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RMNP staff seeks public comment on allowing bicycles on East Shore Trail.

Reid Tulley
rtulley@skyhidailynews.com
Grand County, CO Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park is seeking public comments and input about whether to allow the use of bicycles on a two-mile section of the East Shore Trail, located near Grand lake.

A public meeting will be hosted by Rocky Mountain National Park staff from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, at the Grand lake Fire Protection District meeting room, 201 West Portal Road, where the staff will explain the project and accept public comments.

East Shore Trailhead is located at the south end of the community of Grand Lake and extends 6.2 miles south to the south boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park.



The first .75 mile of the trail is located on U.S. Forest Service land where bicycles are permitted.

The trail enters into the national park after this first stretch, where bicycles are not allowed.



The section under consideration is part of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and extends north from the Shadow Mountain Dam to the park boundary, consisting of a two-mile stretch of the trail.

A consulting firm has been hired to evaluate the potential impacts of allowing bicycles on the trail and more public comment will be sought after the environmental assessment is completed.

The final decision will be made by the regional director of the National Park Service for the Intermountain Region and is expected to be made sometime next year.

In addition to the public meeting, park staff also welcome public input via the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment website at parkplanning.nps.gov/romo.

Visitors to the website can submit written comments by selecting the East Shore Trail Environmental Assessment.

If you have questions about this project, contact the park’s Information Office, 970-586-1206.

During the initial “public scoping” phase of the project, park staff would like to receive public input on the following questions:

• Do you favor bicycle use on the two-mile section of the East Shore Trail currently under consideration? Explain why you do or do not favor bicycle use on this section of trail.

• If you do not favor bicycle use on the trail, can you suggest other, alternatives to connect the towns of Grand Lake and Granby with a bike trail?

* If you do favor bicycle use on the trail, what are your recommendations to minimize conflicts among trail users (equestrians, hikers, bicyclists)?

• If you do favor bicycle use on the trail, how many times are you likely to use this trail during the riding season? What would your destination be if you rode this trail?

• If you do favor bicycle use on the trail, to what standard should the trail be developed (e.g., how wide should it be and what surface should be used on the trail)?

• If you do favor bicycle use on the trail, what should be done to dissuade bicyclists from entering the adjacent designated wilderness where bicycles are not permitted?

• Share any other comments you might have regarding the East Shore Trail.


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