Forest Service to host informational meeting for proposed Redstone to McClure Pass Trail project

Release Date: Jan 21, 2020

CARBONDALE, Colo. – The White River National Forest is hosting a public meeting about the proposed Redstone to McClure Pass Trail project. The informational meeting will be held on January 28, 2020 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, at the Third Street Center located at 520 South Third Street, Carbondale, CO 81623. Forest Service and Pitkin County staff members will be available to answer questions about the proposed trail project.

The meeting is aimed at providing information and soliciting comments on Pitkin County’s proposal to construct and maintain a natural surface, non-motorized, multi-use recreation trail from Redstone to the summit of McClure Pass.

The proposed trail would be located within the State Highway 133 right-of-way and along the historic Rock Creek Wagon Road and Old McClure Pass road. The entire proposed trail is approximately 7 miles in length, with approximately 5 miles on National Forest System (NFS) land. This project is aimed at improving trail connectivity between Redstone, nearby subdivisions, and McClure pass, and improving access for recreational use along Highway 133.

The White River National Forest is planning to complete an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project. The analysis will disclose the anticipated social and environmental effects of issuing a Special Use Authorization to Pitkin County to construct and maintain the trail on National Forest System lands.

“Much public engagement has already occurred on this project as Pitkin County developed this proposal. I look forward to more public engagement as this project is analyzed in greater detail,” said Kevin Warner, Aspen-Sopris District Ranger.

Project information can be found on the WRNF website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=56913.  For additional information concerning the project, please contact Shelly Grail Braudis, Project Leader at (970) 404-3155 or by email, shelly.grail@usda.gov. 

There will be a 30-day comment period initiated by the publication of a legal notice in the Glenwood Springs Post Independent, the newspaper of record. There will also be another opportunity to comment on this project following the release of the draft EA. The Forest is seeking input from interested members of the public. Public comments will assist the Forest in determining the scope of the analysis to be conducted and the range of alternative courses of action to be considered within the analysis. Public comments are a key part of the review process as required by National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

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