A new trail from the village of Redstone to the top of McClure Pass has been controversial in recent years. The seven-mile trail is a planned segment of an aspirational Carbondale to Crested Butte trail, offering an over 80-mile alternative to popular existing hikes between the Roaring Fork Valley and towns south of the Elk Mountains. The new trail differs from the existing McClure Pass trail, which sees heavy use year-round.
When The Sopris Sun last covered this trail in 2023, it had recently received an environmental assessment approval from the United States Forest Service (USFS). Local environmental advocacy nonprofit Wilderness Workshop submitted an objection, requesting further assessment.
That led to negotiations between Pitkin County, Wilderness Workshop and other objectors, as well as the USFS and White River National Forest. Adjustments to the plan, including promises of additional environmental impact assessments, soothed some groups initially opposed to the trail. Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Director Gary Tennenbaum summarized this, saying, “The county has obtained approval from the Forest Service through the NEPA [National Environmental Policy Act] process, which addressed the major concerns.”
The Pitkin Board of County Commissioners and White River National Forest approved plans to construct the trail in early summer 2024. The process has faced some delays. Among these is a proposal to construct a new powerline and communications center on McClure Pass. According to Tennenbaum, the powerline has been on stakeholders’ radars for some time. The formal proposal was submitted to USFS in the autumn of 2024 and is currently under review.
However, Pitkin County Open Space and Trails plans to move forward with lower trail construction this year and next. Even if approved, the powerline proposal would only affect the upper section of the planned trail near the top of McClure Pass. Tennenbaum said, “Our staff is working on implementing the parking area at the base of the Old McClure Pass Road and trail to the existing road for 2025.” As Old McClure Pass Road is already a popular hiking area, the improved parking benefits recreationalists and driver safety.
Actual trail construction is slated for next year. “We are planning on completing the trail from the Old McClure Pass Road to the top of McClure Pass in 2026,” said Tennenbaum. After that, he elaborated, the plan is “to complete the trail from Redstone to the base of the Old McClure Pass Road in 2027.” Those two miles of trail between Redstone and the parking area will provide a safer alternative for pedestrians than walking along the shoulder of Highway 133.
The trail construction plan and implementation face restrictions approved by local environmental organizations. Construction related to the McClure Pass Trail will be limited to between July 15 and Nov. 15 to avoid winter and spring disruptions to wildlife. Once completed, the trail will have a seasonal winter closure from Dec. 1 to April 30, similar to sections of the Rio Grande Trail and other recreational trails in the Roaring Fork Valley. The winter closure will help protect wildlife during a vulnerable season.
Per agreement with local stakeholders, if any changes are made to future segments of the trail in Pitkin County, the entire section of trail will undergo a comprehensive environmental analysis. Pitkin County has authority over the seven-mile section slated for Redstone to the summit of McClure Pass. Development of other sections of the Carbondale to Crested Butte trail falls in the purview of other counties.
Records of decision for the Pitkin County segment are available for public viewing on the USFS website. Additional references can be found on the Pitkin County Open Space and Trails webpage.