Adopt-A-Trail
Is your group, organization, or business interested in adopting a trail in Fremont County? Join us as we being our adopt-a-trail program in Fremont County - allowing groups to become trained, confident, motivated trail maintenance crews. The trail program is very fluid and adapted to each group. Not sure which trail is best for your group? We'll work with each group to find a good fit. Tell us how many times you'd like to go out and work on a trail, how many people, how hard you want to work (aka, do you LIKE digging post holes?), and we'll find you a trail to love. We have ALL the necessary tools, so you won't have to invest any money in materials. All adopt-a-trail groups must designate at least one person (who MUST be present at all of your group's trail work days) to attend a mandatory training session. This session will cover trail maintenance procedures, proper safety precautions, and other important topics. These sessions are taught by local, professional trailbuilders who can share a wealth of knowledge.
FAQ
My group is composed of kids. Could this work be appropriate?
Yes! We will tailor your program to suit your group. For kids, we'll make sure you adopt a trail that is easy to access, safe for kids and families, and appropriate for them to actually enjoy afterwards.
How much time will be required of each group?
That depends on your trail! Some trails may only need one work day a year. Others, which are more prone to flooding, erosion, etc. may need several per season. As a trail adopter, you'll be tasked with monitoring your trail, assessing the potential damage, and scheduling a trail work day as needed.
Do we need to bring anything special to our trail work day?
Nope. We will provide you with all of the necessary tools to do your work properly. We do recommend that you remind your group to bring sturdy, close-toed shoes and work gloves if they have some. Other than that, just a water bottle to stay hydrated should be all you need!
Will we be compensated for our work?
We are so excited to have volunteers help manage the 62 miles of trail in Fremont County. This is our opportunity to help our local City, County, and federal land managers. Unfortunately, we aren't able to pay volunteers for their efforts. We will, however, place a small plaque on the trail sign that you adopt so that everyone can see what good work you do!
I have a favorite trail. Can I adopt it?
Depending on the trail, and whether or not it's already been adopted, the short answer is "yes"!
Please contact Ashlee at [email protected] for additional information or to sign up! To attend the first trail leader sessions on April 3 or April 10, please sign up by clicking the link below.
FAQ
My group is composed of kids. Could this work be appropriate?
Yes! We will tailor your program to suit your group. For kids, we'll make sure you adopt a trail that is easy to access, safe for kids and families, and appropriate for them to actually enjoy afterwards.
How much time will be required of each group?
That depends on your trail! Some trails may only need one work day a year. Others, which are more prone to flooding, erosion, etc. may need several per season. As a trail adopter, you'll be tasked with monitoring your trail, assessing the potential damage, and scheduling a trail work day as needed.
Do we need to bring anything special to our trail work day?
Nope. We will provide you with all of the necessary tools to do your work properly. We do recommend that you remind your group to bring sturdy, close-toed shoes and work gloves if they have some. Other than that, just a water bottle to stay hydrated should be all you need!
Will we be compensated for our work?
We are so excited to have volunteers help manage the 62 miles of trail in Fremont County. This is our opportunity to help our local City, County, and federal land managers. Unfortunately, we aren't able to pay volunteers for their efforts. We will, however, place a small plaque on the trail sign that you adopt so that everyone can see what good work you do!
I have a favorite trail. Can I adopt it?
Depending on the trail, and whether or not it's already been adopted, the short answer is "yes"!
Please contact Ashlee at [email protected] for additional information or to sign up! To attend the first trail leader sessions on April 3 or April 10, please sign up by clicking the link below.
Currently Adopted Trails
Royal Gorge Park
S'Mores - Boy Scout Troop 138
Dreamweaver - CCHS Mountain Bike Team
Made in the Shade - Fremont 360
Twisted Cistern - Cañon City Brews & Bikes
Darkside of the Moon - Shepard Real Estate
Canyon Rim - Canñonland Walkers & Hikers
Hogbacks
Dakota Ridge - Patrick Martin
South Cañon Trails
Great Escape - Southern Colorado Mountain Bikers
Smooth Criminal - Cañon City Hight School Mountain Bike Team
Recycle - LeDoux Family
Redemption - Canon City Geology Club
Upper Grape Creek - Rocky Mountain Backcountry Horsemen
Watchtower - Alise Body Care
Oil Well Flats
None...yet
Royal Gorge Park
S'Mores - Boy Scout Troop 138
Dreamweaver - CCHS Mountain Bike Team
Made in the Shade - Fremont 360
Twisted Cistern - Cañon City Brews & Bikes
Darkside of the Moon - Shepard Real Estate
Canyon Rim - Canñonland Walkers & Hikers
Hogbacks
Dakota Ridge - Patrick Martin
South Cañon Trails
Great Escape - Southern Colorado Mountain Bikers
Smooth Criminal - Cañon City Hight School Mountain Bike Team
Recycle - LeDoux Family
Redemption - Canon City Geology Club
Upper Grape Creek - Rocky Mountain Backcountry Horsemen
Watchtower - Alise Body Care
Oil Well Flats
None...yet
Below is our current list of trail work volunteer opportunities. Please email [email protected] if you see an opportunity below that you or your group would like to work on.
- Oil Well Flats: rake rocks (all areas - best to wait until the cows are out after 5/20)
- Royal Gorge Park: install trail sign post and signs at One Track Mind and RGRR access road and near trestles
- Royal Gorge Park: rake rocks on several trails including Darkside of the Moon, Summit View, FAR Out
- South Cañon: Rake upper and lower Hard Time
- South Cañon: trash clean up along Temple Canyon Road and BLM side roads
- Hogbacks: complete/improve switchback build on Dakota Ridge trail
- Hogbacks: remove ~4x tires that were conveniently rolled off the top
- All areas: weed removal
- All areas: install protective caps on top of all 4"x4" sign posts (we'll provide materials; this would be a good scout or similar group project and could be expanded into a data base project with photos, GPS coordinates etc. of each sign post; also has the benefit of the group visiting all sign posts in the Oil Well Flats, South Cañon, and Royal Gorge trail systems)
As always, general trash pickup and small loose rock removal is always welcomed and encouraged. If you see anything that needs attention, or have other ideas for maintenance work please email [email protected] and we'll add it to the list or help you get the tools and/or direction you need to address the issue. Thanks!
Recently completed volunteer work (and this is just what gets recorded):
- 2023-03-25: general maintenance at The Yard
- 2023-03-20: vandalized trail sign replacements & Wrath of Grapes signage installations
- 2022-11-24: replacement Watchtower sign post installed (guess that party really needed more fire wood)
- 2022-10-30: new trail sign post installed
- 2022-10-02: weed pull, social trail mitigation, and general clean up at The Yard
- 2022-09-12: 3x new trail sign posts installed
- 2022-09-07: HS MTB Team trail work on The Maze
- 2022-08-20: Vandalized signs for The Great Escape, ReCycle, and Water Gap replaced
- 2022-08-13: HS MTB Team trail work on Redemption
- 2022-05-04: Vandalized sign from The Yard re-hung
- 2022-04-30: downed tree removal from Section 13
- 2022-04-11: downed tree removed from Watchtower
- 2022-01-31: re-plant Hard Time / ReCycle sign post
- 2022-01-16: downed tree on Watchtower removed
- 2022-01-15: replaced vandalized sign near Eagle Wing Trailhead
- 2021-12-12: sign post install for East Ridge Trailhead parking area spur trail; signs installed 12/19
- 2021-10-02: sign post install and weed management on One Track Mind
- 2021-09-23: weed cutting on Graneros
- 2021-09-01: weeding/vegetation management at the 'big dip' on Smooth Criminal
- 2021-08-24; weeding on Mutton Bustin
- 2021-08-01: weed pull at The Yard
- 2021-08-01: vandalized 'Water Gap' sign replacement
- 2021-07-27: high water damage mitigation at MOOve Over's crossing of Fourmile Creek
- 2021-07-15: downed tree removed from Watchtower, along with some weeding and loose rock kicking
- 2021-05-04: Moove Over bridge maintenance
- 2021-04-24: more signs and vegetation barrier work at The Yard
- 2021-04-23: sign installation at The Yard
- 2021-03-26: returned the Shiv/Redemption sign post to its rightful home
- 2021-03-11: Minor work in South Canon to reduce social braiding of trails
- 2021-03-08: Removal of trash and debris from Smooth Criminal - thank you Leticia and Keith
- 2021-03-06: Replaced vandalized/stolen Wagon Trail sign
- 2021-01-18: glass and squatter camp clean up in the Hogbacks - thanks Richard!!
- 2021-01-03: Point Alta Vista rock line marking, signage review
- 2020-12-22: 55 gallon drum and tires (16 for the year) removed from Hogbacks - thanks Richard!!
- 2020-12-06; additional flow trail signage installed (larger font now, maybe folks will actually read it now???)
- 2020-12-05; trail work on Dark Side of the Moon
- 2020-11-21; additional flow trail signage installed
- 2020-11-09; map made for flow trail sign / sign review
- 2020-11-04; flow trail signage installed at start of trail
- 2020-11-01; flow trail signage installed at end of trail
- 2020-10-06; Watchtower signage installed (Watchtower = what was previously known as The Great Escape extension)
- 2020-10-04; poo and mud signage re-installed near Eagle Wing Trailhead (still no word from FCSO despite their contact of the 6 juveniles responsible for this vandalism - this is frustrating on several levels. UPDATE: no charges to be filed due to 'lack of evidence' - despite at least one sign being found in the vehicle.)
- 2020-10-03; MOOve Over trail work including rock work, drain clean, vegetation trimming, and rock raking.
- 2020-06-XX; trail re-route in Eco Park and erosion mitigation
- 2020-05-12; tour CPW representative around South Cañon area so they could complete final checklist and release last reimbursement of grant funding. Bummer that some signage and boulders had already been stolen/damaged/rearranged.
- 2020-04-29; catalog and price cost of vandalized signs in South Cañon (6 juveniles contacted by FCSO...yes, one of our signs was a paltry 17 days old when it was stolen. More to come on this one.)
- 2020-04-15; design review of proposed flow trail
- 2020-04-12; installed The Great Escape extension signage
- 2020-04-12; installed "There is no poop fairy, clean up after your animal' sign on new post near Eagle Wing Trailhead
- 2020-04-11; Raked rocks on S'mores and FAR Out
- 2020-04-09; Raked and repaired Great Escape, Dreamweaver, Redemption. Corridor clearing at Section 13.
- 2020-03-17; Moved trees on the Maze
- 2020-03-XX; installed multiple DO NOT USE TRAILS WHEN MUDDY signs throughout the area
- 2020-03-29; delivered trail sign posts to new portions of the Great Escape
- 2020-03-08; installed DO NOT USE TRAILS WHEN MUDDY sign near Eagle Wing Trailhead (dog poop sign coming soon)
- 2020-03-07; installed trail sign at One Track Mind and RGRR access road
- 2020-01-26; trash clean up on BLM road 6182 (unfortunately there is more to do here)
- 2020-01-25; TV pickup from Section 13 Trailhead
- 2020-01-24; drainage crossing work on MOOve Over
- 2019-12-21; tread/corner enhancements and horse damage repair on Mutton Bustin'
- 2019-12-14; tread/corner enhancements and horse damage repair on Mutton Bustin'
- 2019-11-30; replaced the vandalized Unconformity sign at the Fire Canyon Trailhead
- 2019-11-30; scrub oak trimming on Island In The Sky trail
- 2019-11-29; replaced the vandalized sign at top of The Great Escape.
- 2019-11-24; couches, fire ring, and other junk removed from The Great Escape Trailhead
- 2019-11-23; downed tree cut out of Island in the Sky (Oil Well Flats). Thanks Vicki & crew.
