Education extends beyond the classroom and for students in the Vail Valley, it is a chance to play outside and feel unencumbered by the pressure and demands of adolescence. The unprecedented access that our students have to the outdoors is not always utilized and through the Youth Trail Stewards program, we are able to support

Visiting the Vail Valley for the first time is a special experience. As visitors crest the top of Vail Pass, they are greeted with a stunning vista of multiple mountain ranges and spiked peaks. It can be intimidating to look upon these mountains and it can bring forth a mix of questions: How difficult is

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

It’s not every day you get the chance to build a bike park, and the crew rose to the occasion early season for the Eagle Bike Park. Our crew leaders Sam and Bay got trained on mini excavator operations, and they honed their skills here in preparation for the rest of the season. We weathered

Over 715 volunteers lent more than 2,000 hours of their time to loving the trails this summer. Despite decreasing our Adopt A Trail teams from 80 last year to just 60 this season, we saw an increase in our total volunteer hours as well as almost doubling the feet of tread repaired and restored. From

From Navigating Red Tape to Digging in the Dirt – our network of trails requires meticulous planning and maintenance. Building a trail doesn’t happen overnight; in fact, it takes an immense number of hours and resources, coupled with the collaborative efforts of numerous stakeholders. Our job is to make sure and new trail aligns with

Have you ever been out hiking or riding your favorite trail and been disappointed at the amount of trash, dog poop or even worse, human waste in your favorite wilderness spots? Was your first thought “someone should take care of that!” When it comes to our trails, that’s the essence of stewardship. Sometimes, you’re the

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.

Did you know that in 1996 the Tennessee Pass rail line was oh so close to turning into a 178 mile trail?  Yes, you read that right and if you are like us, the opportunity is simply mind blowing.  Behind closed doors, we have been reviving this concept which could be an incredible recreation asset

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.  No, not the 1963 Andy Williams Christmas jingle.  It’s fall in Colorado and the aspens are putting on quite the show!  The turning of the aspens in fall is one of nature’s most awe-inspiring events that we are fortunate to have a front row seat to enjoy. 

We have Cyndi Lauper to thank for bangers like “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Time After Time.” We also have Cyndi to thank for giving us a last name that would provide many-a-puns to be immortalized by our Adopt A Trail volunteers. There is “Cyndi Loppers,” “I am going to Cyndi Lopper the heck

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

Just like the monarch butterflies, or the humpback whales the Trail Conservation Crew takes part in a great migration. In the springtime when the weather is cool, the TCC focuses their efforts in the high desert of Eagle. As the temperatures in Eagle rise to levels that would make the devil himself uncomfortable, the crew

September 3rd marks the 60th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.  President Lyndon B. Johnson signed it into law in 1964.  In Eagle County, we are fortunate to have three designated Wilderness areas in Eagles Nest Wilderness, Holy Cross Wilderness, and the Flat Tops Wilderness.  These three areas were designated Wilderness areas in 1976, 1980, and

We are again humbled by the overwhelming support of our local community. The success of this event makes it clear…you love our trails! The $120,000 raised goes directly to programs and projects that support our mission to connect our community to the trails. And most importantly, it helps ensure that the trails are there for

In our last newsletter, our “Featured Trail Feature” was drainage. In the vein of drains, we turn our attention to a trail feature that can be dry or treacherous depending on the season: water crossings. There are areas where naturally occurring springs or creeks may run parallel to the trail or across. Water becomes increasingly

Imagine: It’s a Saturday morning in Vail and you’ve rallied your friends for an EPIC few days of backpacking. The coffee is kicking in, the birds are chirping, and you feel more prepared to spend two nights under the stars than you did for the SAT your senior year of high school. When you get