Living in the Mountains Doesn’t Mean Everyone Gets Outside
How VVMTA is helping more of the Eagle County community find confidence, connection, and better health on local trails through the Soul Dirt program
Blog, News and Events
Swept Up In September
September! We hear it every year, September is one of the favorite month son the trails. Temperatures cool down, leaves change, and life seems to slow down just a bit. We welcome the rain, start getting excited for snow, and squeeze in as much trail time as we can before trading our bikes and hiking
Loving Our Trails: August in Action
How can we show up for the trails and lands that mean so much to us? We’re living in a moment when our public lands are facing continued pressure. From federal budget cuts to changing environmental protections and the effects of a years-long drought on trails, local wildlife and ecosystems. It can be easy to
Speaking for the Trails: July with the Trail Loraxes
July Isn’t So Dry – Monsoon Season Begins, and Trail Loraxes Grin! Despite what can feel like relentless heat at times, summer monsoon rains finally brought much needed moisture to the Vail Valley. Fingers crossed these monsoon rains carry into the end August as we continue to battle ongoing drought, warm temperatures, and water scarcity.
Still Wild, Fifty Years In
Half a Century of Caring for Eagles Nest Wilderness President Gerald Ford signed the Eagles Nest Wilderness designation into law after a twelve year fight led by local citizens, including the late Bill Mounsey, who walked the boundary of what would become this protected landscape long before it had any legal protection at all. That
June’s Bloom – Trails Are Here!
And just like that, it’s officially summer! In June we saw the longest days of the year, numerous seasonal wildlife closures end, and volunteers, staff and participants make the most of these long, warm summer days and evenings. Wildflowers started blooming,and wildlife and humans alike are out enjoying the natural wonders of our public lands.
Together on the Trail: Soul Dirt 2025 and the Power of Belonging
Trails connect us — to nature, to one another, and to ourselves. At its core, our Soul Dirt program is about cultivating that sense of connection and belonging in the outdoors. This year, Soul Dirt deepened its impact by creating welcoming spaces where everyone feels they have a place on the trail. Through community-driven experiences
Soul Dirt: Autumn Adventures
As the seasons shift and the air turns crisp, Soul Dirt is still rolling strong! While summer may be behind us, our community hasn’t slowed down, instead we’ve traded long sunny evenings for cool mornings, colorful leaves, and weekend rides that fit into the school-year rhythm. This fall has been full of incredible dirt and even
Soul Dirt: End of Summer Reflections | Reflexiones al Final del Verano
The school year is upon us, and with it comes the first whispers of fall. Already some aspens are starting to show their yellow hue, the chill is more palpable in the morning air, and the wildlife sure are up to something! Nature is giving us the gentle reminder that summer’s long, adventure filled days
Soul Dirt: Mid Season Greetings
Can you believe we’re already halfway through the season? Time flies when we’re out on the trails, moving and shaking, soaking up the sunshine (and yes, even the rain), and building community. This season has been packed with so many powerful moments—new friendships, first time riders finding their groove, seasoned adventurers pushing their limits, and plenty
Soul Dirt 2024: Trails for All
Trails are for everyone. It’s not just a catchphrase, it’s a commitment. This year, Soul Dirt focused on bridging the nature gap by offering inclusive outdoor experiences. We believe that everyone deserves the chance to connect with nature, and as such, we work to address the inequity that the people with the least access to
Soul Dirt in the Wild: Celebrating 60 Years of Wilderness
In a today’s go-go-go world where the likes, shares and clicks of our fingertip-tech lives dominate, there is something truly special about the untouched beauty of the wilderness and the unplugged solitude it can provide. The Wilderness Act of 1964 was signed into law 60 years ago this month, marking a monumental step in preserving
Soul Dirt So Far: Mid-Season Reflections
As we hit the halfway mark of the 2024 Soul Dirt season, it seems like the perfect time to reflect on the moments of connection, accomplishment and joy experienced by program participants this summer. At the heart of Soul Dirt is the firm belief that when people can safely access the outdoors, they are able
Soul Dirt: A Trail for Everbody
Launched in 2022 Soul Dirt is the VVMTA’s program to encourage sustainable, accessible recreation for the health of everyone in our community. Through trail based experiences we provide an opportunity for our community to connect while strengthening its stewardship of our trails and public lands. Trails are for everyone. More than a catchphrase it’s a
Soul Dirt Stories – 2023 Community Impact
It was another outstanding year for VVMTA’s Soul Dirt program. Soul Dirt is designed to encourage sustainable recreation to create a stronger, healthier community. Over 500 participants enjoyed the benefits of time spent on the trails: outdoor access, social connection, and improved health and wellness, all while strengthening their stewardship of our public lands. This
The Dirt Connection: Finding Community on the Trails
Read the story from our partners at the Vail Health Foundation here “You need to be around other people, which you can do out on the trail by meeting somebody who has something very much in common with you.” An Unanticipated Turn What happens when your trail takes an unanticipated turn? Like when a cancer
Soul Dirt 2022 – Trails to a Healthy Community
It was a year of exciting growth at the VVMTA! 2022 brought more staff, different trail projects and our new outdoor recreation program, Soul Dirt. Created in partnership with Vail Health’s Eagle Valley Behavioral Health, Soul Dirt provides opportunities for sustainable recreation, social connection and environmental stewardship on the trails. For over ten years, the VVMTA
