The BLM has proposed “unprecedented” day-use fees for volunteer-built MTB trails in Western Colorado

The BLM Uncompahgre Field Office has proposed increased fees at day-use sites and campgrounds across Delta, Gunnison, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel counties in Colorado. The day-use fees would start at $4 per day, or $20 for an annual pass, at the Lower Beaver, Specie Creek, Caddis Flats, Ridgway Area Trails, Buzzard Gulch, Lower Spring Creek, Rim Road, and Upper Beaver sites.

Several of these day-use sites are river-access sites, but the rest are mountain bike and multi-use trail systems. The Montrose Uncompahgre Trails (MUT) and Ridgway Area Trails (RAT) chapters of the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA) have drafted a joint letter to oppose the proposed fee at Ridgway Area Trails, Buzzard Gulch, Lower Spring Creek, and Rim Road.

Day use fees at volunteer-built trail systems, and opposition from COPMOBA

Many of the trails accessed by these trailheads are volunteer-built and funded mountain bike trails, which the BLM now proposes to charge for access to. While the BLM is always a key partner in COPMOBA’s trail development efforts, when local advocacy groups are the ones that go through the effort of applying for grants, raising funds, and then building and maintaining the trails, having the land manager turn around and assess a fee can feel like a slap in the face. While locals have discussed this angle on social media, the COPMOBA letter carefully avoids this topic and takes a diplomatic angle.

Instead, COPMOBA’s opposition focuses on seven key points:

• Access and inclusivity
• Overestimated visitation numbers
• Fees leaving the site of collection
• Lack of clear fund allocation
• A worry that volunteers will have to pay to maintain trails
• The potential for increased unauthorized parking
• Negative impact on local tourism

Of these seven points, the concern about volunteers paying fees to access the trails and the lack of clear fund allocation come closest to addressing the glaring contradiction of volunteer organizations funding and building trails, only to have the BLM turn around and assess fees.

On these points, COPMOBA says:

There is also no guarantee of funding for new trail construction or existing trail maintenance. Nearly all of the non-motorized trails accessed from these trailheads are spearheaded, funded, built, and maintained by COPMOBA with support from grants, our members, and local businesses. Volunteers cannot be expected to build and maintain trails in areas that they are required to pay to have access to. It will also be difficult for COPMOBA to retain members in the Montrose and Ridgway region where fees will be collected. Will COPMOBA have direct input to how the funds are used? There is no language in the proposal that suggests opportunity for input outside of the BLM. If these fees were to be implemented, revenue sharing with COPMOBA for trail construction and maintenance could be an effective way to improve trails.

COPMOBA also points out that assessing fees “for recreation at mountain biking trailheads is unprecedented on the Western Slope.” They rightfully worry that having fees at just four trailheads will deter visitors and lead them to travel elsewhere.

The discussion about how the fee implementation could reduce access and inclusivity on singletrack trails was particularly poignant, especially as the mountain bike industry makes glacial progress — but progress nonetheless — to increase inclusivity. COPMOBA notes that “charging fees to access trails on public land harms” their core values of access and inclusivity. According to data shared in the BLM’s proposal, “16% of visitors to the neighboring GMUG National Forest Lands had a household income under $50,000. This percentage is likely higher in Montrose County where Buzzard Gulch, Lower Spring Creek, and Rim Road trailheads are located. Montrose County has the second lowest median household income of the counties included in this proposal. In particular, Buzzard Gulch is heavily used by locals for hiking and dog walking, and implementing fees at this location will further inhibit access to an already disadvantaged population.”

Three new campgrounds are proposed.

In addition, the BLM has proposed “an expanded amenity fee of $12 per campsite per night at five existing campgrounds (Lower Beaver, Caddis Flats, Fall Creek, Ledges Cottonwood, and Ledges Rockhouse) and three proposed campgrounds (Electric Hills Rim, Nucla, and Paradox).” The addition of campgrounds at Electric Hills, Nucla, and Paradox would be welcome additions to the local recreation infrastructure, helping manage what’s now rampant (and dirty) long-term dispersed camping. “COPMOBA is in support of developing the proposed paid campgrounds mentioned in the business plan,” according to the letter.

While the comment period for this draft business plan has already passed, these proposed fees are not yet set in stone. We’ll have to wait and see if the BLM responds to public opposition to these proposed fees. For more information, feel free to review the proposal documents and opposition letter here: