2024 Trail Update

Entering the 2024 building season, the goal was to complete the “D” segment of the N-10 trail through South Shore. This portion of the trail, when completed, will connect the “C” segment, which was cut in 2023 and graveled this past summer, to Uncompahgre Road near the Morrison Cove Boat Ramp. The State Park has agreed to install a short connector trail starting on the opposite side of Uncompahgre and ending at a junction with the Park’s “Elk Run Trail”, which circles the lake. This will allow hikers and bikers to make a large loop, traveling on the Elk Run Trail from the Morrison Cove parking lot to the “PLAT” [public lands access trail] and up that trail to entrance to the “A” segment of N-10 at the top of South Shore. Trail users can then travel the full length of the N-10 trail to end up back at the Morrison Cove parking lot. Since the N-10 trail is constructed entirely through SPOA-owned common areas, users can travel almost the entire distance without setting foot on a roadway. Dogs are allowed to be off leash on the N-10 trail and the PLAT trail [which is constructed on BLM land] but must be leashed on the Elk Run Trail.

Because of equipment problems, we were only able to complete the cutting of approximately 60% of the “D” segment. So, the trail can be accessed from Shoshone Way but there is no access, yet, from Uncompahgre Road. The trail is open for use by SPOA Owners and their guests but users will need to both enter and exit from the access on Shoshone Way.

When completed, the D segment will undoubtedly be the most picturesque of the trail segments constructed so far. Attached are recent photos showing the completed portions of the trail, and the view from the high point, which is quite spectacular.

In September, The Trails committee met to discuss the goals for the 2025 trail building season. The first priority that the committee set was to complete the construction of the N-10 trail. This is shown in the map below and is highlighted in yellow (in the north section). The second priority for the committee is to construct the portion of the N-10 trial shown in yellow (in the south section and connected to the green) on the map below. However, this portion of the trail can only be completed if the deal with Tri-State Transmission closes.

In the coming year, the committee members will be investigating the following:

-          The possible trail layout, location and options for parking for trail NTD1.

-          The possible trail layout, location and options for parking for trail N1.

-          Research potential locations for expanding the groomed winter Nordic trail.

The committee will be trying something new in 2025 in regard to current trail maintenance. The committee will be asking for SPOA member volunteers to help maintain the current trails that are in the SPOA boundaries. There will be two sessions per year for volunteers to sign up to work at. The volunteers will help remove weeds via machete, hand pulling, weed wacker or mowing or a combination of all of these as required by the trail’s condition. Timing for the volunteer days will be once in the spring and once in the summer before the weeds go to flower. Several days per session may be required depending on how much maintenance is required. General Manager of SPOA, Kasey O’Halloran, will be sending out emails with more specific information early in 2025.