So easy, even the kids can do it, come spring, 2020.
World class trail riding just hit a whole new elevation in Colorado’s Grand Valley.
Scott Winans straps on his helmet and puts his wheels on the Palisade Rim trail during his favorite time to ride this trail–just before sunset, when the Bookcliffs blush with the Alpine glow, when the valley trees sparkle in the low gilding sun. As the 10-year president of the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA), Scott knows this trail intimately because his organization helped to plan and build it. COPMOBA with its dedicated team of local volunteers ranging in age from school children to grandparents, has built and continues to maintain 112 miles of mountain bike trails all over the Grand Valley from Loma to Palisade, and each trail is unique. Says Scott, “We create a variety of trails in terms of exposure and level of challenge. Some are fast and flowy and some are a fistfight.” Scott compares the trails to kids: each one has its own persona. “Whether you want a quick work out or a few hours getaway, you can get a drastically different riding experience just from your choice of trails.” And if that sunset has anything to say about it, time of of day, too.
Grand Valley Youth Cycling brings together high school students from Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade to build skills and friendships. Photo used by permission.
I asked Scott, who uses the mountain bike trails? Local bike junkies? You bet, and that population is not only sizable, but varied. Locals of all ages use the trails for getting personal with Mother Nature’s unparalleled beauty, working up a sweat, honing technical skills for competition, or spending time together as a family. Grand Valley Youth Cycling has a following of high school kids who ride the trails for competition and friendship-building. But the real surprise is the level of international attention: bike enthusiasts come from the world over and spend $14 million dollars a year doing it. In all, 249,000 people ride the trails every year–three times the total population of Grand Junction.
Locals of all ages use the trails for getting personal with Mother Nature’s unparalleled beauty, working up a sweat, honing technical skills for competition, or spending time together as a family. Photo used by permission from COPMOBA.
Almost without exception the trails are on public lands, and Scott would like the meaning of that to sink in. Whether or not you happen to take to a bike saddle, the land belongs to you. “Most people don’t have a relationship to that idea, but we all have ownership in this land. We all have the ability to access it, and the political choices are important to be aware of. It’s important to protect our access.” Scott mentions oil and gas interests are not always in alignment with preserving an unspoiled landscape, but with our trails drawing international bike tourism, the views are literally priceless. A relationship with the land requires more every day consideration as well. “Stewardship is important, from not littering to understanding you need to ride when trails are dry–not muddy because that does damage–to participating in maintenance activities.”
Kids, families, couples, singles–people of all ages show up for COPMOBA’s Monday Night Maintenance. Photo used by permission.
The thought of maintenance activities may cause some to roll their eyes, but COPMOBA Monday Night Maintenance is actually fun. The invitation is open to the entire Grand Valley–you don’t need to be a COPMOBA member to be warmly welcome. You hike in to the work area and spend two to three hours in teamwork, laughing, and learning. Kids, families, couples, singles–people of all ages show up. It’s hard to describe the tingly feeling of contributing to the preservation and expansion of a trail system with global fame. The dirt on your hands, the tan on your skin, the blister on your ankle? They amount to a celebrity autograph of sorts.
These world famous trails with soul-drenching views don’t exist without teamwork. COPMOBA may be 30 years old with five vibrant, volunteer-supported chapters all over western Colorado, but COPMOBA doesn’t do it alone. “All of our work is done in partnerships with the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, and the municipalities of Fruita, Palisade, and Grand Junction [and many others]. You really only get things done when working with partners. We work hard to be a responsible partner. We’ve created strong relationships to help us get trails on the ground and maintain them.”
The Palisade Plunge will start on the Grand Mesa and descend 6,000 feet into the city of Palisade through unparalleled scenery. Photo used by permission of COPMOBA.
All those partnerships were recently pushed to their limits for COPMOBA’s newest and gutsiest trail project, one that takes world class to a whole new elevation: the Palisade Plunge. Unlike its sister trails contained nearly exclusively on the Grand Valley floor, the Palisade Plunge will start on the Grand Mesa and descend 6,000 picturesque, white-knuckling feet into the city of Palisade. The 34-mile trail will cross land managed by the United States Forest Service, the BLM, the Bureau of Reclamation, municipal watersheds of Grand Junction and Palisade, the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District, and land owned by Grand Junction and Palisade. The Department of Local Affairs, GOCO, and Colorado Parks & Wildlife Non-Motorized Trails Committee jumped aboard with grants. The level of partnership was unprecedented. “Normally it might take eight to ten years to hammer out details and make compromises with all those entities,” Scott says with a note of pride in his voice. “But the Palisade Plunge was so popular, it only took us two.” Daaaaaaang.
If that gave you the shivers, keep reading: COPMOBA originally asked for $30,000 in grant match donations from the public. Donors opened their pocketbooks so the Plunge is funded to the tune of $75,000–almost half the total estimated cost. And, get this: a significant number of those donors don’t even live in Colorado. The Palisade Plunge is yet a concept, but the world over awaits her arrival. Construction begins this summer, and phase 1 of the Plunge will be ready to ride in the spring of 2020. Keep your eyes peeled for the Palisade Plunge Grand Opening party because you, resident of this special place the world covets, are invited. In the meantime, the Grand Valley trails have something special to offer. Get out your wheels and find out for yourself.
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Scott Winans is president of COPMOBA and has been building trails since the early 90’s. Get involved with trail maintenance or donate to the Palisade Plunge at www.COPMOBA.org.
Here’s how you can support COPMOBA without spending a dime. Volunteer for the 3rd Annual Grand Enduro June 1-2, 2019 on behalf of COPMOBA , and MAD Racing Colorado will donate $20 to support the bike trails you love! Click here to register.
