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Our mission
to promote trail stewardship and etiquette for all trail users in the Mancos Valley. Please consider making a donation to Mancos Trails Group via Paypal. Add Mancos Trails in the memo as it is a shared account managed by Mancos Valley Resources. Thank you!
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 Join Mancos Trails Group for an epic hiking and volunteer adventure!
3 options!
Option 1: Just in time for peak wildflower season, it’s time to finish the signage project along the Mancos Spur Trail. On Saturday August 10, we will be setting the most remote trail sign along the whole Spur - at the east end of Bear Creek Trail where it intersects with the Sharkstooth Trail. This will be a 7 mile round trip hike taking 6-7 hours at elevations from 11-12,000’ with an elevation gain/loss of about 1800’. The more the merrier, as it’s all about enjoying the gorgeous La Plata mountains while we carry some tools, a 4x4 post and trail sign to the junction with the Bear Creek trail. We will trade off frequently so no one person is carrying anything heavy for too long. The return trip over the pass could be delayed if lightning is nearby, so come prepared with what you need to comfortably wait out a summer thunderstorm. Carpool back to Transfer for burgers & beverages! Option 2 is for those who may want a shorter hike or workday. Group 2 will re-set one “Fragile Tundra” sign along the Sharkstooth Trail. This will be a 3.5 mile, 3-4 hour round trip hike beginning at 11,000’ and hiking up to 12,000’ Sharkstooth Pass. We will relax at the pass before returning the way we came. We will be focusing on the wildflowers on this hike - flowers should be peaking along the Sharkstooth trail on Saturday, so bring your cameras! Carpool back to Transfer for burgers & beverages! Option 3 is a shorter, lower elevation option to work on the Transfer trail in the vicinity of the Transfer campground. It needs some brushing and drainage work. Burgers and beverages afterwards! Details: Meet at the Transfer Trailhead at the east side of Transfer Campground at 8am on Saturday August 10. We will arrange for carpooling there. Carpooling will be essential, as parking is extremely limited at the Sharkstooth Trailhead and the last 1.5 miles of the road requires high clearance. If you have a high clearance 4WD vehicle that can transport 4 or more people, please consider helping with the shuttle! Bring all of the gear you would generally take for an all-day hike. Especially include plenty of food and water, bug repellent, rain gear, and warm layers. We will be hiking in the middle of SW Colorado's monsoon season, so be prepared for wet and cold weather! The group in Bear Creek needs to be prepared to hunker down if lightning prevents us from crossing back over Sharkstooth Pass. We must be able to comfortably wait out a storm for up to several hours. Weather forecast for the Sharkstooth Pass area: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-108.08021139353512&lat=37.45700211832228 Link to trail description, map, elevation profile: https://www.mancostrails.org/sharkstooth-trail.html This will be an amazing and satisfying volunteer adventure and MTG looks forward to you joining us!
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 Reminder!
The deadline for submitting comments for the proposed new Chicken Creek trails is Monday July 15. The Forest Service has come out with an Environmental Assessment for the proposed Chicken Creek area trails. (See map above). Comments are being accepted until July 15 so please go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55794 to have your say. You can read the whole draft EA there. The proposal includes approximately 10 miles of new, mostly singletrack non-motorized multi-use trails in the area of Chicken Creek Nordic Ski Area. These trails would be open to non-motorized users including hikers, bikers and equestrians. The proposal also includes 1.25 miles of motorized trails up in the Golconda area. These trails would mostly connect existing motorized trails to form loop options. Thanks for your participation in the public process! Saturday July 13 Volunteer Trail Work Day
Join Mancos Trails Group Saturday July 13, for a fun and rewarding day clearing brush and repairing drainage features on the West Mancos Trail. We will meet at 8:30am at the Transfer Trailhead just east of the Transfer Campground, up Road 42. Look for the Mancos Trails banner. Depending on the number of volunteers, we’ll divide into groups. Don’t worry, we will take rest breaks for food and water as needed and there is no obligation to complete a certain amount of work. We are required to have fun, socialize, and enjoy a day in the woods with like minded folks and improvement our trails along the way! We’ll plan on being back at the trailhead between 1 and 2PM for burgers and refreshments. Weather: The weather forecast for our location, in the vicinity of Transfer Campground, calls for a high of 78 with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Please come prepared! Check the forecast yourself on Saturday morning at this link: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-108.20887193031376&lat=37.468101107243285 What to wear: Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes or boots and bring sunglasses or safety glasses, work gloves and rain gear. You know what Southwest Colorado weather can be like, so it's best to be prepared for anything! What to bring:
Where, when and what: We'll meet at 8:30am at the Transfer Trailhead just east of the Transfer Campground. Just drive about 15 minutes up County Road 42 from the intersection with Hwy. 184 in Mancos. Look for the Mancos Trails banner. If you're late: Just check in with the MTG representative at the trailhead for directions. Keep an eye out for more upcoming events on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MancosTrails/ Things are opening up but many things are still snowed in. The snow line seems to be close to 10,500 – 11,000 feet in the spruce depending on aspect and where you are at in District. Many creeks are still running very high and the West Mancos and West Dolores are still largely impassable. Be careful out there and let me know if you have any additional reports.
Boggy Draw and Sage Hen System – Cleared and Open per SWCCA Chicken Creek Ski Area System – Clear and Open Boggy Draw OHV System – Clear and Open Aspen Loop ATV System – Open except the northern section of trail towards Spruce mill and Windy gap. Chicken Creek Connector 177 – Clear Muleshoe Loop 176 – Clear Rim Trail 613– Clear West Mancos Trail 621 – Clear up to Golconda. FLOOD DAMAGE between Box canyon and Transfer trail. Not passable at this time. Box Canyon Trail 617– Cleared SJTR Box Canyon Spur 171 – Cleared SJTR Coyote Park 191 - Cleared Ramparts Trail 166– Reported as Cleared by SJTR Starvation Creek 167– Cleared Old Gold Run 168 – Cleared to the JCT with Starvation Creek. Bear Creek 607 – Cleared from the trailhead to Little Bear 609 FLOOD DAMAGE at Poly Creek 1/8 mile east of the Gold Run Jct. Trail not passable to horses or dirt bikes. Little Bear Pack Tr 218 – Cleared Priest Gulch 645 – Cleared. Calico 211 – Cleared approx. 4 miles up to the JCT with the School House Trail 660. Salt Creek Trail – Cleared per RTA. Gold Run – Cleared (work happening today) Navajo Lake Trail 635 – Cleared to switchbacks below the lake Burro Bridge Trail 649 – Cleared Stoner Mesa 625 – Cleared Twin Springs East and West 739 and 741- Cleared Eagle Peak 629 – Cleared to snow at 11000ft el approx. 3 miles in. Loading Pen 738 - Cleared  Did you join us for our last group hike on Prater Ridge in June? Or were you unable to make it for that hike? Well, we had so much fun that we're doing it again!
Join us twice next week for double the fun!. Sunday July 7 - Birds and Flowers hike Join Mancos Trails Group for a fun 5-mile hike along the Ramparts Trail. We will be focusing on spotting birds and identifying flowers, so be sure to bring your binoculars and cameras. Meet at 11 am at the corral by the Ramparts Trailhead - take the Echo Basin Road (which turns into Forest Service Road 566) approx. 7 miles to the intersection with FS Road 331 at the T Down Corral. Wednesday July 10 - Evening hike Join Mancos Trails Group for a fun, 4 mile evening hike along the Box Canyon trail. We will meet at the Box Canyon Trailhead just before Transfer Campground at 6:15pm. With sunset so late this time of year we will have plenty of time for this hike. We look forward to seeing you there!  The Forest Service has come out with an Environmental Assessment for the proposed Chicken Creek area trails. (See map above). Comments are being accepted until July 15 so please go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55794 to have your say. You can read the whole draft EA there.
The proposal includes approximately 10 miles of new, mostly singletrack non-motorized multi-use trails in the area of Chicken Creek Nordic Ski Area. These trails would be open to non-motorized users including hikers, bikers and equestrians. The proposal also includes 1.25 miles of motorized trails up in the Golconda area. These trails would mostly connect existing motorized trails to form loop options. This is a great opportunity for trail users to provide input on these new, proposed trails. Please submit your comments by July 15!  After a long hard winter your local trails need some love. Join Mancos Trails Group on Fathers Day, Sunday June 16 for a family work day on the West Mancos Trail. A MTG scouting party went out on Tuesday and found the trail is mostly dry, but there are still a few wet, slick spots. There are two ¾ mile sections that need brushing and several drainage features that need cleaning. MTG began work on this section of trail in 2017. When brushing is complete, it will be the first time in at least a decade that this trail corridor will be clear from Transfer Campground to Golconda!
We will meet at 8:30am at the West Mancos Trailhead just east of the Transfer Campground. Look for the Mancos Trails banner. Depending on the number of volunteers, we’ll divide into groups. Maximum round trip mileage for the day will be about 4 ½, but shorter options may be available. Don’t worry, we will take rest breaks for food and water as needed and there is no obligation to complete a certain amount of work. We are required to have fun, socialize, and enjoy a day in the woods with like minded folks and improvement our trails along the way! We’ll plan on being back at the trailhead between 1 and 2PM for burgers and refreshments. Weather: The weather forecast for our location, in the vicinity of Transfer Campground, calls for a high of 70 with a chance of showers in the afternoon. Please come prepared! Check the forecast yourself on Sunday morning at this link: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php? lon=-108.20887193031376&lat=37.468101107243285 What to wear: Wear long pants, closed-toe shoes or boots, sunglasses or safety glasses, work gloves and bring rain gear. You know what Southwest Colorado weather can be like, so it's best to be prepared for anything! What to bring:
Where, when and what: We'll meet at 8:30am at the West Mancos Trailhead just east of the Transfer Campground. Look for the Mancos Trails banner. If you're late: Start hiking down the Transfer Trail then head upriver (east) on the West Mancos Trail. We'll be 2-4 miles from the trailhead. Looking forward to seeing you there!  Mark your calendars - Mancos Trail Group's first trail work day of the season will be Sunday June 16. We had to postpone it due to the wet conditions and high runoff. Hours will be approximately 8am to 1pm. Lunch will be served afterwards. Location of trail work, exact times and meeting place are all TBA based on trail conditions.
We'll be scouting the trails this week but if you've been up in the La Platas, please let us know what you've seen! We'd love to do some work on the West Mancos trail so if you've been there we're interested in hearing what you've seen. Just email us at mancostrailsgroup@gmail.com to report conditions & location info. In addition, we have a great volunteer opportunity for several members. MTG would like to host an aid station at the Mancos Cowboy Half Marathon and 5K on June 22 from 6:30-8:30am. Email us if you'd like to help out at this fun event. Saturday June 1- SHARE THE TRAILS We have a big weekend coming up! Saturday June 1 MTG is participating in a fun Share the Trails event at Mud Springs in McElmo Canyon. Come on out with your bike, horse, or on foot! Great prizes available including $200 gift certificates to Kokopelli, a saddle and more! Sunday June 2 - GROUP HIKE Then on Sunday, June 2 come join the Mancos Trails Group on our next group hike. It will be led by MTG volunteer Garrett Stimax to Prater Ridge Trail in Mesa Verde NP. We’ll be meeting at the Mesa Verde visitor’s center at 10 a.m. this Sunday June 2nd. Look for the MTG banner. The trail is a 7.3 mile moderately rated loop with amazing views of the Mancos valley and La Plata mountains. It should take 3–4 hours, so don’t forget to bring a lunch with you. No dogs please. Hope to see you there!  |
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