Taking Care of Trails

PHOTO COURTESY COLORADO TOURISM OFFICE

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) knew they had a problem at Hanging Lake in Glenwood Canyon when the parking lot overflowed.

Concern had been growing for years as the 1.2-mile trail became increasingly popular. Ecological impacts were rife. In some spots, the trail, which was originally 18 inches wide, had grown to 20 feet wide. Vandalism was increasing, while visitors were often ignoring prohibitions on swimming in the lake and dogs on the trail. But the tipping point, according to USFS district ranger Aaron Mayzille, came when the line of cars waiting for parking spaces backed up onto Interstate 70.

“Now we had a public safety issue,” he explains. So in 2012, the USFS, in partnership with Garfield County, Glenwood Springs, the Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Department of Transportation, began a process to improve the visitor experience at Hanging Lake.

On May 1, 2019, the Forest Service implemented a mandatory reservation system, limiting daily visitation to 615 people. Previously, very busy days might see over 1,200 hikers on the trail. Additionally, between May and October, the only vehicle access to the Hanging Lake parking lot is via a shuttle from Glenwood Springs.

So far, the plan is working well. Visitor surveys show 95 percent satisfaction and the trail and forest are enjoying a respite.

Increased public education is an important component of the changes at Hanging Lake, especially when it comes to trail etiquette and safety.

“Where we used to have one or two points of interaction with visitors, we now have 10 points of interaction and education,” shares Mayzille.

Trail education begins when visitors arrive at the Hanging Lake Welcome Center in Glenwood, and continues on the shuttle bus, through the parking lot and along the trail where hikers find increased USFS staff and updated signage.

Hanging Lake is far from the only vulnerable trail in Colorado. As the state’s population has grown, Colorado’s 39,000 marked trails are feeling the impacts of increased use from residents and visitors alike.

Because outdoor recreation is what Coloradois known for, the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) began an outdoor ethics and stewardship campaign in 2016.

“We were hearing from partners across the state that impacts from travelers on natural resources were becoming a concern,” says CTO director Cathy Ritter.

In response, CTO created the online Colorado Field Guide, with 150 detailed itineraries of less well-known destinations and suggestions for sustainable activities.

Next, CTO partnered with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics in Boulder to include seven Leave No Trace (LNT) principles in their marketing and informational materials. The resulting Care for Colorado campaign launched in 2018 and has been widely shared on social media.

While it might be tempting to blame tourism for trail overuse and degradation, a 2015 study of undesignated trail use in Boulder found that this isn’t the case, as frequent trail users were less likely to stay on designated trails than visitors.

Compared to the Front Range, many areas of western Colorado are significantly less visited and impacted. Yet trails in this region, too, feel the pressure of overuse.

In Mesa County, mountain bike trails are among the most impacted.

Impacts include the proliferation of unauthorized social trails and trail widening in places where riders congregate. Other issues include trail feature ride-arounds and people using the trails when they are wet and muddy, all of which cause increased erosion and trail degradation.

While public education through campaigns like Keep Singletrack Single and Stay the Trail are important, John Howe, board member and committee chair for the Grand Valley Chapter of the Colorado Plateau Mountain Biking Association (COPMOBA), encourages all trail users — locals and visitors alike — to participate in trail maintenance.

This is especially important as trail usage grows in the Grand Valley.

“There are costs associated with using outdoor recreation as an economic development tool,” explains Howe. “Trail maintenance is one of those costs that isn’t currently being addressed ... We need everyone, from individual trail users to local agencies and government, to contribute to taking care of our trails.” For information on upcoming COPMOBA trail work days, please visit copmoba.org.

LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES

Know Before You Go

Learn about and respect our public lands. Seek out less-visited destinations. Stay hydrated and safe.

Stick to Trails

Don’t shortcut or create new trails. Camp at least 200 feet from water in designated spots.

Trash the Trash

Pack it in, pack it out. This includes food and pet waste. Pick up and pack out the trash you find.

Leave It As You Find It

Leave plants, rocks and historical items untouched. Don’t pick flowers. Don’t build structures or campsites. Treat all living things with respect.

Be Careful with Fire

Keep campfires small and in designated rings. Put out fires completely. Don’t leave cigarette butts behind. Obey local fire restrictions.

Keep Wildlife Wild

Don’t approach or feed animals. Keep your pets leashed and carry out their waste.

Share Our Trails and Parks

Silence your phones. Be considerate when passing and yield to uphill hikers and bikers. Keep your voice and other noise to a minimum so that everyone can listen to nature.

Originally published in the Fall 2019 issue of Spoke+Blossom