Information on current and past 14er closures, usually due to private property issues.
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Governor Polis announced Thursday in his State of the State enhanced stewardship and opportunities for expanding public recreation on Pikes Peak. Following the Governor’s announcement, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced that they have received a Letter of Intent (LOI) from key partners in the Colorado Springs area announcing they want to pursue an expansion of the state recreation system with new CPW-managed recreation opportunities on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain.
The LOI was signed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the City of Manitou Springs, the City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services office, Pikes Peak America’s Mountain municipal enterprise, Colorado Springs Utilities, El Paso County, Teller County and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service, Pike-San Isabel National Forests and the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands.
“This is an exciting partnership that will result in higher quality outdoor recreation opportunities that will allow for more people to enjoy the thriving Pikes Peak region, while better conserving America’s Mountain for future generations,” said Governor Polis. “This is just the first step in a multi-year plan to improve and expand world class recreation opportunities like camping, fishing, hiking and more on the majestic mountain in a way that benefits the landscape, our way of life and local economy. Anyone who visits our state parks knows exactly what CPW is capable of delivering.”
Observers could compare the possible CPW presence on Pikes Peak to the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area where CPW partners with federal agencies to run campgrounds and manage hiking and other activities.
The first priority of the partnership is to draft a long-term agreement with CPW to allow the state’s premier recreation management agency to assume management and development of the Ring the Peak Trail corridor.
The proposed partnership is what the administration envisioned when, in 2020, Gov. Polis signed an Executive Order creating the Regional Partnerships Initiative (RPI) to develop a statewide vision of world-class outdoor recreation while preserving Colorado’s wildlife, habitat and quality of life.
The administration commends the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance (PPORA) for being the driving force that began working in 2021 to bring together the federal, state and municipal partners that ultimately signed the LOI.
The PPORA collaborated with outdoor businesses, nonprofits, government entities and individuals who recognize the value of our region’s natural and recreation assets to our community both as an economic driver and for our health and well-being. They identified America’s Mountain as their primary focus and hammered out the Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative.
CPW does not expect to manage the Pikes Peak Highway or the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway. In partnership, with CPW taking the lead in managing and expanding recreation on Pikes Peak, will result in many expanded outdoor recreation opportunities.
Last edited by Jim Davies on Sat Jan 11, 2025 4:25 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall — it's great when you stop. -- Chris Darwin
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. -- Forrest Gump
The first priority of the partnership is to draft a long-term agreement with CPW to allow the state’s premier recreation management agency to assume management and development of the Ring the Peak Trail corridor
The completion of the Ring the Peak trail has been a "priority" since 2016, set by Polis's predecessor,
Status for the trails on this map are outdated. The Palisade Plunge Trail has been completed. The Eldo-Walker Trail Connection (for bikes, part of a greater Boulder->Winter park route) was shot down by public vote.
justiner wrote: ↑Thu Jan 09, 2025 6:43 pm
The completion of the Ring the Peak trail has been a "priority" since 2016, set by Polis's predecessor
Yep. My wife has been very involved in RtP for about 20 years now, and it's really a mess. There was a master plan of sorts that followed the 2016 "16 in '16" and a $100,000 grant in the years following it, that described a route that went through some of the mining properties on the other side of the highway from the "ideal" route. Nothing has happened in the interim, though, and the mine recently changed hands, so who knows what's going to happen to that plan... https://www.trailsandopenspaces.org/tos ... project-2/
In the meantime, Carol and I have been maintaining the signs on the Ring, with the help of a few other volunteers. A little over a year ago, we removed all the signs on the CS Utilities property around the north slope reservoirs, as that part of the trail system is currently closed for dam repairs. It's not certain where the trail will go when it comes back there - it's been mostly on the utility roads, but there are alternatives that are more trails. In any event, we weren't consulted as "stakeholders"....I'm hurt.
Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall — it's great when you stop. -- Chris Darwin
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. -- Forrest Gump
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A group of Pikes Peak landowners and managers have announced their intent to explore a collaborative endeavor with Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) that would provide enhanced recreation opportunities on Pikes Peak. A Letter of Intent (LOI) was sent to CPW Director Jeff Davis on Dec. 23, 2024 informing him of the group’s
shared vision for sustainable resource management on Pikes Peak. The letter (attached) proposes a long-term agreement with CPW specifically for the management of the Ring the Peak Trail corridor.
Governor Jared Polis alluded to future enhanced recreation on Pikes Peak in his State of the State address on Jan. 9. CPW followed up with a news release that expanded on the LOI. Collaborative agencies include U.S. Bureau of Land Management, City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services, Pikes Peak America's Mountain, City of Manitou Springs, Colorado Springs Utilities, El Paso County, Teller County, and U.S. Department of Agriculture/Forest Service, Pike-San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands. The initiative is in the early stages of development. Future discussions are planned which may yield collaborative and sustainable recreation alternatives for consideration.
Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall — it's great when you stop. -- Chris Darwin
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. -- Forrest Gump
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Attn: Director Jeff Davis
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216
December 23, 2024
Director Davis:
A collaboration of municipal, county, state, and federal landowners and managers recently met
with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to continue discussions about the Ring the Peak trail corridor.
Our discussions were fruitful, resulting in a shared vision regarding pursuing an agreement with
Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
We are committed to exploring a multi-jurisdictional collaborative solution for sustainable
resource management through a long-term agreement for the Ring the Peak trail corridor with
Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Our shared intent will focus on balancing resiliency, safety,
oversight, environmental conservation, watershed protection, recreation, operational need, and
other associated opportunities.
We look forward to having additional discussions about this potential collaboration.
Sincerely,
Bureau of Land Management
City of Manitou Springs
City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services
Pikes Peak America’s Mountain
Colorado Springs Utilities
El Paso County
Teller County
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and
Comanche National Grasslands
Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall — it's great when you stop. -- Chris Darwin
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. -- Forrest Gump
