The first hints of fall are in the air. Cooler mornings, sweatshirts and the smell of changing leaves have the whole Trails and Visitor Amenities (TVA) team breathing a collective sigh of relief after a long, hot summer. But don’t let the dropping temperatures fool you; things on the trail are busier than ever.
We wrapped up August on a high note with a river cleanup along the Poudre River Corridor at Homestead Natural Area, partnering with Odell Brewing and Protect Our Rivers. Rain wasn’t enough to slow the volunteers down, who pulled over 120 pounds of waste from the watershed, cleaning up a stretch of river that runs through the heart of our community. Afterwards, everyone celebrated the partnership with live music at the brewery. It’s days like this that remind us that stewardship can be equal parts hard work and good fun.
Our Weeknight Dig Days roared back to life at the start of September with the Overland Mountain Bike Association (OMBA), and the results have been incredible. The first two weeks brought the South Research segment of the Foothills Trail to a finish, and the numbers tell quite a story:
- 495 hours of volunteer time contributed
- 96 hours of TVA staff support
- 3,390 linear feet of trail maintained
- 1,470 cubic feet of rock placed into the trail surface, approximately 120 tons of rock
- 71 drainage features built to keep water moving off the trail
When we started this project, our goal was to make the trail more sustainable without losing the rugged, technical character that riders, hikers and runners love. Based on the energy from everyone who came out and the feedback we have heard since, we think we nailed it!
The Dig Days are now moving north to the North Research segment of the Foothills Trail, where there is even more natural rock to work with. The mission is the same: to keep the trail’s character while making it more resilient, and the crew is fired up to dig on. There's still time to join us, check the OMBA website for upcoming dates.
The moment we have been building toward is finally here, with Timber Trail Phase 2 kicking off the first week of October. This will finalize one of our biggest trail projects of 2026, and we are ready.
We have partnered with the Colorado Association of Trail Stewards (CATS) to take on one of the most hands-on parts of the project: constructing a rock wall and stone steps that will connect the Viewpoint Spur Trail to the Timber Trail. If you've ever wanted to learn how to build with rock and leave something lasting on the landscape, CATS is hosting volunteer events on Oct. 7 and 14. Visit the CATS website to grab your spot.
Curious what it takes to build a trail? Don’t miss the Timber Trail Reroute volunteer opportunity on Oct. 21, featured later in this newsletter.
