Pagosa Area Trails Council (PATC) and the Pagosa Ranger District(PRD) jointly are applying for the 2025 Colorado Parks & Wildlife State Trails Grant. This will be the 3rd grant we applied for and  we were awarded in 2020 and 2022 with  the 2nd highest score on each grant application. These funds will be used to hire trail crews to clear trees and do much needed tread maintenance on the PRD trails. The Clear the Trails campaign  has  raised  over $500,000 since we started the Clear The Trails Campaign in 2019 through grants and contributions to hire trail crews on our local trails so as  to supplement the local Forest Service and Volunteer trail crews. Over 30,000 dead fallen trees have been cleared on our trails which resulted in  95%to 100% of PRD 462 miles of trails being cleared annually  since 2021 after the backlog of dead trees were cleared in 2020. 

 

As you may know,  the Pagosa Springs  area was hit hard by the epidemic of the spruce beetles 10 years ago  that killed 100,000s of trees.  Now these  dead  trees are falling on our trails each year. We need to clear 5,000 to 6,000 trees on our 462 miles of trails. Over 5,000 trees have already been cleared in 2024. Many of these trails are in the wilderness where  cross cut saws  must be used.

 

 It cost about $50 per tree to clear/cut off a trail.  

 

But as the dead trees keep falling and the local Forest Service budget keeps being reduced. We are being told by the  local Forest Service that they will not have funds in 2025 for seasonal employees including trail crews as done in the past. 

 

$300,000 is needed over the next 3 years to keep our trails cleared and in good safe condition. PATC and PRD plan on requesting $200,000 in CP&W grant funds which can be used for 3 years 2025, 2026 and 2027 to hire trail crews.  Our goal is to raise $100,000 for a cash match for the CP&W grant.   With trail crews being more expensive and CP&W grants more competitive we need to make this grant look really good.  PATC has $50,000 available for a cash match.  PATC  is  in the process of raising the remaining $50,000 from local user groups,  other agencies and organizations. 

 

 PATC is  starting a Clear the Trails Fundraiser to help reach the  Grant’s Cash Match Goal. 

 

If you would like to Contribute to the “Clear the Trails”  Fundraiser,  please click on the DONATE button above. 

 

All funds collected will go to hire trail crews for our local forest service  trails. 

 

 Any funds Donated  is greatly appreciated!!!