The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Walkers, fat bikes and dogs—where can they go?
by Mark Reaman
It is not easy to find a trail that leaves from Crested Butte that someone and their dog can enjoy for free. And that has some residents asking the Town Council to help them. The council hopes to set up a work session in January to discuss ways to expand local trail access for pedestrians, fat bikes and pooches.
The issue came up during the public comment section of the December 21 town council meeting. Resident Valerie Jaquith said more and more trails were being shut off to people who like to walk in the winter, especially with their dogs.
“There is limited access anymore for walkers,” Jaquith said, noting the Town Ranch, the Recreation Path between Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte, the road up Trapper’s Crossing and the Lower Loop all are perceived to ban walkers or are groomed in favor of Nordic skiers. “We would like some pressure on the Nordic Center for some more open trails,” she said. “The Town Ranch, for example, was originally intended for all its citizens.”
Jaquith said she talked to a representative at the Nordic Center in Sun Valley and was told it provides trails anyone can use. “If they can do it, we can do it,” she said.
“One reason I moved here was to not have to use a car,” added Laurel Walker. “We shouldn’t have to drive to trailheads. I can’t get on the Rec Path. How did the Nordic Center get control of all these public trails when they’re bought and maintained with tax dollars? One easy solution might be to have a trail where skiers are on one side and bikers and walkers on the other. I’ve heard that works in other places.”
Crested Butte Nordic board member Skip Berkshire was at the meeting and while not wanting to get into a debate during the “public comment” section of a town council meeting, he wanted to defend Crested Butte Nordic’s position.
“I look forward to having an in-depth discussion over the issue at a later date,” Berkshire said. “For right now I think it is fair to say that we feel we’re doing a very good job and these issues are more complex than just someone saying ‘why can’t we use these trails?’ We want a fair exchange of information. We understand the issue and the concern and we want some time to explain our position on the issue. We’re not out to fight bikers, walkers and dogs. We have made some huge concessions and don’t want to be painted as the bad guy.”
Berkshire pointed out that Crested Butte Nordic just organized and put on a huge race event last weekend that “brought in probably 600 paying customers to the town. I don’t feel we get credit for things like that. We just want to have a fair discussion.”
Ali Fuchs of Big Al’s Bicycle Heaven voiced big support for fat biking. “Aren’t a lot of these places meant for the general public?” she asked. “They change seasonally. Fat bikes are growing. They’re exciting and we need to figure them out and give people places to ride. The town needs to support this new activity. It is difficult to present this cool winter sport to people and have so much closed off to them.”
Crested Butte-Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce director Dave Ochs gave some kudos to the Nordic Center for stepping up for the Fat Bike World Championships coming in January. He said the organization was participating with trail grooming “and have been great to work with for the event. And just overall I think they have recently been addressing the fat bike situation.”
As part of his regular report to the Town Council, town manager Todd Crossett went down a list of local trails and their status for pedestrians, bikers and dogs. We checked in Tuesday with Crossett and Berkshire to get a picture of what is allowed out there.
—The Town Ranch is owned by Crested Butte and the trail is managed and groomed by Crested Butte Nordic. Use of that trail is free to skiers but a $40 season “Dog Pass” is required if you bring along your pooch.
Fat Bikes can use some Nordic trails near Crested Butte, including the Town Ranch trail, but need to purchase a Crested Butte Nordic bike pass. There is a $25 charge for the winter fat bike season pass.
—The Deli Trail to Riverbend from the town gravel pit is not groomed since it’s not wide enough to hold a groomer. The easement for that trail with the town “discourages” skiing but it is allowed. Overall, the Deli Trail can be used by pedestrians, skiers and dogs but it will not be groomed.
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—Old Kebler Pass Road at the top of Elk Avenue is available for walking but is not regularly groomed either. Part of the road goes through private property.
—The Rec Path between Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte is a shared use trail but groomed by Crested Butte Nordic. That easement is owned by the town of Mt. Crested Butte that pays Crested Butte Nordic to groom it for skiers. Crested Butte Nordic discourages pedestrians and dogs but they are allowed. Any dog on that path is required to be on a leash.
—The Woods Walk trail is tied in with Old Kebler Road and then the Lower Loop, which is groomed for Nordic skiers. The Woods Walk connection is really only used for the Alley Loop. The extension of the Woods Walk to the Gronk area is groomed by Crested Butte Nordic and requires a pass. No pedestrians or bikes are permitted there.
—The Trappers Road near the Woods Walk is a private road owned by the subdivision and was recently gated to keep out the general public.
“This is an emerging issue,” said mayor Glenn Michel. “I think we need to sit down and address all these concerns. I think the [recreational] pie can increase and I’d recommend we have a work session to try to make it work for everyone.”
Michel said he appreciated the Nordic event held last weekend, “but we need to be open minded about emerging opportunities like fat biking.”
Councilman Chris Ladoulis didn’t want to have a meeting focused on just trails maintained by the Nordic Center but have a wider winter trail use discussion.
Crossett said a broader policy discussion would be appropriate and the town could be a leader on the issue and set a constructive, collaborative tenor with the discussion.
He will come back to the council with some possible dates in January to hold such a discussion.
