail multi-use connector through the spectacular Rocky Mountains. The Rio Grande Trail links our mountain communities together. It provides access on both side of the Roaring Fork River to a multitude of beautiful trails offering jaw dropping vistas and right up close interaction with wildlife and wildlife habitat.
RFTA Soft Track – We are lobbying to have RFTA put in soft track, 8 feet wide trail with safe footing for
horses from Aspen, (some already existing) to Glenwood Springs. Some existing soft track sections are too
narrow with drop, off, side shoulders, which are not safe. Our mission is to make all equestrian trails safe,
especially where multi use with bicycles will occur. The busy asphalt Rio Grande bike paths are not compatible for
metal horseshoes, and are dangerously slippery. Add the bike traffic, and disaster ensues. The horse community is
now galvanized, with a strong membership base. All of the green pastures that you see, while driving down Valley
from aspen to Glenwood, are most likely kept open and undeveloped by landowners for their horses. Our
equestrian community is asking RFTA for equal consideration, along with the bicycles and hikers.
Letter to RFTA - Soft Track For Horses (2/11/2015)
Rio Grande Trail Management Plan Update Letter (4/10/2015)
Pitkin County is responsible for the Rio Grande Trail from Aspen to the Emma School area. To make the entire Rio Grande Trail with a soft track alternative for horses, we need to contact and encourage our land managers.
horses from Aspen, (some already existing) to Glenwood Springs. Some existing soft track sections are too
narrow with drop, off, side shoulders, which are not safe. Our mission is to make all equestrian trails safe,
especially where multi use with bicycles will occur. The busy asphalt Rio Grande bike paths are not compatible for
metal horseshoes, and are dangerously slippery. Add the bike traffic, and disaster ensues. The horse community is
now galvanized, with a strong membership base. All of the green pastures that you see, while driving down Valley
from aspen to Glenwood, are most likely kept open and undeveloped by landowners for their horses. Our
equestrian community is asking RFTA for equal consideration, along with the bicycles and hikers.
Letter to RFTA - Soft Track For Horses (2/11/2015)
Rio Grande Trail Management Plan Update Letter (4/10/2015)
Pitkin County is responsible for the Rio Grande Trail from Aspen to the Emma School area. To make the entire Rio Grande Trail with a soft track alternative for horses, we need to contact and encourage our land managers.
RFVHC will let you know about upcoming meetings for your support.
Snowmass Village Horse Trails
Equestrian Trails in and around Snowmass Village
October 2015
The RFVHC is excited to be working with Andy Worline and the Parks and Recreations Dept. Steering for Equestrian Trail Connectivity throughout the Town of Snowmass Village. Here is the map (showing in pink) the existing equestrian Trails at this time.
RFVHC members will be riding and exploring the TOSV trail systems this summer and will work with Andy to suggest loops and connectivity for our equestrian community.
Click here to view the equestrian trails map unreadable map
The Town of Snowmass Village has formed a steering committee to explore trail use, connectivity, and safety for all users. The RFVHC is well represented and the letter below was generated by Suzie Karlinski, to express the equestrian interest, and hold a key voice in the process.
Memo to: Andy Worline
From: Suzy Karlinski
Date: 10-23-15
RE: Snowmass Village Equestrian Trails
I am writing this on behalf of the equestrian members of the POSTR Steering Committee, as a member of the Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council and as a 16- year equestrian resident of Snowmass Village.
Goals for the equestrian community are:
1. To have safe ‘shared’ trails throughout the Village. What are ‘safe’ shared trails? Bikes and horses can safely share trails when trail design allows a horse sufficient visual advance of oncoming bikes (in other words, straight-aways are generally safe whereas repeated hairpin turns are not). Another aspect of safety is that horses have a flat place to move off the trail in order to allow for passing bikes. In areas of the trail where there exists steepness on both sides of the trail, that is considered unsafe for horses.
2. To specifically identify unsafe equestrian trails. For example, parts of Sky Mountain (which is a shared trail) are safe for shared traffic and certain parts are not. We must identify the unsafe parts of Sky Mountain (and all other shared trails).
3. To create separate, dedicated equestrian trails where current shared trails are determined unsafe for horses.
4. To have connectivity of all trails.
5. To create, where necessary, new trails that meet our connectivity goals. We would like to see an entire loop from rodeo grounds, over Sky Mountain to Tom Blake, to the Mall, to the Rim Trail, back to rodeo grounds.
6. To open Cozy Line Trail, Tom Blake, Ditch Trail, Sleigh Ride Trail, Government Trail officially to horses and/or create parallel alternates where it is deemed unsafe for horses to share those trails with bikers.
7. To ensure adequate parking and turn-around for horse trailers at trail access points throughout the Village.
In review:
- There is no connectivity from Owl Creek to the rodeo grounds.
- Sky Mountain trail is shared with bikers and is unsafe in some places.
- Trailer parking at the cemetery is an option that needs to be explored but we need equestrian trails that can take us from cemetery parking to Tom Blake and to the rodeo grounds. Perhaps Highline or Lowline need to be a dedicated equestrian only trail.
- The current Tom Blake equestrian trail only goes so far. We need a trail that will take us to the Mall, connect with Government and down to the Ditch Trail.
- The entire Rim Trail should somehow be made open to horses. Again, new adjunct trails may need to be constructed.
- Parking at the rodeo grounds is excellent but the lot is frequently closed.
- Parking at Tom Blake is very congested in the summer and rarely allows for trailer parking.
- Parking at Two Creeks is very good but trail access & connectivity are bad.
- Parking at the Divide is congested in the summer and not always conducive to trailer parking, but is a great place for horses to access trails.
- Parking at Cozy Point is good but we would like to be able to access Sky Mountain trail via Cozy Line.
Snowmass Village has a long history of equestrian activity. Horses are a distinct part of our Village heritage. Horses were using trails and in fact, creating most of the existing trails, long before bikes, or for that matter, skiing, came to Snowmass Village. We understand the popularity of mountain biking and the financial impact it has on the community. However, which group has a perceived greater value or sense of importance must not be drawn. As well, which group is greater in numbers should not enter into the planning of trails. We believe that bikers and horses can and should co-exist. It’s just that with the emergence of mountain biking on our trails, the dynamics of trail use has changed. Not so many years ago, equestrians rode Snowmass Village trails and rarely saw a biker. Now that trail use and design is being discussed, it is critical that the equestrian piece be included.
Crystal Valley
Upcoming Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Meetings
Pitkin County Open Space and Trails will host a second public open house to kick off this planning process on Jan. 18 from 5-7 p.m. at Carbondale Town Hall. The initial open house took place Jan. 12 in Redstone. Citizens are also welcome to fill out our questionnaire at the Carbondale event, where Open Space and Forest Service personnel will be on hand to answer questions. No formal presentation is planned as part of the open house format, but maps of the Crystal Valley corridor will be displayed to aid in the discussion of ideas or concerns. The goal is to collect public feedback at the outset, before work is done on planning a potential trail route.
Go to:
http://www.pitkinostprojects.com/carbondale-to-crested-butte-trail-plan.html
GOVERNMENTAL CONTACT WEB SITES
Aspen Valley Land Trust – www.avlt.org
Pitkin County OST- www.aspenpitkin.com/departments/open-space-trails
City of Aspen OST - www.aspenpitkin.com
RFTA – www.rfta.com
Eagle OST – www.eaglecounty.us
Town of Basalt – www.basalt.net
BLM - www.blm.gov/co/st/en.html
Colorado Horse Council - https://www.coloradohorsecouncil.com