Current PROJECTS - projected completion date late 2026

GREENHORN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT PHASE 2

 

HEAVY AND LIGHT MAINTENANCE ON THE GREENHORN TRAIL

This summer we’re going to be doing heavy and light maintenance on the middle section of Greenhorn trail (between the junction with Mahoney’s and the junction with Imperial).  We will be adding rock armoring to the places the creek crosses the trail (eliminating puddles and places where the stream runs down the trail), doing a small reroute around the avalanche path to a more sustainable location, fixing some moto “whoops”, and adding a rock turnpike through the bog. The focus will be fixing drainage issues in specific spots.   

What we won’t be doing is changing the character of the trail.  It will still maintain its backcountry character, will still have punchy climbs with check steps to navigate, and will continue to be the rugged trail that we all love.

 

PROJECT COST

$130,000

  • WRTC Staff:

  • Contractors:

  • Bridge materials/delivery/installation:

  • Total:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

ABOUT THE PROJECT

 
 

The Greenhorn Trail runs through an avalanche path

Why This Project Matters

The Greenhorn Trail is a super popular trail with bikers, moto users, equestrians, and runners. It offers a fun, challenging climb and is the gateway to many of the upper Greenhorn trails and loops. As trails age, they need some basic maintenance to ensure they’re continuing to serve the community while also working with the landscape, and not degrading it.

The vast majority of the Greenhorn trail between the junction with Mahoney’s and the junction with Imperial is in great shape. But, there are a handful of trail/creek intersections that need some maintenance, there’s an avalanche path that continually runs across the trail, and there is some erosion on the climb that is causing the trail to become almost too deep to pedal without striking the sidewalls.

The Solution

Along the project site, we will do the following maintenance:

  • Reroute the trail out of the avalanche path

  • Install rock armoring at the creek crossings to reduce erosion and rutting

  • Install a turnpike in the marshy meadow to keep the trail dry and eliminate trail braiding

  • Fix the numerous moto “whoops”

  • Install more check steps to control erosion and make the climb more sustainable

 
 

Built to Last

Weather, water, and winter are the tools that nature uses to try to slowly reclaim our trails, and we are continuously making major and minor upgrades to the trails throughout our network to keep them in primo shape.

In addition to large heavy-maintenance projects like this one, we also hire a 5-person trail crew who works full time on our trails to keep them maintained. We also host volunteer events on our trails. All of this work to ensure that you can keep your momentum on the up, and focus on the fun on the way down.

Community Powered

Projects like this only happen because of community support.

From trail users to local businesses to partner organizations, the Greenhorn Improvements Project reflects a shared commitment to maintaining trails on our public lands.

Together, we’re creating, maintaining, and sustaining our trail network for all users.