News about management of the Monarch Crest Trail as of April 2008:

In the summer of 2007 the mountain biking community got the news that there is a possibility the Monarch Crest and other sections of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) could be made off-limits to mountain biking. Since then we have learned more about this issue, and there has been news about what has been happening.

The key players in this issue/discussion are

• The Forest Service's CDNST Administrator, Greg Warren, whose responsibility is to manage the whole trail, from the border with Canada to the border with Mexico
• The Gunnison Ranger District and Salida Ranger District of the US Forest Service
• The Continental Divide Trail Alliance (http://cdtrail.org), an official partner with the USFS with a role in helping to manage, maintain, and complete the CDNST
• The International Mountain Bicycling Association (http://imba.com)
• Salida Mountain Trails (http://salidamountaintrails.org)

How did this situation originate?

The US Forest Service periodically re-evaluates plans for managing resources under its authority. In 2007 Greg Warren's office began the process to revise the Comprehensive Plan for the whole CDNST system. This process starts with a review of the current plan, which defines the nature and purpose of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) of which the Monarch Crest Trail is a part.

The current CDNST Comprehensive Plan was last revised in 1985. Mountain bikes and mountain biking were hardly even noticeable to the US Forest Service in 1985. In the 22 years since the Comprehensive Plan was written, mountain biking has become a very popular way for people to visit and enjoy their national forests.

What's happening now?

Greg Warren's organization accepted comments from the public regarding the use of the CDNST during a period ending October 31st, 2007. Those comments have been entered in a database, and USFS personnel are busy analyzing and evaluating some 15,000 peices of citizen feedback.

Greg Warren has made it clear that decisions regarding potential changes to policy for the CDNST will not come from the top down, meaning that the specific decisions about segments of the CDNST will principally be driven by local communities. He does believe that the directive is needed to help guide local decision making to provide for a quality CDNST route from Canada to Mexico and to meet the intent of Congress. He also has made it clear that no decision is planned on the directive that would impact usage on the CDNST in 2008.

Absolute Bikes' and Salida Mountain Trails' position

The CDNST Comprehensive Plan should be updated to allow bicycles on the trail system.

Cyclists use a relatively small amount of the CDNST. The Continental Divide Trail Alliance estimates that there are approximately 2,170 usable miles of the 3,100-mile CDNST. The 11-mile section of the CDNST known locally as the Monarch Crest Trail is one of the few sections that is heavily used by mountain bikers. Much of the rest of the multi-state trail is rugged, remote, and much of it runs within Wilderness Areas. Bicycles are never allowed in Wilderness Areas, and rarely choose to use sections of trail that are very rugged or steep.

While it is true that large numbers of bicycles do make travel by horseback difficult, horses have access to many, many miles of the CDNST that are never used by bicycles, including the miles of the CDNST that pass through Wilderness Areas.

Although the Monarch Crest Trail represents a tiny fraction of the CDNST, its importance to cyclists as a destination, and consequently its importance to Chaffee County, as a local amenity and draw for tourism cannot be underestimated. How many local residents would say that the existance of the Monarch Crest Trail is one of the reasons they moved here? How many of us celebrate the beginning of summer with a trip up to Monarch Pass to ride the Crest? How many tourists would name the Monarch Crest Trail as a key reason for choosing to visit here? How many businesses rely on mountain bikers who wish to ride the Monarch Crest Trail as a basis for their existence?

The Monarch Crest Trail is a source of sales tax revenue. The Monarch Crest Trail fills restaurants and motel rooms. The Monarch Crest Trail is cherished by locals. It is an icon for our community.

What can you do?

The official comment period has ended, but if you choose to provide feedback on this issue, you can write letters to:

US Forest Service
Attn: CDNST
740 Simms Street
Golden, CO 80401-4720

Or send electronic mail to:

cdnst@fs.fed.us

Here is the Forest Service's Communication Plan:http://www.fs.fed.us/cdt

The actual Forest Service Directive can be found here:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/projects/cdnst_directive/index.shtml

http://www.fs.fed.us/cdt/admin.htm for more info regarding the proposed directive.

Gunnison National Forest Travel Management

Travel Management is underway in the Gunnison Forest, and the comment period is open until August 31.