Trails and Stewardship Crew
andMay was a big month on the trail for the Trails and Stewardship Crew (TSC). The crew covered 54 miles of trail while focusing on clearing trees, promoting trail safety, improving campgrounds and trailheads, and caring for the places our community loves to explore.
Keeping Trails Open and Accessible
- Brown’s Loop and McKenzie Gulch
- Sneve Gulch
- Game Creek
- Stag Gulch
- Cougar Ridge
- EagleVail Trail
- Homestake area trails
By the end of the month, the TSC had cleared 300+ trees — which is great news for trail users and bad news for anyone hoping to use “tree in the way” as an excuse to turn around.
Maintaining Trails for Long-Term Sustainability
May’s work also included drainage improvements, corridor clearing, and tread support. The crew cleaned, reinforced, maintained, and built drains where needed to help move water off the trail and reduce erosion.
On Cougar Ridge, the crew also built check steps on a deeply cupped section of trail. This type of work helps stabilize the trail surface, improve user experience, and protect the trail from continued wear.
Improving Trailheads, Campgrounds, and Visitor Experience
In the Homestake area, the crew supported several visitor-use improvements, including sign installation, kiosk work, picnic table construction, and campground support.
Highlights included:
- Installing signs at key Homestake-area access points
- Constructing and leveling picnic tables
- Moving and installing kiosks
- Leveling ground for visitor-use areas
- Supporting campground improvements
These projects help visitors better navigate public lands, use recreation sites responsibly, and enjoy a more welcoming outdoor experience.
Soul Dirt & Outdoor Belonging
Nuestro Espacio, Nuestra Salud
We’re excited to announce Nuestro Espacio, Nuestra Salud, a new community-designed trails and outdoor spaces project in Gypsum led by VVMTA with support from The Colorado Health Foundation. This project will bring together Hispanic and Latine youth and families, residents, schools, businesses, and public partners to help imagine a public trail or outdoor amenity that reflects local priorities, strengthens connection, and supports health, joy, and quality of life for the whole community.
Trail Ambassadors
Seasonal trail closures play an important role in protecting wildlife during one of the most sensitive times of year. In May, VVMTA’s Trail Ambassador program helped support these closures through education, trailhead presence, hiking patrols, signage checks, trash pickup, and friendly conversations with 284 trail users across Eagle County.
Protecting Wildlife During a Critical Season
Spring closures help give wildlife the space they need during calving and migration season. Throughout May, Ambassadors contacted over 600 trail users providing education on why seasonal closures exist.
By helping people understand why closures matter, Ambassadors supported healthier habitat and reduced pressure on wildlife during a vulnerable time of year.
Cleaner Trailheads, Healthier Public Lands
Trail stewardship also included removing litter and dog waste from trails and trailheads. In May, Ambassadors collected 5 pounds of trash and removed 18 poop bags from the trail.
It may not sound glamorous, but this work makes a big difference. Cleaner trailheads protect wildlife, improve visitor experience, and show care for the places our community loves.
Volunteer Trail Crews
Adopt A Trail
In May, Adopt A Trail showed just how much community-powered trail stewardship can accomplish. Across 12 trail workdays, 132 volunteers contributed 388 volunteer hours, covering 12.4 miles of trail and completing major improvements including 74 drainage structures cleared or created, 3 trees removed, 600 feet of trail tread repaired or constructed, 421 pounds of trash removed, 2 social trails closed or covered, and 13,880 feet of corridor cleared.
From Eagle Bike Park to Pitkin Creek, Game Creek, Cougar Ridge, Turniphead, and beyond, teams brought energy, care, and a whole lot of muscle to the trails. As one volunteer put it, “We have two hands. One to help our community. One to help ourselves.”
This month’s impact is a reminder that every shovel, rake, rock, drain, and volunteer hour helps keep our trails safer, stronger, and more sustainable.
And congrats to the Team of the Month: Vail Health and Volunteer of the Month: Kevin Lagace for going above and beyond to support our trail community!
Ladies Trail Crew
Ladies Trail Crew brought serious energy to the EagleVail Trail, with 31 volunteers contributing 93 hours toward decommissioning social trails and removing barbed wire. The crew removed 100 pounds of trash, closed or covered 1,300 feet of social trail, and helped restore impacted areas with teamwork, joy, and plenty of laughter. While there is still more work to complete, the group made major progress and left a strong mark on the trail and each other — or as one volunteer put it, “Your mom got a picture of me actually working, not just talking like every other time!”
Wednesday Night Trail Crew
The Wednesday Night Trail Crew put in a strong evening on the Mini Mile, with 17 volunteers contributing 51 hours to improve the trail corridor and repair sluffed-in sections of trail tread. The crew covered 1 mile, cleared 5 drainage structures, repaired or constructed 350 feet of trail tread, and cleared approximately 3,000 feet of corridor. Their work helped create a better, safer experience for the Vail Rec kids-only race — and by the end, the effort was real: “I am so tired I can barely lift my arms.”
Eagle D.I.R.T. Crew
D.I.R.T Crew had a strong night on Lov Connection, with 12 volunteers contributing 36 hours to remove a failing plastic culvert, restore trail tread, improve drainage, and clear corridor. The crew covered 1.5 miles, cleared or created 3 drainage structures, repaired 10 feet of trail tread, and cleared 40 feet of corridor, helping create a safer and more sustainable trail. The night also brought great community energy, including a new resident joining to get involved and two future trail crew hopefuls asking, “Can we buy your old rogue hoes?”
