Comments due for proposed Copper Mountain recreation path

SUMMIT COUNTY – Comments are due by Oct. 29 for the White River National Forest’s proposal to connect the existing Summit County recreation path to Highway 91 south of Copper Mountain’s Far East Lot on the east side of Highway 91.

Because the proposed path crosses Forest Service and private lands, it is undergoing an environmental review by Forest Service officials.

According to a Forest Service news release, the proposed trail begins at the confluence of Ten Mile Creek and West Ten Mile Creek. Approximately 1,500 feet of trail would bring users to an intersection where they could travel west, cross a bridge and continue to the Copper Road/Highway 91 intersection or continue traveling another 2,000 feet south to an existing stock bridge (that would be replaced) that crosses Ten Mile Creek on private lands owned by Copper Mountain. After the bridge, the proposed path would follow the west side of Ten Mile Creek south approximately 1,000 feet and terminate at an intersection with Highway 91.

Segments of the proposed trail would follow the general alignment of the Wheeler National Recreation Trail.

The trail is meant to allow cyclists to bypass the Colorado Highway 91 frontage road, which is shared with large trucks and recreational vehicles. It is also meant to create a more straight-forward navigation of the route to Highway 91.

“The proposed recreation path alignment would offer a safer connection between the Ten Mile Canyon recreation path and the Vail Pass recreation path at Copper Mountain by providing a grade-separated pathway connection to the entrance to Copper Mountain Resort,” the release states.

Submit comments to Scott Fitzwilliams c/o Shelley Grail Braudis, White River National Forest, Dillon Ranger District, P.O. Box 620, Silverthorne, CO 80498. Fax them to (970) 468-7735 or e-mail them to wrnf_scoping_comments@fs.fed.us.

Respondents should include their name, address, telephone number and organization represented, if any. Comments should reference the “Summit County Recreation Path” project and include specific facts, concerns or issues and supporting reasons to consider.

For more information on the project, contact Shelly Grail Braudis at (970) 262-3484 or by e-mail at sgrail@fs.fed.us.

SDN reporter Janice Kurbjun can be contacted at (970) 668-4630 or at jkurbjun@summitdaily.com.