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Erosion may force trail closures

‘It’s an ongoing process,’ Trails 2000 director says

Trails at Overend Mountain Park, Dalla Mountain Park and Horse Gulch may be closed to help prevent erosion and other damage.

A revised plan for trail closures and realignments was released Wednesday by the Durango Parks and Recreation Department.

The mountain biking community built and uses many trails that could be closed, but the city has agreed to evaluate proposals for new trails for advanced mountain bikers, according to the plan.

City officials also proposed working with La Plata County to evaluate erosion-control measures that could help keep some trails adjacent to Overend Park on county property open. One potential new technical trail in Horse Gulch also is proposed, but the plan acknowledges the need for many more.

Trails 2000 Executive Director Mary Monroe Brown said she expects the plan to be a living document that could incorporate more challenging trails in the future.

“I think it’s an ongoing process in terms of planning, building and maintaining trails,” Monroe Brown said.

Mountain biking advocate Adam Howell was critical of the city’s decision to close trails built by users.

“It’s sad to know that instead of the city working with advocates or people who care about these trails slated for closure, they’re willing to brush a broad stroke of discrimination against what’s been created, all the while not having a piece of scientific analysis,” he said.

As a member of the Natural Lands Advisory Board, he said he would ask the boards to save the Dalla Mountain Freeride Trail, a trail on Raider Ridge and the trails on private property at the bottom of Brown’s Ridge.

At Horse Gulch, the area near the trailhead is slated for serious remediation because many illegal homeless camps have damaged the area. In addition, the city has proposed closing all the trails built without city approval in that area.

The city may develop additional trails on Raider Ridge for mountain bikers after more analysis, but advocates may have difficulty getting the projects approved because cyclists continue to build illegal trails in this area, the draft plan states.

At Overend Mountain Park, the meadow and the dump jumps likely will change the most under the proposed plan.

New trails likely will be routed around the meadow instead of cutting through it to help preserve the area.

At Dalla Mountain Park, a few trails at the southeast end of the park still are proposed for closure. But the city will work with advocates to design challenging and steep trails in the area.

The trails in Dalla used by rock climbers also are likely to be more formalized and may be mapped. Right now, there are many spur trails leading to the rock-climbing sites that are damaging the park, the plan states.

mshinn@ durangoherald.com

Natural Surface Trails Plan (PDF)

For more info

The full plan can be found online at www.durangoherald.com.

Written feedback on the plan can be sent to rec@durangogov.org until April 30.

The Parks and Recreation and Natural Lands advisory boards will discuss the plan at 5:30 p.m. May 7 at the Durango Community Recreation Center.



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