In recent months, our community has learned just how valuable outdoor recreation is to our mental and physical health. Having a variety and wealth of trails and open spaces has been a saving grace for many, and a new pastime for others. 

So it is with great pleasure that FAR, along with the Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District, Fremont County,1% for Trails Contributors, and the City of Cañon City, present the opening a new and unique trail. 'Smooth Criminal' officially opened this weekend with a small ribbon cutting ceremony and ride. 

Originally the brainchild of Cañon City native Brian LeDoux (also a FAR board member), Kalem Lenard, and Lenard's son, Mason, the flow trail has been in the planning / implementation process since 2019 in conjunction with a skills park. In December of last year, Lenard and LeDoux presented the concept to the Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District, who owns the land containing the proposed project. FAR pledged 1% for Trails funds to pay for the project, and the CCRD board unanimously approved the project. 

When COVID-19 stalled progress, FAR re-evaluated the timeline and scope of the project. While funding for phase I - the skills park near Eagle Wing Trailhead - was not fully available, FAR was able to provide enough funding for phase II of the project - the flow trail. 

Cañon Exploratory student Mason Lenard and FAR Board member Brian LeDoux present the flow trail / bike park concept to the Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District board in December 2019. Photo: Carie Canterbury, Daily Record, 12-19-2019

Representatives of FAR and Terra Firma Trails survey the proposed flow trail at South Cañon Trails in early 2020. 

Surveying for the flow trail began early in 2020, and continued despite COVID closures. (Trailbuilders are solitary workers, for the most part.) With expert advise from Terra Firma Trails and the creative genius of Cat and Andrew, work began. Many conversations, seven months, three loads of rock and 12 loads of soil later - Smooth Criminal was finished. 

Not only does the trail offer incredibly fun features, but it also gives riders access to a previously unreachable section of the South Cañon trails area. Cutting through historic ranch corals, a dry wash, and the back side of Sand Hill, the new trail connects seamlessly into existing trails and offers even more options for mountain bikers. Other portions of the trail system are open to additional user groups and, through the efforts of FAR and other entities, have established a beautiful systems of trails for a variety of users. 
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What is a flow trail? 

A flow trail is a smooth, rock-free trail that includes man-made features like jumps, berms, and rollers. Mountain bikers use these features to jump, learn how to approach technical elements, and work on their skills development. (They're also a lot of fun!) Flow trails require significant speed due to the size and design of the jumps - some of which are "gaps", meaning that the rider must have a certain speed to clear both ends of the jump. 

Flow trails are traditionally short, but allow for easy laps to facilitate re-riding and practice. Smooth Criminal is about .8 miles long, and connects back to the start (at the Ecology Park parking area) via existing trail Gloria's Groove and Schepp Ridge. 

Why is it 'downhill only' and only for mountain bikes? 

A flow trail is designed for speed. Built on a gradient that allows mountain bikers to ride without a need for constant pedaling allows riders to hit jumps and work on speed / skills progression. The trail includes several jumps, bumps, and berms that make it a roller-coaster ride of fun. 

First-time riders should proceed with EXTREME caution. To safely ride a flow trail, riders should engage in one VERY slow pre-ride of the route, another slow ride, and then (with knowledge of the terrain and features) proceed as their skill and ability allows. 

Due to the fact that the trail is designed for fast-moving riders, there should be NO UPHILL TRAFFIC. Pedestrians and equestrians are not allowed on the trail due to their slower speeds and the many 'blind' corners on the trail. Signs mark the top and bottom of the trail entrance and exit. 

Additional users are also not allowed on the trail in order to maintain the integrity of the features and smooth terrain of the trail. Flow trails, features, and associated maintenance is extremely costly, and intended / responsible use should allow the trail to provide years of riding. Unintended use could cause damage and require unscheduled maintenance. 

How does 1% for Trails work?

Businesses who believe in and want to invest in trails sign up for the 1% for Trails program. Customers pay a 1% donation to the business, who then donates that money directly to FAR. This fund is used to directly pay for trail maintenance, construction, and signage. Please note that all of the following businesses are 1% for Trails contributors, and your support helps our community to fund all sorts of fun additions to our recreation amenities. Interested in donating to 1% directly? Click the Paypal button below and use the drop-down button to designate where you'd like your money to go. Please also opt in to allowing us to see your address, as we often send out stickers and updates to our friends and donors.  

It's just around the corner! Support our local businesses and our FAR sponsors / 1% for Trail contributors and partners by purchasing a gift or gift card for mom. 

MUGS – Give Mom a night off from dinner (and a half-gallon of their incredible margaritas) by purchasing one of MUGS dinners-to-go. You can even order brunch to go! We highly recommend the bacon pancakes with a side of mimosa.

​Pizza Madness – Did you know that Pizza Madness will bake you a pizza-sized cookie? You do now. Get a family salad, a giant cookie, and a pizza to go and give mom a night in. Even better? Let her pick the topings (we know, kids, that’s a tall order).

​The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey – Whether she’s been homeschooling the kids for the last month (bless her), or volunteering to make masks for the community, show mom you love her with a little “wine-down” time. The Abbey has plenty of award-winning wines to choose from, but also carries a wide variety of gifts (we love the wine glass charms) and local products, too. Call them and they’ll even deliver!

​Royal Gorge KOA – It’s worth a trip up the hill to check out some of the cool ‘Canon City’ products that the Royal Gorge KOA has in their shop. (We love the 'Royal Gorge' themed wall hangings.)

Reams Palace Drugs – The oldest shop in downtown Canon City is more than just a pharmacy – they also carry gifts and body care products. Stop in for local products, gifts, and candies. 

Formulary 55 - If your mom has ever participated in the Snow Queen event, she'll recognize the amazing soap products made by Formulary 55. Shop online and they'll ship directly to you. You can't go wrong: all of their products are incredible!

Touch of Love Florists & Weddings  – Flowers? Absolutely! This tried-and-true gift will be sure to make mom happy. Shea and the ladies at Touch of Love always do an incredible job of creating just the right arrangement. (Did you SEE the flowers at our Stars gala last year?) They also carry gifts and locally-made fudge. 

Back in 2014-5, when multiple user groups  and agencies got together to create a master plan for recreation and use in Eastern Fremont County, a trail from the Riverwalk (via Tunnel Drive) to the Royal Gorge Trails (via Fremont Peak area) was identified as a potential project and asset to our community. Now in 2019, planning is at the point where BLM and Colorado Parks & Wildlife have finished the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to move the project forward. The BLM requests your comments. 

From an article in the Daily Record: “This trail would increase access to two local trail systems and improve the outdoor recreation opportunities in the area,” said Keith Berger, Royal Gorge Field Office Manager. “We want to hear from the community about why the proposed trail is important, as well as any potential concerns.” 

At only 22 pages, this document is MUCH more digestible than the last one we wrote about (the Resource Management Plan). Please consider viewing the EA in it's entirety here. If you're pressed for time, here are some important bullet points to know and consider before you make any comments.

Background

• “The BLM’s overall goal for this project is to provide public access, provide high quality recreation opportunities, and improve the quality of life for the area’s residents.”
• Connects the Tunnel Drive Trail (and Rivewalk) to the Royal Gorge Park Trails (near the communication towers).
• This trail will be a challenging trail, and will probably be best hiked up / down or ridden by mountain bike downhill.
• The trail was identified in the Eastern Fremont County Trails, Open Space & River Corridor Master Plan (April 2015) 
• This Environmental Assessment is created using the Resource Management Plan (1996), which mandates multi-use recreation (including hunting) on this area
• The draft management plan can be a) accepted, b) accepted with modifications, c) rejected

Trail Construction

• Trail will be for foot (hike, run) and bicycle traffic only due to steep grades (~10%), potential conflict with other users, and specialized design.
• Elevation change of about 1,700 feet (that’s about a 157-story building)
• The trail would be about 2 miles long, runs through BLM property but begins and ends on City of Cañon City property
• Trail will be natural surface singletrack (from 18” to 3 feet wide)
• Leashed dogs will be permitted
• The trail would be closed from June 1 to November 1 to all uses except for hunting access

The BLM also does a thorough job of evaluating potential water quality, visual resources, real estate, etc. effects on the landscape. You can view these on pages 10-16. The greatest concerns (brought forward for analysis) are to 'Wildlife: Migratory Birds' and 'Wildlife: Terrestrial', including big game. There would be "long-term, moderate intensity disturbance" to these populations, for which the suggested mitigation is a proposed closure from June 1 - November 1 each year. This is the time frame for Big Horn sheep lambing to give the ewes and their lambs some space. That usually starts June 1- September. September to November is hunting season. Trail activity would potentially push the animals out of existing range during hunting season. 

Our comments: 

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Tunnel Drive to Fremont Peak connection trail proposal. As part of our Royal Gorge Master Plan, we believe that this connection will allow our community to move forward as we grow and expand our outdoor recreation options and are excited to participate in the next phase of planning for this project. We appreciate the need for sensitivity to both wildlife and multi-use needs of the various user groups associated with the proposal.

In order to preserve the natural lambing habitat as much as possible, we fully understand and support the proposed closure from June 1-August 31 for lambing. Our Bighorn Sheep herds are an asset to our area and our natural environment. We would like to express our support for this particular portion of the closure and for the educational campaigns that would be necessary to accomplish this goal.
 
In regard to the hunting season closure from September 1 through October 31st, we feel that both hunting and trail use could exist concurrently, as they do in many other areas. The small portion of the S49 hunting unit that would be traversed by the proposed trail is in close proximity to existing human impacts. The area adjacent to the proposed trail already includes two quarries, an active railroad, a popular river corridor, a theme park, and existing trails.
 
According to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife ‘2019 Colorado Sheep & Goat’ pamphlet, S49 allows for 2 Ram Bighorn Rifle Resident licenses, 5 Ram Bighorn Archery Resident licenses, and 1 Ram Bighorn Archery Non-resident license. The wait time to draw a tag for this area appears to be about 10-20 years. In contrast to this high demand, but low use, we anticipate that a trail connection would we be beneficial for a large number of local and visiting trail users, including hikers, wildlife viewers, trail runners, and bikers. The proposed trail would only affect a small portion of  the S49 landscape, which includes over 632 square miles (259 on public land) all of which would remain open and available for hunting per current regulations and management.  Given the high demand for S49 tags, an open trail on a very small portion of the entire S49 area is not likely to have any impact on the desire for tags and ultimately the financial income to CPW (which is only ~$4,400/yr for S49 tags).

Due to the relatively small portion of area S49 that would be directly affected by a trail, the limited number of hunters (8/yr) that have tags for the entire S49 unit, and also given the existing human activity in the area, we feel that the multi-use properties of the area could be preserved at all times of the year outside of the lambing season. For these reasons, we respectfully request that the September 1- November 1 seasonal closure for hunting be removed from the approved action.

Thank you for your dedication to the very difficult task of land management. We appreciate your time, commitment, and coordination on this and other projects.

Trail development begins with Cañon City's own inception, possibly back in the 1880s. Photos of daring explorers in ankle boots and long skirts exist in the local history center's archives. People have been hiking in and around the Royal Gorge Region for over a century. But our recent trail development began, arguably, when Guy U. Hardy lobbied for the creation of three City parks: Royal Gorge, Temple Canyon, and Red Canyon. Setting aside that land made the future of trail / recreation development in Fremont County a LOT easier than it might have been. Cities and towns across Colorado struggle to find ways to create trails that offer the connectivity and accessibility that we enjoy here. We are also continuing to work on responsibly expanding trail systems while also being sensitive to the importance of wildlife habitat in our area. 

Check out these timelines that we've begun to develop as a way for us to honor those who have started the process of enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities in our area. Please let us know if we've missed any important milestones by emailing coordinator@joinFAR.org. We all stand on the shoulders of giants...

When you manage 35 million acres of land, things get tricky. Throw in multiple land uses – grazing, mining, recreation, and wilderness preservation – and you have yourself one of the most difficult jobs in the nation.

Our local Royal Gorge Field office happens to be located in Cañon City, but they manage 35 million acres of land across 37 counties in Colorado, from west of the front range, to the Wyoming and New Mexico borders. It’s a LOT.

So when someone comes to the BLM and says “Hey, I want to use that 100 acres out yonder to build a mine / mountain bike track / hunting area / amusement park”, the BLM has to figure out if said proposal will be appropriate for that land. To do this, they use what’s called a Resource Management Plan (RMP). It’s a big document that includes lots of studies about all areas within Eastern Colorado, to include plants, animals, geology, archaeology, water rights, historic land uses, etc. The last RMP was finished in 1996, and they’ve been using it ever since to make decisions about things like recreational uses and Oil & Gas Lease Sales. (We learned about those here.) But times and communities change, and it’s not in the best interest of the land to continue to use a 20 year-old document to make informed, current decisions. So, they’ve drafted a new RMP, and it’s out for our review.
The Royal Gorge Field office (RGFO) began this process in 2015 with studies, community meetings, etc. If you missed those, you’re not alone. Earlier this year, the RGFO sent their draft over to Washington DC to the National BLM office, and they sent it back with 4 ‘Alternatives’ – A, B, C, and D. Alternative A is essentially what we have now – no changes. Alternative B favors conservation. Alternative C tends to leave just about everything open to everything with no priority given to recreation or conservation. And then there’s Alternative D.

Alternative D is called the ‘Human Ecoregion’ Alternative, and essentially tries to take into consideration the VAST differences between say, the eastern plains and the Royal Gorge Region. In the plains, they’re cool with lots of extraction because there’s a ton of open land. Out here in Cañon City, we have a blossoming recreation culture that is reflected in how they’ve addressed this area. 

https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/projects/lup/39877/175066/214825/Volume-1_DRAFT_Eastern_Colorado_RMP.pdf
​

​Now, Alternative D is noted as being the ‘preferred’ option by the National BLM office, and that’s an important distinction to make. It’s also important to know that it IS possible to cherry-pick different ideas and designations from one Alternative and not another.
One of the things that you’ll read about in articles like this one is that much of the land that was originally (in the 2017 draft that was sent to Washington) slated to be designated as “wilderness quality” were severely decreased. Why is this important? When lands don’t have ‘Lands with Wilderness Characteristics’ (LCW) designation, they are susceptible to being opened up for things like Oil & Gas Lease Sales. (These then allow for exploration and extraction processes.)

What does that mean?
​
Well, a few months ago we asked you to comment on a public Oil & Gas Lease sale for lands near Dawson Ranch. Unfortunately, the BLM was using the old RMP, which doesn’t include Dawson Ranch, South Cañon Trails, or any of the recent developments in our area. They couldn’t take those things into consideration because they didn’t exist in the RMP. BUT NOW THEY CAN. But we need to voice our concern that these designations DON’T EXIST IN ALL ALTERNATIVES.

Section 13 / South Cañon Trails

​Here’s what concerns us:
Alternative D creates special Recreation Management Zones for most of our new trail systems in the area. That’s good because it essentially puts recreation as a priority on those areas. That’s not to say that they can’t be used for other things (because BLM lands are multi-use – they need to serve many functions / user groups at a time), but recreation will be given priority in any user conflict. It makes us a little nervous that these areas are included in Alternative D, but not in some of the others. See the difference here: 

​The Arkansas River and Grape Creek
 
Here’s what concerns us:
​
When the 2015 draft (which our local field office – including people who live, work, and play here - created) went to Washington, it included over 189,981 acres of protected land – given stricter regulations for things like mineral extraction. These areas were called ‘Lands with Wilderness Characteristics’, which means that they a.) must be over 5,000 acres in size, b.) must exhibit a high degree of naturalness, c.) outstanding opportunities for solitude, or primitive and unconfined types of recreation when the sights, sounds, and evidence of other people are rare or infrequent, and / or d.) ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value (from BLM Eastern Colorado Resource Management Plan, Volume 4, B-311).
​
In the new plan, that number has dwindled to very little, and none  in the some of the important areas closest to us in Cañon City. There are a few areas that we’d like to see keep those special designations so that they are protected to the fullest extent possible. Those areas include Grape Creek and the Arkansas River, among others. Note that, by definition, LWC's cannot have development of nearly any kind, including trails. As we push forward with mineral extraction, development, and recreation, (thereby impacting wildlife habitat) it IS IMPORTANT to keep some places wild. These are some of the most scenic in Colorado, and we prefer to keep them that way. 

Wild Connections has put out a great fact sheet that will help you to understand some of the concerns that wilderness advocates have with the new plan. You can find it here: http://www.wildconnections.org/images/BLM_ECRMP_Fact_Sheet_20190723_Updated.pdf
 
Here’s what we’re writing about these areas:

The Arkansas River has long been a recreational playground in the Cañon City area. Despite historic abuses that include riverbank strengthening with unnatural materials and the littering of construction and pipeline refuse – reclamation of this area has been ongoing, and the river corridor has never looked better. Hundreds of thousands of people across the country come to the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area to recreate, enjoy the incredible scenery, and watch wildlife in their natural habitat. As an organization invested in the continued protection of all areas, but specifically recreation areas, we’d like to see these areas protected. “Areas of special designation require extra attention to protect exceptional resource values such as historic, cultural or scenic values, or there may be sensitive, threatened, or endangered species living there. Areas of special designation are designated either congressionally or administratively” (BLM Draft Eastern Colorado RMP Story Map). We believe the following areas within Fremont County qualify for these designations.

We would like to see the areas Echo Canyon, Badger Creek (North & South), North of Coaldale, Bear Mountain, Eightmile Mountain, Red Canyon, Cooper Mountain, and Cucharas Canyon to remain closed to all oil and gas lease sales. These should be considered as Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (LWC’s), given their incredible fish habitat, unmatched scenic value, and susceptibility to watershed pollution. Additionally, these areas include an incredible array of geological formations that should be protected and preserved. We strongly support the plan set forth in Alternative B, to include ALL of the areas labeled, especially with regard to Echo Canyon, Waugh Mountain, North Badger Creek, Badger Creek, Eightmile Mountain, Cooper Mountain, Upper Red Canyon, and Turkey Canyon.
The Wild & Scenic River designation of the Arkansas River stretching from Buena Vista to Cañon City (in all Alternatives) would be well served to include the areas surrounding the river as LWC’s, to include the larger geographic area that is outlined in Alternative A. Those who use this river to seek an un unobstructed foray into nature and its majesty would not be pleased with added traffic, decreased wildlife sightings, and potential inroads to mining or extraction facilities.
​
Additionally, Grape Creek is a pristine wilderness area that should remain so. As they are currently designated as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern, we would like to see them given the utmost protection from potential development by either continuing this designation or as a WSA. Alternatively, section 1,2, and 3 of this area fulfill the requirements for a Wild and Scenic River (as denoted in Alternative B), and should be designated as such. This area is a tributary of the Arkansas River and every effort should be made to safeguard its pristine water quality, viewshed, and wilderness characteristics. As part of a contiguous large area of BLM-managed lands, it should remain a Wilderness Study Area in order to preserve the  If not designated as a WSA, it should be considered for the Backcountry Conservation Area, as the area is a recognized fishing area that is valued by our community. The health of that particular waterway directly effects the health of the Arkansas River also. 

The RMP is an exeptionally LARGE document that consists of five chapters and 1,500 pages. Why that’s good: BLM employs expert geologists, biologists, etc. and they are thorough in their studies. Why that’s rough: It’s a LOT to get through.

https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/planAndProjectSite.do?methodName=dispatchToPatternPage&currentPageId=53991 (Incidentally, this is also where you can add electronic comments. You can also send them in – the address is listed at the bottom of this article.)

We’ve placed a reference copy at the Cañon City public library if you’re interested in reading the whole thing. If not, you can view the online version here.
 
Draft a letter and submit it via mail or email.

Why? Because YOUR VOICE carries JUST AS MUCH WEIGHT as a group, organization, or business. Each comment is considered to the same extent as anther, and a specific, educated comment is better than a comment that simply says, “I don’t like this”. Please find our below letter and FEEL FREE to use some of what we’ve learned / said to create comments of your own. It’s not a great idea to copy and paste, but voice your concerns if they echo ours.

[Why the area is important to you]
[What you’d like to see changed / altered.]
[Add any additional comments or thank them for their work.]

Online submission: 
​
Click on this link and hit the 'Comment on Document' Button to the right of the document. 

When runBlossom was created back in 2004, the course meandered through the streets of Cañon City. It was a fun race and one that blossomed (sorry, couldn't help it) into an event that now hosts over 600 runners a year. It's not just the size that's changed, however. The course moved from the asphalt city streets to the Arkansas Riverwalk, a wide, dirt trail. Runners now follow the river, passing budding Cottonwoods, historic farmland, and beautiful open spaces. It was one of Cañon City's first established 'trails', and it makes for a great race course. 

Now in 2019, the Royal Gorge Region boasts over 53 miles of singletrack trail, providing course opportunities for all kinds of races, including trail races. If you ask Runner's World magazine, trail running offers a plethora of health benefits that may even surpass road running. You use more / different muscles on a trail run, which makes it easier on your body - though the elevation gain might make you think otherwise. Being a nature-based activity, your mind is free to wander and enjoy the benefits of fresh air, open spaces, and the wonder of the outdoors. It goes without saying that the views on a trail run are second to none. As you work up to longer and more difficult trail runs, the rewards are absolutely incredible. Soaring vistas, mountaintop viewpoints...the destinations are endless. 

Those of us who enjoy trail running can tell you that all of this is true - with or without the research. We just feel better  after a trail run. Your body may feel exhausted, but your mind is clear and alive. Trails aren't just good for your legs and heart - they're good for your soul. 

On July 27th, we invite you to join us for the third annual 'Run the Rim' trail run at the Royal Gorge Park. Notice it's not called a "race". Why? We want you to not only enjoy all of the health benefits associated with a trail run, but we also want to take away the connotations. You're not racing a clock, a PR (personal record), or anyone else. You're just out there to see as much of the trail and the landscape as possible. 

Heck, we'll even give you a commemorative Sili-pint cup so that every time you drink out of it, you're reminded that you accomplished something pretty cool. And that trail? It's yours to enjoy every day...

Hope to see you there!
https://www.runningguru.com/E1.asp?eID=runtherim2019

The history of the Royal Gorge Park is the stuff of Cañon City legend - local Congressman Guy U. Hardy petitioned to have over 5,000 acres of land ceded from the federal government to the City in 1906. Now in 2019, over 18 miles of trail exist, thanks to the efforts of the City of Cañon City, Terra Firma Trails, and FAR's 1% for Trails program. Thanks to this convenient and scenic trail system, the public has unprecedented access, via singletrack trails, to over 30% of the Royal Gore Park's incredible topography. From easy S'mores (a green trail that rings the East Ridge Campground), to technical Darkside of the Moon, the Royal Gorge Park Trails offer something for everyone. 

Whether hiking, biking, or trail running, individuals of all ages and abilities will find themselves awestruck at the beauty of 'Colorado's Natural Wonder' - the Royal Gorge and Arkansas River. 

What's new
In early 2019, the City of Cañon City voted to pay for the refurbishment of two historic train trestles on City property. Previously used by the Point Alta Vista Scenic Railway, the trestles were abandoned after the railway shut down in 2012 after 52 years of service. Business and new property owner of the former Buckskin Joe town, Ty Seufer has pledged to refurbish and re-deck the three trestles that lie on his property. Seufer's property shares a boundary with the Royal Gorge Park property, and privately-constructed trails on the new Royal Gorge Ranch & Resort will link up with public trails. 

Also spanning the two properties are a wealth of climbing and bouldering areas. Seufer plans to add slacklining facilities to the list of adventure amenities within the Royal Gorge Park area. 

Anyone who has watched children or a garden grow can tell you: it's hard to see the growth day to day, but you look back over half a decade and realize that change has come. 

On October 10, 2010, three friends - Brian VanIwarden, Joanna McIntyre, and Chris McIntyre,  came together in a leap of faith and formed Fremont Adventure Recreation. Between them, they had a shared passion for outdoor recreation and a plethora of other talents - race directing, internet communication, coaching, and event organization. Their first task was to assist with the burgeoning runBlossom races, which was gaining traction in its third year and needed to evolve. To assist in this endeavor, they needed money. Timing software, technical equipment, and course materials weren't cheap. 

The board approached their first sponsor, The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, with the hopes of acquiring the funds to get FAR off the ground. It was Larry Oddo who launched the organization with their first donation, making it possible for FAR to buy the generator that would power the timing equipment necessary for runBlossom. The board President's own mom, Shirley, even pitched in to buy FAR's first trailer, which you see today at races across the county. 

Little by little, hard-earned money began stacking up in FAR's account, and they were able to add events to their calendar. They also welcomed new board members, each who brought invaluable talents to the small group. As their budget and capacity grew, they added new events. This included Bikes & Brews, their first truly independent event,  in 2012. The annual runBlossom race now welcomes over 500 runners to Cañon City each year, and features the city's only half-marathon race. They time for the spectacular Rim to Rim every year, assist with the Whitewater Festival, and have added smaller events, such as movie nights, socials, kids and ladies' mountain bike clinics, and a scholarship program to their list of community contributions. 

As outdoor recreation continued to grow in the Royal Gorge Region, FAR gradually recognized a need for quality trail systems in addition to events. Partnering with the BLM, Recreation District, and the City of Cañon City, FAR worked to raise funds (including putting forth money from races as well as hiring a grant writer) to identify, design, and develop additional trails in the area. It was the introduction of the '1% for Trails' initiative in 2015, however, which helped to launch FAR into the business of building significant, extensive, world-class trail systems. Putting their trust and faith in the organization, Whitewater Bar & Grill and Red Canyon Cycles were the first to sign on to the program and invest in the future of Cañon City. Today, the Hogbacks, the Royal Gorge Trail System, South Cañon Trails, and additional work in Oil Well Flats bear the mark of those first businesses, board members, and McCloud-wielding volunteers who made them possible. As additional businesses sign on, FAR is looking forward to helping the Royal Gorge Region community to expand their hiking, biking, and riding miles. 

It's been six years, seventy-two board meetings, hundreds of hours at local events, several changes of tires on the trailer, and  thousands of happy runners / bikers. As with any organization, there have been changes, tense moments, disappointments, and setbacks. Not every decision has been easy, and not every opportunity has been met with success. But if you smile when you ride the Cañon Rim Trail, if you enjoy a quiet stroll with your dog on in South Cañon, or if you high-five someone in a FAR t-shirt at the finish line of a local race...you'll know why they do what they do. Because they love it, too.

Thank you, Cañon City, for your faith in our organization, your many selfless volunteer hours, your contributions to our fundraising efforts, your patronage of the businesses who support us, and for your encouraging compliments. We hope to serve you for decades to come.