8/12-19, 2026
SUMMARY
The TPA Trail Crew began the hitch by meeting with Mountain Trails Axxess (MTA) contact Jason Weber to review project goals, priorities, and areas needing attention. The crew spent the first day scouting volunteer work areas, addressing trail signage and exploring COTREX issues, plus clearing downed trees and corridor along the Farewell Connector and Kids Loop trails.
Trail maintenance throughout the hitch focused on Nipple Peak Trail #1147.1, Prospector Trail #1156.1, Whiskey Creek Trail #1197.1, Wyoming Trail #1101.1, Farewell Mountain Trail #1203.1, and Kids Loop #1203.1B. The crew removed numerous large diameter downed trees, widened corridors, removed debris, and repaired tread. Heavy corridor clearing was a major focus, particularly in areas that had become overgrown or were extremely difficult for Forest Service hand crews to access.
On Nipple Peak Trail, the crew installed and cleared drains, repaired tread, and removed debris between Prospector Trail and Oliver Creek Trail. Prospector Trail received additional tree clearing, corridor work, drainage improvements, and typical tread maintenance. On Wyoming Trail, the crew worked several miles into the more remote sections, widening user cuts and improving corridor where vegetation and fallen trees had made the trail increasingly difficult to navigate.
A volunteer workday event brought together six volunteers, two Forest Service employees, and the TPA crew on Whiskey Creek Trail #1197.1. The group completed a major rock armoring project around a difficult boulder feature, armoring both sides to improve tread durability while maintaining the technical character of the obstacle. An easier go-around was also constructed for less experienced riders. The group then improved a section where the creek was beginning to erode the trail by directing water downstream away from the trail and then rebuilding the tread.
Additional work on Whiskey Creek included rock armoring through a difficult rock notch and installation of a Carsonite trail sign. On Farewell Mountain Trail, the crew cleared substantial debris and corridor, widened user cuts, and improved drainage. Kids Loop received similar corridor clearing along with rehabilitation around downed tree go-arounds and several areas of major tread reconstruction.
The hitch concluded with extensive work on Prospector Trail, where the crew removed numerous hazardous trees, cleared corridor, widened user cuts, cleaned existing drains, constructed new drainage, and removed accumulated debris. The work identified several additional areas where continued maintenance will be beneficial. Overall, the hitch improved trail access, drainage, safety, and sustainability across a broad section of the trail system while working closely with the US Forest Service and local MTA volunteers.
WHY THIS WORK MATTERS
The Hahns Peak/ Bears Ears Ranger District is currently stretched thin with some employees covering other Ranger Districts due to vacancies. With federal staffing shortages and a lack of professional motorcycle riders who perform trail work, it’s hard to maintain all the remote single track around Steamboat. Good thing the Forest Service has two strong partners willing to help with trail work, Mountain Trails Axxess (MTA) is the local motorized club who is there to help protect their local trails. TPA and MTA partnered on this hitch to get the trail work done while coordinating with Forest Service land managers. In it together!
GOALS FOR NEXT HITCH
Next hitch: 9/9-9/16 Conejos Ranger District
Goals: The TPA Trail Crew will take two weeks off to rest and recover before heading to the Conejos Ranger District. The break will also provide an opportunity to complete some much-needed repairs and maintenance on the crew camper before the final stretch of the season.
Conejos Ranger District has an extensive and remote trail system with limited volunteer capacity and fewer riders regularly traveling the trails and reporting issues. Forest Service staff also have limited ability to ride and scout the more remote portions of the system. The TPA Trail Crew will ride throughout the single-track network, identify problem areas, and perform trail triage and maintenance where needed. This is exactly the type of partnership the Trail Crew was created for—putting capable people on the ground where additional resources are needed to help keep trails open, maintained, and enjoyable.
During this period, the Crew will also be available to assist the U.S. Forest Service and Rocky Mountain Enduro Circuit with any trail issues or maintenance needs resulting from the Big Lake Enduro race.
Finally, the Crew will join the Colorado 600 Trails Awareness Symposium for a day or two, giving participants an opportunity to interact with the Crew and see firsthand the stewardship work that helps protect and sustain Colorado's motorized trail opportunities.
Land managers appreciate the help, and we're proud to be there doing the work to protect your trails!
STATS
- Hitch Number: 12
- Reporting Period: 8/12-8/19 (includes mobilization and demobilization days)
- RD/BLM: Hahns Peak/ Bears Ears Ranger District
- Hours Drive time total: 19
- Trails worked: Mexican Park Road #501.1, Elkhorn Trail #1149.1, Driveway Road #502.1, Whiskey Creek Trail #1197.1, Farewell Connector #1203.1A, Kids Loop #1203.1B, Red Park Road #500.1, Elkhorn Mountain Road #508.1, Independence Road #503.1, Circle Bar Basin Road #518.1, Independence Creek Trail #1149.1A, Nipple Peak Trail #1147.1, Prospector Trail #1156.1, Royal Flush Road #490.1, West Hahns Peak Road #418.1, Hahns Peak Trail #1158.1, Twin Saddle Road #414.1, Twin Mountain Road #413.1, Whiskey Park Road #550.1, Silver City Road #505.1, Manazaneres Trail #1204, Wyoming Trail #1101.1, Farewell Mountain Road #309.1, Farewell Mountain Trail #1203.1, King Solomon Road #402.1, Little Red Road #500.1D, CR 129, Hahns Peak Lake Campground Road #486.1, Box Willow Road #487.1, Iron Mountain Road #488.1
- Trail miles ridden: 204.9
- Trail miles maintained: 128.1
- Trees felled: 11
- Trees cut: 559
- Drainage cleared: 21
- New Drains built: 13
- Restoration feet: 55
- Reroute feet: 0
- Reconstruction feet: 110
- Debris removed feet: 2020
- Corridor cleared feet: 3835
- Signage: 8
- Contacts made: 36
- Educational interactions: 9
- Volunteer hours: 30
- Total truck miles per hitch: 430
- Hitch point of Contact: Jason Weber MTA