Hermosa Creek Trail
Durango, Colorado
Page
4
(last)
approaching
Hermosa Park
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| The shot above is
near Corral Draw. You can make some great loop trips using Corral
Draw, with Big Bend Creek or Salt Creek. You can also start at
the Columbine Guest Ranch and use Elbert Creek Trail to make a great
loop to the Colorado Trail using these trails to the west. These trails
are also a great way to go to Rico Colorado and back. |
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Looking to the north, the canyon opens into Hermosa Park |
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Map at the north end. Note the trails to the west of the main trail. All of these trails, plus other trails to the west of the Colorado Trail will be closed to mountain biking if this area is made wilderness. The following is the recommended action proposed by I.M.B.A. There are many ways to protect land and bicycle access. For West Hermosa Creek, the Forest Service should recommend that Congress create a National Protection Area. This designation prohibits mining, logging, road-building, and motorized travel, while allowing bicycling. For the larger Hermosa Creek area, which encompasses West Hermosa Creek, the Forest Service should recommend that Congress create a National Conservation Area. This would protect more land than a Wilderness designation alone. A National Conservation Area allows existing motorized travel on designated routes, but it bans road building, mining and structures. |
| Also at issue
is the draft forest plan's failure to consistently treat
bicycling as equal to and in the same category as hiking and equestrian
travel. Bicycling should not be lumped together with motorized
travel
and should not be referred to as "mechanized" travel. Bicycling should
be appropriately categorized as a "non-motorized" activity. The
environmental impacts of bicycling are similar to hiking and
considerably less than other uses. |
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| Bicycling
should be allowed on trails unless they are specifically
closed to this use. The plan now proposes the opposite--that trails
will be closed unless designated open. This is inconsistent with the
policy of many National Forests across the country. |
| Remember this is not just a
local issue. Remember people come from all over the world to ride these
trails. |
| If you haven't read it already, please go
to this article in the MountainFlyer When making your comments be sure to include which trails in this area are important to you and why. Please go to this link to take action. (I.M.B.A.) |
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Don't let the sun set on
some of the best trails in the west. Act today! Deadline for comments is April 11, 2008 |