Support Roadless Area Protection for Colorado’s Best Singletrack

IMBA and the Outdoor Alliance urge Colorado mountain bikers to support strong Roadless Area protection that preserves important singletrack, including Hermosa Creek, Monarch Crest, Rabbit Ears Pass and more. A proposed Forest Service rule for four million Roadless Area acres contains too many exemptions for development and extraction, potentially putting important mountain biking trails at risk.

Distinct from designated Wilderness, Roadless Areas are incredibly important for mountain biking because they are generally accessible and open to a variety of sustainable recreational pursuits. The proposed measures will have a tremendous impact on our activity and the environments surrounding our favorite trails. Your support is vital to ensure the character of Colorado riding remains intact.

Take Action! Tell the Forest Service you support strong protection for bicycle-friendly Roadless Areas. The deadline for comments is Oct. 23.

Watch a video about Roadless Areas.

Why Are Roadless Areas Important?

In Colorado, as in most Western states, many of our mountain biking adventures take place on National Forest land, and often in Roadless Areas. The captivating terrain in Colorado’s high peak backcountry offers mountain bikers some of the world’s most sought-after singletrack.

We treasure these areas for their pristine mountain trails, challenging climbs and flowing descents. Many of the best trails take bicyclists deep into the forest, to lands untouched by roads and development. This ability to get away from it all is what separates average rides from the truly memorable.

Included in these gems are important trails like the Monarch Crest, Colorado, Kenosha Pass, Rabbit Ears Pass and Hermosa Creek, just to name a few. Under the proposed plan the 401 Trail near Crested Butte would be removed completely from Roadless Area protection, thus threatening the very characteristics that define it. For all Roadless Area mountain biking trails, wild and adventurous character makes them special attractions; their solitude and accessibility heighten their appeal.

Colorado mountain biking relies on good trails and healthy natural settings, both of which are at the heart of Forest Service Roadless Areas. Roadless Areas are not Wilderness, but they provide similar backcountry experiences and are more easily accessed and often open to mountain biking. Roadless Areas make up about 31% of our National Forests and are ecological gems with clean air, water and plenty of wildlife.

History of the Roadless Rule
 
IMBA strongly supported the national 2001 Roadless Rule because of its strong and consistent protection for these special places. Despite overwhelming support for the 2001 rule, the U.S. Forest Service has proposed a new management plan for Colorado that will substantially weaken protections for these areas.

This situation arose out of Colorado Governor Ritter’s desire to establish an insurance policy for the state's backcountry roadless areas, given legal uncertainty with the 2001 rule. Unfortunately, protections for backcountry forests have been substantially weakened over the 2001 rule and those policies recommended by a Colorado task force under then-Governor Owens. New loopholes have been opened to further degrade the quality of these precious lands. Your comments are needed to close the loopholes.

While IMBA and the Outdoor Alliance believe the 2001 rule offers the best protection of these profoundly important resources, there are a number of ways to improve the proposed Colorado Roadless Rule and care for Colorado’s open spaces, wild landscapes and intact ecosystems.