When the Government Shuts Down, Our Public Lands Feel It When the federal government shuts down, the effects reach far beyond Washington DC. They ripple right into our trails, public lands, and our community. This is not about politics. It is about people, places, and the public lands we all share. Trails do not have

On September 27th, communities across the nation will recognize National Public Lands Day. Here in Eagle County, this day carries special meaning. Our community is surrounded by public lands that define who we are. The mountains, forests, rivers, and trails around us are moer than places on a map. They are our backyards, our classrooms,

July was a vibrant and action-packed month for our Trail Ambassador (TA) team. Across Eagle County’s most scenic and popular trails, our dedicated volunteers and staff logged countless miles, made invaluable visitor connections, removed trash, observed trail conditions, and reminded users about respectful wilderness use. Here’s a look at our Summer 2025 Stats:  Trail Ambassador

We are thrilled to share that thanks to your generosity, our Trails Forever fundraiser raised over $160,000 for the trails and community we love. Behind every great trail is a story of volunteers, partners, funders, and advocates, and this incredible achievement proves once again how powerful our community can be when we come together. These

Summer is in full swing, and thanks to the tireless efforts of our volunteers, July has been a month to remember on the trails! From digging new tread and clearing drains to mentoring the next generation of stewards, our community showed up in force to care for the places we all cherish.  Whether it was

Read the column in the Vail Daily Here. When you step onto your favorite trail, climbing through an aspen grove, riding a winding singletrack, or hiking in an alpine meadow, it can feel as if that experience has always been there. Many trails have been established for decades, whether from old mining exploration or agricultural

First published in the Vail Daily here: https://www.vaildaily.com/opinion/vail-valley-mountain-trails-alliance-public-lands-bring-us-together/ As we welcome visitors to the Vail Valley this weekend and throughout the summer, we do so with a deep sense of gratitude for the incredible public lands that make this place so special. From the moment you step onto a trail, paddle on the river, or

Update 6/26 Thankfully, for now, our public lands are not going up for sale! However, there is still an ongoing effort to revise the public land sale proposal which would eliminate Forest Service land from being sold and focus on selling BLM lands within 5 miles of population centers. This still means that beloved public

June is here and the wildlife are on the move from lower elevations to the melting out upper elevations of our valley. They are following the snow line as it gives way to food they can consume to gain back their strength after a long winter. When you think about it, they are not too

Heatlthy Trails. Healthy People. Stronger Community. When was the last time you truly disconnected from your daily hustle, left the phone behind, and immersed yourself in the simple joys of nature? With the days getting longer and warmer, now is the perfect time to step outside, feel the dirt under your feet, and get on

How Recreation Fuels My Conservation Ethic Originally published in the Vail Daily here. The relationship between being a conservationist and an outdoor recreationalist is complicated, even paradoxical. How can someone claim to protect the land while actively using it for adventure and exploration? As someone who backcountry skis, mountain bikes, trail runs, and backpacks in

Read the Full Annual Report Here We are pleased to bring you our 2024 Annual Report.  You can read the full report here or click on an image below.  Thank you for your continued support which truly allows us to further our mission of connecting our community to the outdoors through sustainable recreation. Dear VVMTA

I am fired up. Like many in our community, I am concerned and continually asking myself the same questions: “Who is going to clean out the trailhead restrooms and pick up the trash?” “Who is going to protect our community from a large wildfire?” “Who is going to take care of the public lands we

Do you want to spend your summer outside on our trails and get paid for it?  Then we have some great opportunities for you! We are excited to be hiring for the 2025 season: Trail Conservation Crew – Members – CLOSED/HIRED Trail Conservation Crew – Intern – CLOSED/HIRED OHV Crew Members – OPEN Trail Ambassador

From bikes, to skiing, to a home remodel, health services, banking, beer, and food our business members offer just about everything you need in our valley. We are fortunate to have over 30 local businesses and organizations that support us and our trails.  As you head out to shop, whether it be for the upcoming

The Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance is excited to offer a full-time Trail Stewardship Coordinator position.  The Trail Stewardship Coordinator will focus on program execution of  trail stewardship and volunteer programming and projects.  A typical work week includes being in the field, recruiting, scheduling and managing volunteers, and engagement through the Adopt A Trail, Trail

Thank you volunteers, members, donors, and supporters for another incredible trail season!  We are very grateful for all of your support, whether it be on the trail, getting dirty, or providing the financial support to allow us to do the work we do. Over 200 of you showed up, enjoyed delicious tacos from Rocky Mountain

Here in the Vail Valley we are blessed to live at the doorstep of three pristine Wilderness areas and we are surrounded by an abundance of beautiful public lands. Sadly, in some of the more popular camping sports, human waste has become a serious issue, and shallow burials and wads of toilet paper are unsightly.