How Many Users?
A lot. And the numbers back that up.
From January through March, our trail counters recorded more than 7,000 counts on Berry Creek Road and more than 3,000 counts on Lower Berry Creek Trail. That is about a 25% increase over the same three month period compared to the past five years. Zooming out even more, Berry Creek Road and Lower Berry Creek Trail averaged 48,000 counts annually from 2021 through 2025.
That does not surprise me at all. Berry Creek is one of the first trail systems to dry out each year, and it gives our community something that is actually pretty rare in this valley, a relatively flat, welcoming dirt surface that works for so many different people. Hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers, dog walkers, families, kids in strollers, younger people, older people, all ability levels. It is one of those places where you can just get outside and go.
A Backyard Trail System for Edwards
I have personally benefited from Berry Creek and its proximity to our new office space in Edwards. It has been incredible to see just how many different kinds of trail users are out there on a regular basis. Berry Creek is first and foremost a backyard trail system for Edwards residents, local businesses, and visitors. It gives people close to home access to recreation, nature, exercise, and connection.
And Edwards is growing. The population grew 20% from 2020 to 2024, from 9,000 to 11,200 residents. West End and Eagle River Park could add another 1,900 residents. All signs point to more trail use in the future, and honestly, Berry Creek is exactly the kind of place where that use should happen. Access to trails is one of the main reasons people live here. We need places where people can get outside, recreate, and experience the benefits of trails close to home.
Why Paving the Road Would Change Everything
That is also why paving Berry Creek Road as part of Berlaimont access would create such a big problem.
The current trail system is already feeling the pressure from the amount of use it gets today. The wide dirt road is doing a lot of work right now. It accommodates a huge range of users and experiences in a way the rest of the trail system simply cannot. Without that road, it is hard to see how Berry Creek can keep up with current demand, let alone future demand. Parking is already overflowing on a daily basis, and we have previously documented that 20 to 30 vehicles regularly park along the dirt road on spring and summer days.
And the current mitigation does not come close to matching what would be lost. Under the Berlaimont approval, the loss of the dirt road was supposed to be mitigated by a single switchback climbing trail gaining nearly 1,000’. That is not a replacement for what exists now. It does not serve the same families, casual walkers, dog walkers, strollers, older adults, or people just looking for a comfortable and social outing on a soft surface. We said this in our comments years ago, and I still believe it is true.
What We Stand to Lose
Recently, I went for a trail run on Berry Creek Road during an unseasonably warm day and saw no fewer than twenty people out enjoying the unpaved road. The users ranged from families, mountain bikers, hikers, dog walkers, kids, and people of all ages. Every single person I passed smiled and said hello. Everyone was just enjoying being outside, getting some exercise, socializing, and taking advantage of a warm day.
As I ran, I could not help but wonder whether they knew that this experience is very likely to change. They may soon lose a relatively flat dirt road where they can comfortably walk side by side on an afternoon outing. That really stayed with me. I know I was thinking about how my own experience in the Berry Creek trail system may soon change forever.
That is what is at stake.
The dirt road itself is not just a way to get somewhere. It is already part of the recreation experience. It gives people a low grade, soft surface option that is heavily used by dog walkers, short distance walkers with children, older users, and cyclists. If it is paved, that unpaved experience goes away.
We Have Been Saying This for Years
These concerns are not new. We submitted comments and concerns throughout the Forest Service review process in 2018, and again during the objection period in 2020. We did not just oppose the paving of the road. We also tried to be constructive. We provided comments on what a trail system could look like if a paved road is ultimately put in so that it could better accommodate the kind of use Berry Creek actually sees.
That included ideas for additional soft surface connections, a more beginner friendly trail option, a lower elevation loop, and routes that could reduce user conflict and better reflect actual use patterns on the ground. You can read those comments here.
Why Speaking Up Still Matters
Unfortunately, it is sounding more and more likely that the development is going to happen and the road is going to be paved.
That does not mean we should give up trying to stop it. But it does mean we also need to look ahead and do everything we can to mitigate the impacts to the Berry Creek trail system however we can. The current trail and recreation mitigation decided by the USFS does not match the reality on the ground. It does not reflect the amount of use Berry Creek already sees, the kinds of users who rely on it, or the increase in use we are very likely to see in the future.
What You Can Do
- Support Senator Bennet’s proposed Forest Resources Accountability Act.
- Reach out to the Eagle County Commissioners and ask them to stand up for the Berry Creek trail system and the recreation experience it provides.
- Reach out to the USFS and voice your concerns. Ask them to revisit the trail and recreation mitigation so it better reflects actual use, actual demand, and the on the ground reality in Berry Creek.
Protect What Makes Berry Creek Special
For the VVMTA, this is about protecting the integrity, character, and function of the Berry Creek trail system.
We want to preserve soft surface access, reduce user conflict, prevent avoidable trail degradation, and protect the experience of the many thousands of people who already rely on this area for close to home recreation. Berry Creek matters to this community. That is exactly why this matters.
