Frigid temperatures, shin-deep muck and relentless rain couldn’t stop Roaring Fork Valley residents Michelle Smith and Kathryn Lee from earning impressive finishes at the 2025 XTERRA World Championships. Held in Trentino, Italy, Sept. 25 – 28, XTERRA rolled out the red carpet for top international athletes who competed in the grueling and competitive off-trail triathlon. […]
trails
Posted inEnvironment
New ‘Muddy Meter’ aims to mitigate erosion of Red Hill trails
The Red Hill trail system, just off of the Highway 82 and 133 intersection, is one of the most popular and convenient recreation areas in the Valley. How popular? Well, the trailhead receives around 75,000 visitors each year. That is about three-times as many hikers annually compared to the state’s most popular 14,000-feet peaks. It […]
Posted inEnvironment
Marble Stewardship Extravaganza returns this weekend
The Carbondale-based stewardship nonprofit Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) invites volunteers of all ages and abilities to the pinnacle of the Crystal River Valley this weekend, June 29 and 30, for the Fourth Annual Marble Stewardship Extravaganza: a family-friendly campout spent caring for public lands, learning and relaxing in the beautiful scenery that Marble has […]
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
RFOV: Stewards of land and community
On April 11, Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) announced its summer and fall community projects. The Carbondale-based nonprofit promotes stewardship of public lands through volunteer projects, events and other educational and community activities. RFOV was established in 1995 by David Hamilton, Kevin O’Brien and Michael Hutton. Since then, RFOV has worked to immerse volunteers in […]
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
Red Hill survey results are in!
Carbondale’s much-loved trail system on Red Hill is now seeing more than 70,000 visits a year. That’s according to Davis Farrar, a member of the volunteer group, the Red Hill Council. While most of the Red Hill trail system is Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, the council exists to help steward the popular trails. […]
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Hardwick Bridge to welcome back foot traffic
Hardwick Bridge is not falling down, but it definitely needs new decking and side railings to safely carry pedestrians and bicyclists across the Roaring Fork River. This iron truss bridge, located north of the Iron Bridge and West Bank subdivisions, was erected in the 1920s for cars and trucks, said Jeff Gatlin, chief operating officer […]
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
Red Hill trails need “TLC”
The trails in Carbondale’s Red Hill Recreation Area are loved. If that’s not clear from the jammed parking lot, there’s evidence along the trails themselves. Crumbling paths between switchbacks are evidence of shortcutting – by both humans and canines. Dog poop bags line the trail creating bubbles of stink for trail users to hold their […]