The Mad Rabbit Trails project, which has been in the works since 2017, is slated to be built in the mountains above Steamboat Springs, CO. Getting these trails approved has been a long road — the original project called for 90 miles of new trails in the area along Highway 40 near Rabbit Ears Pass, but due to opposition from hunters, the scope has been reduced by about 60%, leaving the finalized project plan at about 48 miles of new trails. Of these 48 miles, seven will consist of converting dirt roads to multi-use trails, and 41 miles will consist of new trail construction. The plan also calls for 36 miles of unsanctioned trails to be decommissioned.
Steamboat Springs has fully funded the Mad Rabbit project at $1.7 million
In a massive milestone for the Mad Rabbit Project, the Steamboat Springs City Council voted in December to allocate $1.7 million to help get the trails built as soon as possible. The funding amount was based on a Forest Service estimate for the complete build out and should fully fund the trail construction. If any funds are left over, they’ll be used to build connector trails in town.
“It’s a win for the project because it helps alleviate some of the time it would take to raise funds to build a lot of these trails,” said Michael Woodbridge, District Ranger for the US Forest Service (USFS). “But also, it’s really just a testament to the support of the community to see those trails.”
The funding comes from the 2A lodging tax, which was voted into law in 2013 with a 71% voter approval rating. Despite these tax funds being earmarked specifically for recreational trail projects and community improvements, there was some local opposition to the funding allocation.
Confusion about bike-specific vs. multi-use trails
The Steamboat Springs City Council approved the funding in a 5-2 vote. One council member, Brian Swintek, voiced his opposition, saying, “I don’t understand why we are spending money outside of city limits on trails for mountain biking only when there is a lot of other recreating.”
But it’s clear that Swintek didn’t understand the project when he cast his vote. In fact, the vast majority of the trails will be multi-use, non-motorized trails designed for many types of trail users.
“There’s only one proposed bike-specific trail. It’s on the west summit, and it’s going to be a downhill directional trail. All the other trails are multi-use,” said Craig Frithsen, President of the Board for Routt County Riders (RCR). Furthermore, “Several of the trails are accessible for handicapped people… One is the accessible access trail to Dumont Lake, and another is a loop around the Meadows Campground. These are graded trails, much like the perimeter trails you see in state parks.”
The old Highway 40 corridor will create another wide, community-friendly trail. “This trail will essentially act as a wide, graded, multi-use trail,” said Frithsen. “People will walk, jog, and even ski there in winter.”
But there’s a problem…
Matt Miller detailed the opposition from the hunting organizations, primarily Keep Routt Wild (KRW), in a 2024 article, and according to Frithsen, the opposition continues to this day.
“What we’re suffering from here is a really loud, motivated minority trying to basically shut it down,” he said. “Their playbook has basically been delay and attack the funding. That’s what they do.”
The opposition has stooped to employing lobbyists to petition government officials at the state, regional, and federal levels to stop the project. This opposition continues despite the fact that the USFS has approved the project by completing the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) studies, public comment process, and issuing a FONSI (Finding of No Significant Impact) document.
The Forest Service still hasn’t signed the Record of Decision
Unfortunately, the strategy is paying off. As a result of this lobbying, the opposition has succeeded in delaying the USFS from signing the final decision document, known as the Record of Decision. Unfortunately, without a signed document to point to, the city of Steamboat Springs can’t finish earmarking the allocated funds for the project either. Everything is in limbo until the document is signed.
“What’s frustrating is that when you play by the rules and you follow the process, and you actually come up with a quality project, people looking out for their own special interests can still derail it, even when they’re not playing by the rules,” said Frithsen.
I contacted Michael Woodbridge, USFS District Ranger for the Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District, to learn exactly why the document hasn’t been signed yet. “We’ve been finalizing some things, including our work with the state. And we haven’t finished going through that whole process,” said Woodbridge. “We didn’t get those finalized before […] the forest advisor went on a [personal] trip for multiple weeks, so we’re kind of on hold until he gets back to get those things worked out and finished up here so we can sign it.”
I asked Woodbridge exactly which issues were holding up the approval, and he said, “I can’t really speak to it in detail, but we’re working with CPW and DNR.” CPW, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and DNR, the Department of Natural Resources, have voiced opposition to the project in the past and have proven to be allies to KRW’s efforts.
Woodbridge refused to answer the questions directly. When asked if he foresaw there being any issues with getting the document signed, he responded: “I don’t know. I mean, I hope we can. I hope we can get things resolved and get the decision signed. Because I’d like to get it signed. I was hoping to sign it sooner, but things have just taken a little longer than we were hoping.”
Delay and attack the funding, indeed. Despite the trail plan being finalized and despite the funding being approved, the opposition still hasn’t given up. While signs are promising, the Mad Rabbit Trails aren’t out of the woods yet.
“There’s never a finish line,” said Frithsen. “When I’m riding my bike on one of those trails, that’s when I’m going to be like, ‘okay, yeah, now we’re here.'”
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