The portion of the county's mass transportation tax revenues dedicated to trails provides an average annual income of $600,000. The preliminary cost estimate for the complete construction of a contiguous trail system through the core of the Eagle Valley is approximately $28 million. Progress on the construction will be steady but slow. The estimated amount necessary for a project must be accumulated before the project begins. This will particularly affect the timing of the more expensive and difficult, high demand sections. It is essential that the available trails funds be leveraged to the fullest extent through public matches, grants and private contributions.
Priority projects for the ECO Trails Program over the next five years include the following trail segments:
Dowd Junction to Minturn
Edwards to Wolcott
Avon to Dowd Junction
Wolcott to Eagle
Gypsum to Dotsero
If you'd like to be a part of building the trail system, join the Friends of ECO Trails.
Your membership dues will be used to fund actual construction of the trail system. Please consider joining the Friends on a yearly basis. All members will receive the newsletter once a year, in addition to a new-member gift. Your donation is tax-deductible, minus the value of the new member gift and to the extent allowable by law.
Annual Membership Dues
| Business |
$1000 |
| Golden Eagle |
$ 500 |
| Trailblazer |
$ 250 |
| Pathfinder |
$ 100 |
| Biker Buddy |
$ 50 |
Membership requests: please include your name; mailing address; city and state; zip; phone number and email.
Trails Gift Program
A gift program has been developed by the Eagle Valley Trails Committee to leverage the funding for the trail system development. In addition to, or instead of, joining the Friends of ECO Trails, individuals can contribute to the development of the trail system by selecting a specific item to fund. Choices include sponsoring the cost of actual trail construction, purchasing signs, or a limited number of benches and picnic tables.
Corporate sponsors are encouraged to become involved by helping us build entire sections of trail, bridges or other costly, but high profile features. Contributions of $500 and more will be acknowledged on a permanent plaque bearing your name on the item or at the trailhead of your choice.
| Gift |
Gift Item |
Cost |
| 1 |
1 foot of asphalt trail and name on trailhead plaque |
$1000 |
| 2 |
Trail bench (limited availability) with plaque |
$1000 |
| 3 |
Picnic table (limited availability) with plaque |
$1000 |
| 4 |
General signage |
$ 500 |
| 5 |
Landscaping |
$ 500 |
ECO Trails staff will contact you to discuss the donation. Your donation is tax-deductible minus the value of the new member gift and to the extent allowable by law. All donors will receive an ECO Trails thank you gift, will be listed in the next edition of the ECO Trails Newsletter and will be added to the annual newsletter mailing list, unless you choose to decline these items.
ECO Trails
P.O. Box 1070
Gypsum, CO 81637
970-328-3523
ellie.caryl@eaglecounty.us