A portion of the One Step Over Trail, a new slice of moto-friendly singletrack in the Golden Horseshoe system of the Dillon Ranger District. Volunteer crews completed work on the trail last summer and will return for work on neighboring trails this month.
Location of the Bookcase Trail in the Golden Horseshoe system.
Location of the One Step Over trail in the Golden Horseshoe system.
Outdoor enthusiasts now have access to new trails in the Golden Horseshoe area of the Dillon Ranger District this summer, thanks in part to funding by Colorado's State OHV Grant Program and the National Forest Foundation, plus the help of many volunteers.
Last summer, the Dillon Ranger District coordinated an eight-person Rocky Mountain Youth Corps crew that spent eight weeks building the first new trail, dubbed Bookcase Trail, from the bottom of the Galena Gulch Road to the top of the Summit Gulch Road.
This project, funded by Colorado Parks and Wildlife's OHV Grant Program, was completed almost entirely by volunteers. Groups from the Summit County Off-Road Riders assisted and constructed part of the trail, which gains about 700 feet in elevation over two miles.
Crews also completed approximately 1/2-mile of the new One Step Over Trail, which begins at Extension Mill Road (GH-25) and terminates on the Prospect Hill Road (GH-38).
"These new trails will be open to off-highway motorcycles and will also provide new opportunities for mountain bike riders and hikers," said Ken Waugh, Dillon Ranger District recreation staff officer.
This summer, funding from the National Forest Foundation will provide money for more work in Summit County. Another Rocky Mountain Youth Corps crew will complete an additional 2.5 miles on the One Step Over Trail. Friends of the Dillon Ranger District will coordinate several one-day projects on the new trail with help from several volunteer groups, including Summit County Off-Road Riders, Summit Mountain Bikers, the Summit High Mountain Bike Team and Team Summit Velo.
Construction project days for the volunteers are scheduled for June 11, July 16 and July 20.
Both the new Bookcase and soon-to-be extended One Step Over trails complement the existing Golden Horseshoe trail system, which is set in the forest among historic mining features and structures. The Bookcase Trail was named for the appearance of "shelves" that old mining ditches create on its hillside, and the One Step Over Trail was named for a historic cabin at the end of the new trail.
If you would like to volunteer to help on a trail construction day or future project, please contact the Friends of the Dillon Ranger District at http://www.fdrd.org or (970) 262-3449.
For additional information on these trails, contact the Dillon Ranger District at (970) 468-5400.