Help Shape Future of Mountain Biking in Crested Butte, Gunnison

Colorado mountain bikers should plan on attending public meetings in May and June to protect Gunnison Basin mountain bike trails. The meetings will help shape the future of popular singletrack near Crested Butte and Gunnison and are part of a larger process to update public lands travel management in the area.

Last summer, the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published maps of all routes currently open to mountain bikes. Your comments are needed to decide which routes will become part of the official trail system and which will be closed to our use. Of particular importance is the continuity of non-motorized routes that cross between Forest Service and BLM lands.

Local IMBA-affiliated clubs Gunnison Trails and the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association (CBMBA) hope to create a more efficient, sustainable mountain bike trail system with many opportunities for diverse riding styles and abilities. To achieve this, they are proposing several new shared-use routes that will provide important linkages between communities and popular recreation destinations. It is extremely important to ask the BLM and Forest Service for an opportunity to comment on these new trail proposals. Contact Gunnison Trails for a map of their proposal.

Talking Points

• Mountain biking should be managed like other non-motorized activities such as hiking and horse use.
  
• Route continuity across BLM and Forest Service boundaries is very important to mountain bikers. Currently, the Forest Service has singletrack routes that are open to all non-motorized use, including bicycles. The BLM does not have this mode of travel designation, which creates issues where singletrack crosses from Forest Service to BLM lands. Ask the BLM to adopt a similar mode of travel designation to acknowledge the existence of non-motorized singletrack open to bikes.
  
• A growing scientific consensus shows the environmental impacts of mountain biking are similar to hiking and far less than many other uses.
  
• The Forest Service 2005 OHV Rule, the IMBA/Forest Service Memorandum of Understanding and the BLM's National Mountain Bicycling Strategic Action Plan all state that mountain biking should be managed separate from motorized activities.
  
• The Forest Service and BLM should consider incorporating some popular, sustainable user-created routes into the designated trail system and work with riders to expand opportunities for new segments of mountain biking where appropriate. This will help discourage the proliferation of user-created routes and better protect natural resources.
  
• Please continue to work with local mountain bikers to identify opportunities for volunteer trailwork and improved mountain biking experiences on Forest Service and BLM trails.

Meeting Schedule

Each meeting runs from 5:30 pm to 8 pm

Paonia - May 23 (Wednesday)
Paonia Town Hall, 214 Grand Avenue

Gunnison - May 30 (Wednesday)
Gunnison County Fairgrounds (Multi-Purpose Room)
(Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center), 275 S. Spruce Street

Crested Butte - June 5 (Tuesday)
Crested Butte Community School, 818 Red Lady Avenue

Lake City - June 6 (Wednesday)
Lake City Community School (Middle/HS Wing, Room 6/8), 614 Silver

The agenda includes:
5:30-5:45     Sign in and receive handouts
5:45- 6:30    Powerpoint presentation on the travel analysis process
6:30-8:00     Small group work sessions

Additional Information

GMUG Travel Management Planning

You can also contact Dave Wiens of Gunnison Trails