Overview
- The state grant from Great Outdoors Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife funds the first phase to balance visitor access with conservation across the Pikes Peak region.
- Initial trail work includes Ring the Peak connections, realignments in the North Slope Recreation Area on Colorado Springs Utilities land, and new Ute Pass Regional Trail segments and a trailhead to close a five-mile gap.
- Camping expansion features 15 sites and infrastructure at Red Canyon Park on the Gold Belt Scenic Byway, while CPW conducts environmental and archaeological studies to identify additional corridor campsites.
- Wildlife measures target about 300 acres of habitat improvements for bighorn sheep and elk at Dome Rock State Wildlife Area, and a three-year ambassador program with RMFI will deploy up to five seasonal staff to educate hikers, maintain trails and gather use data.
- CPW plans to assume management roles along Ring the Peak, is scoping sites with hopes to be on the ground as early as this summer, and is negotiating a short-term agreement with the U.S. Forest Service and Colorado Springs Utilities ahead of longer federal processes.