Transportation and Visitor Use Management Action Plan

Quandary Peak, McCullough Gulch, and Blue Lakes Trails and Trailheads Transportation and Visitor Use Management Action Plan

JUNE, 2021

Prepared for Prepared by Summit County, Colorado Otak, Inc. and RRC Associates Open Space & Trails Department and Partners ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to all the stakeholders, partners and community members that were able to provide their insights, experience, and time to make this project a success. Special thanks to the members of the stakeholder group who attended meetings, interviews, and workshops to collaborate and coordinate on the future of Quandary Peak, McCullough Gulch, and Blue Lakes trails and trailheads.

. Summit County: Christine Zenel, Brian Lorch, Jim Curnutte, Mark Watson, and Robert Jacobs

. United States Forest Service: Cory Richardson, Cynthia Ebbert, Bobbi Filbert, Henry Matthew, Chris Stewart, and Kay Hopkins

. Colorado Springs Utilities: Lisa Walters, Kirsta Scherff-Norriss, Maria Pastore, Kurt Fishinger, and Jackie Chambers

. Colorado Department of Transportation: Brian Killian and Grant Anderson

. Colorado State Patrol: Jared Rapp

. Colorado Fourteeners Initiative: Lloyd Athearn

. Town of Breckenridge: Anne Lowe

. Town of Blue River: Michelle Eddy

. Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Elissa Slezak, Jacob Kay, and Tom Davies

. National Forest Foundation: Jamie Werner

Cover Photo: View from Quandary Peak Trail of Upper Blue Lake Reservoir

Photo by Becca Saunders TABLE OF CONTENTS

Project Context ...... 1 Framework of Strategies and Solutions ...... 24 Purpose and Key Challenges ...... 4 Conclusion and Next Steps ...... 31 Project Process ...... 6

Interagency Visitor Use Management Framework ... 6 Appendix ...... 32

Stakeholder Engagement Process ...... 7 Overview of Data Collection Efforts ...... A-1

Project Timeline ...... 7 Intercept Survey & Trail/Vehicle Count...... A-3

Stakeholder Group Members ...... 8 Neighborhood Survey...... A-17

Stakeholder Outreach Meetings ...... 9 Online Survey ...... A-36 Data Collection ...... 13 McCullough Gulch Road Parking Concepts ...... A-39

Project Goals ...... 15

Analysis ...... 16

Key Findings ...... 16

Parking Capacity Analysis ...... 18

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View from Quandary Peak Source: Adam Springer

hikers. North of the Quandary Peak Trailhead, McCullough Gulch Trailhead is located at the end of McCullough Gulch Road. This trail, which is managed by the USDA Forest Service, offers views PROJECT CONTEXT of waterfalls and the local scenery. Parking for the trailhead is located on McCullough Gulch Road. Located near Breckenridge, CO, Quandary Peak is an Though these trails offer valuable outdoor recreation resources accessible high alpine trail near one of Colorado’s most popular to both local and visiting hikers, the population growth on the mountain towns. Its status as a Fourteener draws interest from Front Range has led to traffic and parking issues throughout the both local and Front Range residents and out-of-state visitors. Quandary area during peak times. Furthermore, COVID-19 has Due to its proximity to nearby towns and its relatively easy compounded visitor use issues by creating even more demand ascent, the peak has gained popularity and is often described as among residents wanting to escape urban areas. Parking lots fill a great introduction to hiking a Fourteener. quickly at the Quandary access points and lead to visitors In addition to the Quandary Peak Trail, the area also attracts seeking undesirable places to park. During popular times, visitors to two other popular destinations. Upper Blue Lake visitors park on both sides of Blue Lakes Road, McCullough Gulch Reservoir, which is owned and operated by Colorado Springs Road, and Highway 9. This unmanaged parking has led to safety Utilities, is used as an informal day use recreation site by visitors challenges for pedestrians and drivers, blocked access for who often park at the dam on Blue Lakes Road. An informal Blue emergency and maintenance vehicles, and created conflicts Lakes Trail that begins at the dam parking lot is also used by between the adjacent neighbors and visitors. Additionally, other

trailheads throughout Summit County are seeing similar Other agencies that are directly impacted by the challenges at pressures from visitation, so diverting hikers to other locations is the site include the Town of Blue River, the Colorado Fourteeners not considered a viable management tool. Initiative, the Colorado State Patrol, the Summit County Sheriff’s In addition to conflicts from parking, the increased visitation is Office, and the Summit County Rescue Group. In order to make ______also impacting natural resources in the area. Sensitive alpine meaningful change in this region, the interests and needs of environments are at risk of resource degradation from these stakeholders must be understood. 2 increasing visitor use, such as trail widening and destruction of rare plant species in vulnerable areas. Conflicts with wildlife including mountain goats, marmots, and ptarmigan have also ______been created by off leash dogs on the trails. Human and dog waste are also being left on trails, leading to negative impacts to wildlife habitat, water quality, and the visitor experience. A more robust visitor communication and education program is needed to address these ecological and sanitary challenges. Due to the multiple landowners, agencies, and interest groups that are affected by challenges at Quandary Peak, McCullough Gulch, and Blue Lakes, a cohesive and cooperative management strategy is needed to make change. The Quandary area is multi- jurisdictional, with Summit County and the Town of Breckenridge having joint ownership and management responsibility over the Young mountain goat in the Blue Lakes area Quandary Peak Trailhead parking lot. Summit County also Source: Anne Lowe manages the Upper Quandary Peak Trailhead parking area and the Lower McCullough Gulch Trailhead. Colorado Springs Utilities owns property at Blue Lakes, and the US Forest Service manages the upper Quandary Peak trail portal, the upper McCullough trail portal, the Blue Lakes trail portal, and the trails that cross through the White River National Forest. The Colorado Department of Transportation manages Highway 9, which is experiencing unsafe visitor parking during peak times. Parking on McCullough Gulch Road and Blue Lakes Road is managed by Summit County, through an easement granted by the US Forest Service. In addition to land managers, many other organizations have a stake in the situation at the Quandary Peak area. A residential neighborhood on Blue Lakes Road sits across from the lower Quandary Peak parking lot, and the neighbors have Hikers on the Quandary Peak Trail struggled with blocked driveways, speeding traffic, and litter. Source: Rosemary Woller

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Context map of the Quandary Peak area showing the Quandary Peak Upper Trailhead, McCullough Gulch Trailhead, Blue Lakes Trailhead, and the Quandary Peak Lower Trailhead and parking area

Source: Christine Zenel – Summit County Open Space & Trails

concerns by bringing pedestrians in proximity to high-speed PURPOSE AND KEY traffic and impeding emergency services and landowner access. Furthermore, increasing visitor use could lead to ecological damage within the sensitive alpine area as visitors park and hike ______CHALLENGES in unauthorized or unanticipated ways. A lack of visitor education and preparation has led to safety issues such as 4 encounters between wildlife and off-leash dogs and between PURPOSE hikers that appear to be impacting the visitor experience. Therefore, the core purposes of this project were to collect The purpose of the Quandary Peak, McCullough Gulch, and relevant data on visitor use and to facilitate productive meetings ______Blue Lakes Trails/Trailheads Transportation and Visitor Use among key stakeholders to reach decisions about strategies and Management project is to bring together land managers, tools that can be implemented in the near-term (2021) and over agencies, and local organizations to develop a multi-year visitor the longer-term to address these issues. These core purposes use and transportation management strategy. The study utilized support the creation of data-driven solutions and a multifaceted data collection method to analyze visitor recommendations to address and manage the Quandary area experiences, traffic and trail counter data, neighbor perceptions, visitor use problems. These solutions are based not only on and public support for management strategies. A working group today’s conditions, but those in the future where population and of multi – jurisdictional stakeholders met repeatedly to identify use pressures are likely to increase. issues, develop goals, and create a framework of strategies and solutions that can guide decision making in the Quandary Peak The goals and framework of strategies and solutions identified area. These adaptive management approaches and actions by this study address the following key challenges: ranged from solutions that could be implemented immediately to longer range tasks and planning efforts. Ongoing monitoring of conditions can build off of the data collected in this study and . Quandary Peak Overflow Parking on Surrounding inform decision making in the coming years. Roadways: The designated parking areas for the Quandary Peak Trailhead frequently reach capacity KEY CHALLENGES during peak times, forcing drivers to park in undesirable locations. During the busiest times, Quandary Peak The area encompassing Quandary Peak, McCullough Gulch, and visitors are parking on both sides of Blue Lakes Road, Blue Lakes trailheads and trails is currently experiencing both sides of McCullough Gulch Road, and the shoulders significantly high use and transportation congestion. The parking of Highway 9. This unregulated parking is leading to areas at the Quandary Peak trailhead and surrounding roads major challenges. On Blue Lakes Road, parked cars are commonly reach capacity while creating potential safety issues blocking residential driveways and infringing on private and conflict among land managers, residents, and visitors. property. McCullough Gulch Road is experiencing a Trailhead parking is often full, causing overflow onto areas not narrowed roadway from parked cars, which is designed for such use—along McCullough Gulch Road, private preventing emergency vehicle access and blocking properties, and Highway 9. The overflow parking creates safety infrastructure access for Colorado Springs Utilities.

Because there is no designated parking area for the Specifically, McCullough Gulch Trail is at risk of McCullough Gulch Trail portal, parking on both sides of experiencing trail widening and destruction of important the road to access the trail also contributes to the native species if visitation increases significantly. narrowed roadway. Extreme safety challenges exist from Conversely, the Quandary Peak trail has had parking on Highway 9, due to pedestrians walking along improvements and appears to be successfully ______the high-speed corridor. supporting the existing visitor capacity. However, this trail has seen conflicts between off leash dogs and 5 . Impeded Maintenance and Emergency Access: wildlife. Human and dog waste, as well as illegal camping Maintaining access for emergency vehicles as well as and campfires, additionally impact the water quality and Colorado Springs Utilities are both important goals for infrastructure of Blue Lakes, an important water source this area. Summit County Search and Rescue is ______for the Front Range. These issues have negative impacts sometimes needed to rescue hikers in the Quandary on wildlife habitat, environmental quality, visitor area, and other emergency vehicles may need access to experiences, and public safety. the trailheads, too. Due to the two-sided parking on both McCullough Gulch Road and Blue Lakes Road, portions of the roadway are too narrow for emergency vehicles to pass through. This road access must be maintained in order to provide emergency services. In addition, Colorado Springs Utilities has infrastructure located on both Blue Lakes Road and McCullough Gulch Road. To maintain access to these utilities 100% of the time, drivers must be prohibited from parking in front of utility access points.

. Nearby Neighborhood Concerns: The residential neighborhood across from the lower Quandary Peak parking area has experienced conflicts related to the increased visitor use in the area. In addition to cars blocking their driveways, local residents are experiencing high speed traffic on Blue Lakes Road, vehicle and visitor noise in the early morning, and littering and waste along the roadway. Residents feel that their neighborhood has become dangerous for children and pedestrians due to the amount of visitor traffic.

. Ecological Concerns: Some sensitive alpine habitats The parking area at the Quandary Peak Lower Trailhead frequently reaches prone to resource degradation exist in the Quandary capacity during peak times, resulting in overflow parking on adjacent roads. Peak, Blue Lakes, and McCullough Gulch region. Source: Hugh Carey, Summit Daily

use management direction; (3) Identify management strategies; PROJECT PROCESS and (4) Implement, monitor, evaluate, and adjust. Using this method, the team followed these steps to develop a transportation and visitor use management plan. Working with a ______group of multi-agency stakeholders, the project purpose and INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE need was established, and existing conditions were assessed, 6 MANAGEMENT FRAMEW ORK including key issues at the site. Next, a visitor use management direction was defined by exploring the stakeholders’ desired This project utilized the Interagency Visitor Use Framework conditions for the area. A framework of management strategies was developed based on feedback from stakeholders and data ______to guide the project process. Developed by the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council, a group represented by 6 collection results in order to work towards achieving the group’s federal land management agencies, the framework provides desired conditions. Future actions include implementation of cohesive guidance for developing long-term strategies for suggested strategies, ongoing monitoring to assess the providing access, connecting visitors to key visitor experiences, effectiveness of solutions, and adjustment of actions based on protecting resources, and managing visitor use. The framework this monitoring and evaluation. provides 4 major elements that make up the iterative process. These elements are (1) Build the foundation; (2) Define visitor

Elements and Steps of the Visitor Use Management Framework

Source: Visitor Use Management Framework: A Guide to Providing Sustainable Outdoor Recreation

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT o Intercept survey of Quandary Peak area visitors Traffic counters installed PROCESS o o Trail counter data collected In order to develop successful long-term strategies and ______recommendations for the Quandary Peak, McCullough Gulch, November 2020 and Blue Lakes region, the team used a method that consisted of 7 . Stakeholder Meeting 2 – Update on Data Collection and data collection and analysis, as well as a robust stakeholder Analysis engagement process. Due to the multi-jurisdictional setting of the area, a diverse group of local stakeholders was brought December 2020 ______together to develop a comprehensive, coordinated, and cohesive management approach for the future. The stakeholder group . Neighborhood survey of Quandary area residents was comprised of local, county, and state agencies, land managers, utility providers, and community organizations. January – February 2021 Representatives from each interest group participated in . Stakeholder Interviews: Town of Breckenridge Open interactive web conferences and individual interviews in order to Space and Trails, Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, Town identify key issues, goals, and develop a framework of strategies of Blue River, USDA Forest Service, Colorado Springs and solutions. This engagement process culminated in the Utilities, Colorado Department of Transportation, formalization of an interagency, collaborative management Colorado State Patrol group that meets regularly to craft near, mid, and long-term implementation plans based on the adaptive framework of March 2021 strategies and solutions. . Stakeholder Meeting 3 – Quandary Area Strategies and Solutions Workshop PROJECT TIMELINE April 2021 During the summer of 2020, stakeholders worked to secure . Online survey of the general public funding and develop a scope of work for this project, so that consultants could begin work in the late summer. Therefore, . Stakeholder Meeting 4 – Quandary Peak, McCullough data collection took place during the Quandary area late peak Gulch, and Blue Lakes Trails/Trailheads Transportation season of September through October. and Visitor Use Planning

September – October 2020 May 2021

. Stakeholder Meeting 1 – Kickoff Meeting . Board of County Commissioners Meetings – Project Presentation and Management Recommendations . Data Collection

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Members of the project stakeholder group. Each organization has different management areas, goals, issues, and concerns.

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McCullough Gulch Trail Source: David Spates

Quandary area regarding visitor use management and STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH transportation/parking management. MEETINGS Key takeaways from this meeting included a list of project goals specific to each stakeholder group. Common goals among Stakeholder Meeting 1 – Kickoff Meeting stakeholders included the need for adaptive management strategies that focus on safety, public communication, September 4, 2020, via Teams maintaining access for land managers, and developing solutions that can be implemented in the near term. Stakeholders also This initial meeting introduced the project and outlined the roles emphasized the need for interagency cohesion and collaboration and responsibilities of the Otak/RRC consultant team. This among partners. The topic of involving the local neighborhood in meeting provided an opportunity to finalize the scope of work the project was discussed, which would eventually lead to the and schedule with the stakeholder group, including a discussion development of the neighborhood survey. Stakeholders also of data collection methods planned for the project. The described current issues on the site and suggested possible stakeholder group shared their key goals for this effort and solutions that may be incorporated in this project. brainstormed existing issues and potential opportunities in the

Stakeholder Meeting 2 – Update on Data blocked utility access, resource degradation, pedestrian safety Collection and Analysis challenges, displacement of hikers to other trails, and roadway safety issues. Stakeholders outlined their goals for the area and November 10, 2020, via Zoom discussed possible solutions that could address these challenges ______and meet the needs of their organization. These discussions This meeting presented the preliminary results of the data were used to develop a preliminary framework of strategies and 10 collection and analysis to the stakeholder group and provided an solutions and inform the goals and key findings of the project. opportunity for discussion and brainstorming. The core team These interviews also inspired the idea to design a workshop described the data collection process and summarized the initial exercise for stakeholders to collaborate on proposed solutions. ______results from the intercept survey of Quandary area trail users, as well as vehicle counters, vehicle observation counts, and trail Stakeholder Meeting 3 – Quandary Area count data. This data informed the rest of the project process Strategies and Solutions W orkshop while also providing baseline data that can be utilized in the future. The neighborhood survey was also discussed, and the March 11, 2021, via Zoom team described the current responses that were received. The The purpose of this meeting was to provide a preliminary set of team then led a facilitated discussion of key problems, user strategies and solutions for stakeholders to discuss in a groups, visitor and parking capacity, and solution types. workshop setting. By discussing solutions in small groups and Stakeholders continued to brainstorm solutions and describe the placing them in terms of geographic locations, stakeholders were priorities in the Quandary area. able to collaboratively discuss the utility and feasibility of Interviews with Key Stakeholders different strategies, and brainstorm new ideas.

January – February 2021 The meeting began with an update on results from the data collection process, and presented some key findings from the In between the second and third stakeholder workshops, previous workshops, stakeholder interviews, and data analysis. individual discussions were conducted with key stakeholders to An official set of project goals that were developed from better understand site details, interests of management stakeholder input were also presented. Then, the core team agencies, and preferred solution options. Agencies that were shared a preliminary framework of strategies and solutions for interviewed included the Town of Breckenridge Open Space and the Quandary area. This matrix included outreach and Trails, the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, the Town of Blue communications/education solutions, programmatic actions, River, the USDA Forest Service, Colorado Springs Utilities, improvements/infrastructure, and enforcement strategies. The Colorado Department of Transportation, and Colorado State framework contained both near- and long-term solutions that Patrol. Each of these representatives described the specific aligned with different aspects of the project goals. Stakeholders impacts that their agencies were experiencing from the then had the opportunity to provide feedback on the suggested conditions in the Quandary area. These impacts ranged from set of solutions.

Stakeholders were then divided into facilitated breakout groups Quandary area. Specifically, all breakout groups agreed that of 5 – 10 people to discuss different categories of solutions and parking needs to be removed from Highway 9 and limited to the brainstorm where specific strategies could be located on the site. north side of Blue Lakes Road, and most stakeholders suggested Using tools in Microsoft PowerPoint, the breakout group providing parking on only one side of McCullough Gulch Road to members viewed maps at different scales and locations, and maintain safe access. Stakeholders are also discussing ______then placed icons representing solutions that could be used on expanding the jointly owned Summit County/Town of 11 site. These solution categories included designated parking Breckenridge parking lot to accommodate more vehicles and areas, signage, visitor facilities, public transit stops, road and trail have suggested that examining the existing parking capacity in improvements, and other strategies. Facilitators also made notes the area would aid in making future decisions. on the map to track the discussion. Each breakout group ______reported out to the full group and summarized their discussion. Stakeholder Meeting 4 – Quandary Peak, The full presentation was sent to each stakeholder so they could McCullough Gulch, and Blue Lakes send further comments on the solution matrix and provide any Trails/Trailheads Transportation and Visitor Use additional feedback on the geographic location of solutions. Planning

Some of the key takeaways from this exercise were the need for April 26, 2021, via Zoom more intensely managed parking areas to improve safety, enhanced education and communication on site, and increased This meeting focused on presenting an updated framework of collaboration among agencies to manage recreation in the strategies and solutions, based on input from the stakeholder group. Updated results from the data collection were presented, including preliminary data from the online survey of the general public that opened in April. This meeting also presented a parking capacity analysis of the Quandary parking area. This work estimated the existing parking capacity at the site and provided three management scenarios to demonstrate how available parking would be affected by different solutions. This exercise helped stakeholders visualize how solutions such as no – parking areas, shuttles, and a parking lot expansion would affect available parking, and therefore estimated visitor use.

The team then presented the improved framework of strategies and solutions. The matrix was updated based on feedback from the last meeting and included 20 solutions ranging from short to Pika in the Quandary Peak area long – term time frames. Stakeholders then discussed the Source: Anne Lowe proposed solutions and brainstormed about possible

implementation strategies. This discussion included ideas for County, team members from Otak and RRC were available to specific groups that could implement strategies, how agencies answer questions and provide feedback. Though this meeting could continue to work together to make change, and what represented the first step of the implementation process, the information was still needed to make decisions. This feedback results of this project can continue to be used to allow agencies ______was taken to create a final set of changes to the framework of to plan for adaptive management in both the near and longer- 12 solutions. term future. Summit County Board of County Commissioners

Meeting ______May 18, 2021, via Zoom and In Person Meeting

The core team presented the work and results from the Quandary Peak, McCullough Gulch, and Blue Lakes Trails/ Trailheads Transportation and Visitor Use Management project at the Summit County Board of County Commissioners meeting. Project stakeholders, members of the Blue Lakes neighborhood, and the general public were also in attendance. This meeting served as a way to present the final result of the project in a public forum. Members of the public were also able to provide Upper Blue Lake Reservoir feedback through the Zoom chat function, and many described Source: Allison Mitchell – Summit County Open Space & Trails the conflicts between visitors and the neighborhood that they had seen in the area.

Summit County Board of County Commissioners Meeting

May 25, 2021, via Zoom and In Person Meeting

The primary purpose of this meeting was to discuss near-term solutions that Summit County could support in the project area. The Summit County Board of County Commissioners' main concern for the area is public safety. As such, measures implemented in the summer of 2021 will aim to alleviate pressures on emergency services and neighborhood safety. Waterfall on the McCullough Gulch Trail Though the discussion took place among members of Summit Source: Shutterstock

o Upper McCullough Gulch trail (via USFS)

DATA COLLECTION o Lower McCullough Gulch trail (via Town of Breckenridge Open Space and Trails) INTRODUCTION December 2020: ______. Neighborhood survey of Quandary area residents The Quandary Peak / McCullough Gulch / Blue Lakes data 13 collection was designed to include multiple data sources to help April 2021: tell a broad picture of visitor use in the area. This multi-faceted . An online survey of the general public on their opinions study began in September 2020 (Labor Day weekend) and surrounding recommendations for Quandary Peak ______finished in April 2021. The goal was to capture on-site Intercept Survey Methodology: information from visitors along with a variety of traffic and trail counts during some of the peak times. Furthermore, follow-up Quandary area visitors were intercepted at the Quandary surveys were conducted with neighborhood residents. Finally, a Peak/McCullough Gulch/Blue Lakes trailheads during the large online survey was launched to capture the public’s opinion morning and early afternoon throughout September and on recommendations for the Quandary Peak area. October 2020. As visitors were either entering or leaving the area, surveyors asked if they would be willing to provide DATA COLLECTION TIMELINE feedback about their experience on-site. Across a variety of study days, 530 total surveys were collected. Visitors were asked September – October 2020: to rate their level of perceived crowding, demographics, trip . Intercept survey of Quandary Peak visitors characteristics, and parking constraints. Results were presented in a Tableau dashboard and were used to guide initial findings . Traffic counters installed and helped to define existing issues. o Turn off from Highway 9 Traffic/Trail Counter Methodology: o Lower McCullough Gulch Road The traffic and trail counters deployed in the Quandary Peak Upper McCullough Gulch Road (past Upper o area were installed to try to gauge levels of visitor use Quandary Peak Trailhead) throughout the season. Because of timing and weather, the o Blue Lakes Road (past subdivision) traffic counters were only installed from September through mid-October. The Quandary Peak and Upper McCullough Gulch . Trail counter data collected trail counters were installed for the full 2020 season as they are o Quandary Peak trail (via Colorado Fourteeners continually maintained by the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative Initiative) and the USFS. The Lower McCullough Gulch trail counter was installed by the Town of Breckenridge Open Space and Trails for Results from the online survey of the general public showed that improved education/communication and consistent this project specifically. Each counter provided hourly counts of enforcement of parking restrictions topped the list of preferred visitor use by day. management possibilities among all groups of respondents. Neighborhood Survey Methodology: ______To gauge opinions from local residents near Quandary Peak, a 14 survey was mailed to residents in the nearby subdivision. Using available mailing records of homeowners, approximately 30 households were sent a survey that detailed their perceptions of ______crowding in the area, demographics, residency characteristics, and more. Approximately 19 responses were captured from the

original 30 households surveyed. Results were used to further refine recommendations based on issues highlighted by local residents. Online Survey of Quandary Recommendations Methodology:

An online survey of the general public on their opinions around recommendations developed for the Quandary area is the final methodology used for data collection. In April 2021, a variety of Data Collection Summary: participating stakeholders used social media sites to promote an In summary, the data collected for the Quandary online survey. The survey asked the public to comment on Peak/McCullough Gulch/Blue Lakes project helped define various recommendations built throughout the entire Quandary perspectives and use from on-site visitation, identified concerns Peak, Blue Lakes, McCullough Gulch project. The post was from nearby residential areas, and tested a variety of repeated a week after the initial survey launch to gather recommendations with the larger general population of users. additional responses. The purpose of this study was to test how Results from the intercept and neighborhood survey were used likely the general public was to support certain actions such as to help inform the framework of recommendations and reservation systems, shuttles, parking restrictions, and more. In strategies. Overall, results identified specific challenges and total, over 1,300 responses were gathered throughout the possible solutions for the Quandary Peak area from process and were presented as part of the final presentations. education/communication to the potential for a voluntary shuttle Results identified education/communication and enforcement as service. the top two issues most respondents would support.

See APPENDIX for Data Collection Materials and Results

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______View from Blue Lakes Road Source: Byron Miller

GOAL 2: PROJECT GOALS Collect and analyze data to inform new high use trail management and transportation planning strategies. Through information gathered during the stakeholder GOAL 3: engagement process, a series of 5 main goals were developed for the Quandary Peak, McCullough Gulch, and Blue Lakes Identify a range of adaptive management and improvement Trails/Trailheads Transportation and Visitor Use Management strategies and solutions that can be implemented incrementally. planning effort. These goals represent the desired outcomes for Prioritize strategies according to stakeholder support. this process that were common among all stakeholders. These goals are outlined below: GOAL 4:

Enhance public and visitor awareness of issues and steps they GOAL 1: can take to help address problems and concerns; increase public stewardship ethic; reduce adverse environmental impacts. Facilitate coordination and collaboration across multiple agencies/jurisdictions and stakeholder interest groups and define implementation roles and responsibilities. GOAL 5:

Identify methods to monitor conditions in the study area over time and the success and effectiveness of implemented strategies and solutions.

or undesirable areas. What physical or enforcement solutions ANALYSIS are needed to manage parking? Can parking capacity be expanded at the lower ______Key Findings: Quandary Trailhead parking area and along roadways in the vicinity of the trailheads? 16 Throughout the project, the core team had a series of main There are opportunities to expand parking capacity, but at the questions that were answered by stakeholders through meetings, workshops, and interviews. These questions same time, there are many areas where visitors are parking that ______addressed potential solutions to the key challenges and guided are causing problems. Parking management, controls through the development of the framework of strategies and solutions. design (hardened/curbed and fenced edges), and enforcement These are the key findings from that process. are needed. Overall, we can define a feasible parking capacity for the area that agencies can “manage to,” but this may not be Should a visitor use (“person”) capacity be enough to serve the growing peak demand over time. defined, and should we be developing strategies to manage to that capacity?

It may be premature for a reservation or permit system and/or setting a visitor capacity to manage to. However, a “person” capacity is different than “parking/vehicle” capacity. Based on current conditions, the number of people on trails is not as much of a concern as the number of vehicles parking in the area. It is recommended to proactively manage parking capacity and closely monitor conditions over the next 3 to 5 years.

Should trail visitors be allowed to park along the State highway and County Roads?

Visitors should not be able to park along State highways, due to safety challenges. There are major concerns about vehicles parking in narrow areas and pedestrians walking along the roadway and crossing the highway. Parking needs to be removed Quandary Peak Lower Trailhead Parking Area from Highway 9. However, some parking along County Roads Source: Jason Connolly Photography; Summit Daily may need to be allowed in order to provide enough access to visitors. A key question is how to prevent this parking in unsafe

W ould access by shuttle/transit potentially be a viable option?

A shuttle could be a viable option, but the demand for the service likely would be limited to peak use times, which could be ______an operational challenge. The best opportunity may be to expand existing transit services and/or work with the tourism 17 and hospitality industry to sponsor a special tourism-based shuttle service during peak visitation. Though Quandary Peak area access alone may not drive demand, there could be a need ______for shuttle services throughout the County. Broader demand might support implementation of a regional shuttle system.

Key challenges of a shuttle include:

. Hiking a 14er can be uncertain (weather, deciding to turn Overflow parking for the Quandary Peak Trailhead back, etc.)—shuttle frequency could be an issue Source: White River National Forest depending on the service. Could on-demand service be provided?

. Shuttles would need to be equipped to carry gear.

. Vehicle storage/maintenance and costs of operation. What entity would be willing to take that on?

. Short employment season (summer jobs?)

Are there other solutions?

Yes—other near-term solutions include expanding visitor information/awareness of parking challenges, as well as where and how to park through communications; expanded volunteer support at trailheads; expanded enforcement to prohibit parking in unwanted areas; video monitoring tied to a real-time communications system; and signing. These solutions are outlined and expanded on in the framework of strategies and Recreationalists at Blue Lakes solutions. Source: Allison Mitchell – Summit County Open Space & Trails

PARKING CAPACITY ANALYSIS determine the exact number of spaces that could be gained by a parking lot expansion project.

Throughout the workshops, interviews, and breakout groups These scenarios do not represent final designs for parking conducted for this project, stakeholders stated that it was ______management plans and many other parking scenarios could be important to analyze parking capacity at the site, in order to developed. However, these diagrams aim to study possible 18 understand how many visitors the area is currently parking management solutions that were discussed in the accommodating and how potential solutions could affect parking workshops and visualize how they affect available parking capacity. spaces. ______In order to analyze parking capacity in the Quandary Peak area, the existing capacity on site was estimated and three parking management scenarios were developed. These scenarios project how the number of parking spaces will fluctuate based on various management strategies. Visitor use was estimated based on parking using results from RRC’s survey work. RRC found that there was an average of 2.5 people per vehicle, which was used to estimate visitor numbers. This effort focused on parking at the Lower Quandary Peak Trailhead due to the challenges with overcrowding, but it is understood that parking solutions could have impacts on the surrounding area.

In all the parking management scenarios below, parking is removed from the south side of Blue Lakes Road to reduce conflicts with the residents. Parking is also removed from one side of McCullough Gulch Road to maintain access for emergency vehicles and utilities. All scenarios assume that County Roads will remain open for visitor use and parking, except for Scenario C, which proposes a gate to prevent parking on McCullough Gulch Road during peak seasons. All scenarios show an expansion of the Summit County/Town of Breckenridge parking area to improve the efficiency and size of the lot. Based Estimated persons per vehicle from RRC’s intercept survey on available land and buildable slopes, these scenarios suggest work. The average number of people in each vehicle was 2.5. that the parking area could be increased by 18 spaces. However, this is an estimate and further design work is needed to Data visualization from RRC Associates

Slope maps were used to determine where parking could be located and expanded along McCullough Gulch Road, Blue Lakes Road, and the lower Quandary Peak parking area. These maps show “buildable slopes,” or areas with less than ______a 15% slope. All other areas of the map have a slope greater than 15%. 19

The width of McCullough Gulch Road was also studied. The road width varies throughout the corridor. Two examples ______are shown of a 36’ and 24’ existing roadway in two locations of the corridor. This road width impacts the amount of parking that can safely be located along the roadway.

See Appendix page A-39 for expanded McCullough Gulch Road parking concepts.

Lower Parking Area – Buildable Slopes McCullough Gulch Road – Buildable Slopes

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Lower Quandary Peak

Existing Conditions – “Theoretical” Unregulated Capacity

In the existing conditions diagram above, unregulated parking is shown, meaning that parking spots were counted in all areas that visitors are currently using, even if it is not legal or encouraged. This is done to understand the number of cars the trailhead is currently supporting during its busiest season. Based on information from stakeholders, slope and road width data, and aerial imagery, parking spaces and extents were shown in the Quandary parking areas, both sides of McCullough Gulch Road, both sides of Blue Lakes Roads, and on the Highway 9 pullout areas. This diagram shows the area currently supports approximately 360 existing vehicle spaces, which translates to 900 visitors, based on the 2.5 visitors/car average.

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New Turnaround at Upper Quandary Peak Trailhead Parking Area ______

Lower Quandary Peak

Scenario A – Turnaround at Upper Quandary Peak Trailhead

This scenario represents the implementation of parking management solutions. The strategies that are common to all scenarios (1- sided parking on Blue Lakes Road, 1-sided parking on McCullough Gulch Road, expansion of the lower Quandary Peak parking area) are included in this diagram. This scenario proposes converting the smaller parking area south of the Upper Quandary Peak Trailhead to a vehicle turnaround on McCullough Gulch Road. Currently, many visitors approaching the trailhead see cars parked on the highway and roadway and assume the parking areas must be full. By building a vehicle turnaround, visitors could drive all the way to the Quandary trailhead to view available parking, and then turnaround to find their spot.

Since this scenario removes parking from inappropriate areas, the parking capacity for the site decreases. This plan provides 205 available parking spaces, which equals approximately 512.5 visitors.

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Lower Quandary Peak

Scenario B – Upper Turnaround on McCullough Gulch Road

This scenario suggests the same solutions as Scenario A, but the location of the vehicle turnaround is different. This plan proposes building a vehicle turnaround further north on McCullough Gulch Road, in order to locate more parking on the roadway. Based on the slope of the road, the turnaround is located in a wide spot about 0.5 miles north of the Upper Quandary Peak Trailhead. The walking distance from this turnaround is about the same as the distance from the upper trailhead to the Lower Quandary Peak Trailhead and parking area. This allows for more parking spaces on one side of McCullough Gulch Road, where the road width and slope allow for safe parking. This scenario generates 255 parking spaces, with a visitor capacity of 637.5 people.

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Lower Quandary Peak

Scenario C – Public Transportation and No Parking on McCullough Gulch Road

This scenario focuses on using public transportation to bring visitors to Quandary Peak. A gate at the base of McCullough Gulch Road closes off roadside parking to visitors, with public parking only being located at the lower Quandary Peak parking lot and the north side of Blue Lakes Road. This gate could be used year-round, or only during peak seasons or times. Shuttles or other public transportation methods could have access to the gate in order to bring visitors to the Upper Quandary Peak Trailhead, McCullough Gulch Trailhead, and the Blue Lakes area. This would improve the safety of hikers on the roadway to Quandary Peak and improve access for utilities and maintenance. This scenario provides 129 parking spaces, which equals about 322.5 visitors. However, the visitor use would be increased beyond this amount through the use of shuttles, rideshares, or other public transportation options.

contribute to different goals, it is important to utilize a suite of FRAMEW ORK OF different approaches to make positive change, rather than one overarching solution. Project goals include:

______STRATEGIES AND . GOAL 1: Facilitate coordination and collaboration across multiple agencies/jurisdictions and stakeholder interest 24 groups and define implementation roles and SOLUTIONS responsibilities. . GOAL 2: Collect and analyze data to inform new high use This section provides a framework of potential strategies ______trail management and transportation planning and solutions that can be implemented in the Quandary area to strategies. address the key challenges and goals. This framework was developed using feedback from the stakeholder workshops, . GOAL 3: Identify a range of adaptive management and interviews, and data collection and analysis. A range of adaptive improvement strategies and solutions that can be implemented incrementally. Prioritize strategies management solutions are presented including actions that can according to stakeholder support. be implemented immediately in the summer of 2021, as well as longer term solutions. Monitoring should continue to be . GOAL 4: Enhance public and visitor awareness of issues conducted on site in order to inform longer-term approaches and steps they can take to help address problems and over the next 5 years and beyond. concerns; increase public stewardship ethic; reduce adverse environmental impacts. Framework options can be implemented incrementally over time . GOAL 5: Identify methods to monitor conditions in the while testing and monitoring the effectiveness of each. Options study area over time and the success and effectiveness and strategies that seem to be working can be adapted and of implemented strategies and solutions. continued, while those that are not effective can be discontinued. Some options may need to be adjusted over time The framework provides solutions that fall into 4 main types of to fit conditions that may be changing, such as visitation patterns actions. These actions are: or new transportation methods. New strategies and actions can . Outreach and Communications/Education be added to this framework as well. Recommended timeframes for implementation are listed in the matrix. For solutions that are . Programmatic Actions ongoing, meaning implementation can start immediately, but the . Improvements/Infrastructure strategy should be continued over several years, both the “short term” and “near term” boxes are filled in the chart. . Enforcement

The following strategies each address one or more of the project It is important to note that one type of action alone will not goals for the Quandary Peak area. Since different solutions address the challenges at the site. The area must be understood holistically, including the social and ecological components as

well as the physical ones. By using a combination of visitor and for vehicle travel lanes. By using site appropriate materials such community education tools, program-based strategies, physical as timber and boulders, the barriers can match the natural improvements on site, and enforcement of parking and safety aesthetic quality of the area. This strategy would need to be regulations, the goals for Quandary Peak, Blue Lakes, and developed cooperatively with the interagency management McCullough Gulch can be most effectively addressed. group to maintain access for utilities and road maintenance. ______

On-site enforcement can also be used to manage parking. On 25 Expanded Descriptions of Highway 9, if the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Strategies/ Solutions 11 and 12 places “No Parking” signs along the roadway, Colorado State Patrol will have the ability to enforce parking on Highway 9. ______Strategy 11 - Increase Agency Led Enforcement to However, due to State Patrol staffing constraints and the nature Prohibit Parking in Unwanted Areas of visitor parking for hikers, ticketing and towing can be challenging in this area. An on-site ambassador program may One of the major points of discussion among stakeholders was prove the most effective in managing parking surrounding the the need for designated visitor parking areas and strategies to trailheads. By utilizing the tools suggested in Strategy 6, enforce parking. From this project, two areas were identified as volunteers or staff members could be available on site to direct being undesirable for designated parking. These areas include visitors to available parking and actively discourage people from Highway 9 and the south side of Blue Lakes Road adjacent to the leaving their cars in undesirable areas. A combination of neighborhood driveways. In addition, stakeholders discussed enforcement, signage, physical barriers, and volunteer outreach that allowing parking on both sides of McCullough Gulch Road will be needed to best manage parking in the area. can lead to a very narrow roadway that doesn’t provide enough space for emergency vehicles and utility access. Therefore, it is recommended that parking only be allowed on one side of McCullough Gulch Road between Blue Lakes Road and the Quandary Peak Trailhead. Example of a timber fence road barrier Several strategies can be used to limit visitor parking to with parking on one designated areas. No-parking signs are currently installed at side of the road. several locations in the area, but their messages are often ignored by visitors. Signage should be used in conjunction with See Appendix page other solutions to best manage parking. One strategy is A-39 for expanded implementing physical barriers in undesirable areas, such as McCullough Gulch timber fences, log and boulder barricades, and berms. For Road parking example, these barriers can be used along the no-parking side of concepts. McCullough Gulch Road to limit parking, while still allowing space

Strategy 12 - Evaluate Shuttling and Ridesharing important to note that demand for a public transportation Options and Sponsorships (Study Phase) service could be created by parking management on the site. For example, closing McCullough Gulch Road to visitor parking may Shuttling and ridesharing options were discussed many times in create more demand for a shuttle service, due the reduced ______stakeholder workshops and interviews, as well as in the survey options for parking at the site. However, this would have to be 26 of the general public. In the online survey, a voluntary seasonal closely monitored and adapted to reduce subsequent parking shuttle service was the 4th most supported management conflicts in the Quandary area. Proper marketing and publicity solution out of 10 options. The main benefit of a shuttle or public for a public transportation program is essential to motivating transportation service is reducing the amount of visitors parking visitors to use this service and would need to be conducted as ______at the site. This approach would provide trail access to the part of the pilot program. current number of visitors while reducing traffic congestion issues around the trailheads. Additionally, a successful shuttle program could be expanded to serve other trailheads and recreation areas, and possibly develop into a regional model.

However, a shuttle/public transportation program does come with challenges and would require a more detailed transportation feasibility study to evaluate the local demand. If the demand is substantial enough to justify a pilot program, a service provider would have to be selected to run the transportation. This provider could be a public agency or a 3rd party commercial contractor. Issuing a prospectus for commercial services in the near term could gauge the interest and potential demand for this service. In addition to securing a vehicle provider, locations for shuttle pick-up or ridesharing sites would need to be determined. These would most likely be Shuttle bus in Maroon Bells Scenic Area located in Breckenridge or Blue River. It could be challenging to Source: Sean Xu locate a site that can provide enough parking while also being close in proximity to visitors. Partners and Stakeholders

By utilizing a pilot program model, a voluntary seasonal shuttle Collaboration with project stakeholders and key partners in the or transit program could be provided over a series of 1 – 3 years community will be essential to making positive change. One of with the success of the program being monitored and evaluated the main solutions that is provided in the framework is retaining over time. Based on the results of the pilot program, a more the existing stakeholder group as a regional task force. This permanent service could be established for the future. It is strategy has already begun, as interagency stakeholders have modified or adjusted. For higher cost and intensity solutions, it continued to meet to discuss decision – making and will be important for partners and stakeholders to coordinate to implementing strategies in the Quandary Peak area. However, identify potential funding sources. outside of this project’s core stakeholder group, there are many other agencies that are interested in the future of the Quandary ______area and may have the ability to take responsibility for key tasks. 27 For example, partner organizations may have more expertise in volunteer management, communications, and law enforcement than the direct land managers in the project area. Some solutions will require more partner involvement than others, and ______responsibilities will need to be delegated in order begin implementation. For instance, a summer volunteer ambassador program will require a group of willing workers to volunteer their time to educate and direct visitors at the site. Potential groups that could be partnered with for this task include university students, local volunteer organizations, and resource officers. In addition, implementing a shuttle system will require collaboration among several partners, such as Summit County, the Town of Breckenridge, and possibly private contractors. To successfully utilize the framework of solutions, cooperation and responsibility among stakeholders and partners will be essential. Anticipated Outcomes of Implementation

With incremental implementation of the suggested tools in the framework, it is anticipated that project goals and desired conditions for the Quandary Peak, McCullough Gulch, and Blue Lakes area will be realized. Monitoring the effectiveness of actions, including pilot programs and projects, will be important to gauge success. The data collected and analyzed through this Examples of on-site physical solutions, including temporary study can provide a baseline for some monitoring efforts. Based signage, timber fencing, and log barriers. on the results documented through monitoring, actions can be

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evaluation. This strategy has become even more important in light of the recent spikes in outdoor recreation due to the COVID- 19 pandemic. By continuing to monitor and collect data on conditions in the Quandary area, and evaluating the effectiveness of implemented solutions, the success of the ______strategies presented by this project will be maximized. 31 As populations continue to grow on the Front Range, the demand for outdoor recreation will continue to increase. Other trails and recreation sites throughout Colorado are also ______experiencing overcrowding and issues related to visitor use. The method used in this project for the Quandary Peak area can be Upper Blue Lakes Reservoir applied at other sites throughout the west to address challenges Source: Anne Lowe related to parking congestion, traffic, increased trail use, and resource degradation. An important part of this project was viewing the site holistically, in relation to land managers and other nearby trail systems. Moving forward, it is important to CONCLUSION AND acknowledge that changes at one site can have impacts on other trailheads and trail systems.

NEXT STEPS One of the most valuable outcomes of this project was the collaboration and partnership that occurred as a result of Through utilizing a visitor use management framework, this stakeholder meetings and workshops. Bringing together project successfully engaged an interagency stakeholder group individuals from more than 10 agencies and organizations to identify key challenges in the Quandary Peak, McCullough allowed for meaningful discussions and problem solving. Gulch, and Blue Lakes area, collect and analyze data to Involving so many land managers, municipalities, and interest understand existing conditions and public perceptions, develop groups in the process allowed for a comprehensive goals and desired outcomes for the project, and create a understanding of the site and a robust set of solutions that framework of strategies and solutions that can be implemented addressed the needs of multiple organizations. Going forward, to address key challenges in both the near- and long-term this group of stakeholders will continue to meet as an future. Interagency Management Group to further discuss the benefits and tradeoffs of proposed solutions and prioritize them based One of the main goals of this project was to develop solutions on the needs and support of key stakeholders. From this work, that were adaptive, meaning they could be modified and the group can plan for the implementation of the strategies adjusted based on results from future monitoring and identified in this project. In addition, other stakeholders have

gotten involved in the project and will also work to implement both the immediate solutions, and the longer-range planning efforts. In this way, effective and adaptive solutions can be utilized in the Quandary area to improve safety, environmental ______health, and the visitor experience. 32

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Source: Charlotte Schrodi

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______APPENDIX

DATA COLLECTION RESULTS AND MCCULLOUGH GULCH ROAD PARKING CONCEPTS

QUANDARY PEAK/MCCULLOUGH GULCH/BLUE LAKES OVERVIEW OF DATA COLLECTION EFFORTS

March 2021 FINAL RESULTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

About the Research 1 . SURVEY DATA . Demographic Proﬁle 2 Persons Per Vehicle 3 Prior Visitation 4 Parking Information 5 - 6 Feeling of Crowding at Site 7 Rating of Experience 8 Problem of Crowding/Congestion 9 Problem of Visitors' Behaviors 10 . TRAIL/VEHICLE COUNT DATA . Quandary Trailhead Counter Data 11 McCullough Gulch Trailhead Counter Data 12 Observed Vehicle Counts 13 Highway 9 Vehicle Estimates 14 A-1 Traﬃc Counter Data 15 QuandaryPeak/McCulloughStudyUseLakes Gulch/Blue About the Research - A "Database Foundation"

The following dashboard highlights various datavarious dashboard highlights following The collection eﬀorts in and aroundandQuandary area.Peakeﬀortsin collection

All data except trail counts were collected during September/October 2020.

The sources of data in this dashboard are:

1) Intercept survey data of Quandary trail users

2) Four vehicle counters in the Quandary area

3) Vehicle observation counts of Quandary area

4) Trail count data (provided by USFS, Town of Breckenridge, and Colorado Fourteeners Initiative)

The four traﬃc counters were placed to capture traﬃc volume beginning Labor Day Weekend 2020. These locations were:

1) Below the entrance to Quandary Peak parking area (capturing all vehicles entering) 2) Lower McCullough Gulch Road 3) Upper McCullough Gulch Road 4) Blue Lakes Road

Lastly, trail counter data was obtained from the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative and the U.S. Forest Service as another data source to monitor.

Survey and Traﬃc Counter Locations: 53310/3/2020 betweensurveys- 9/4 total

McCulloughTrailheadGulch

Traﬃc4counter

Traﬃc2counter Blue LakesBlue QuandaryTrailheadPeak

Traﬃc3counter

A-2 QuandaryPeak/McCulloughStudyUseLakes Gulch/Blue

DemographicProﬁle District Overall

Quandary Peak area visitors are approximately 36 years oldyearsapproximately36 are Quandaryvisitors areaPeak daythe for visiting be to morelikely , and , about 1/3 are from another state.fromanotherare 1/3about

Local residents in the Breckenridge/Summitthe respondentmade Countybase.areain the10%about up residents of Local

W as the interview conductedwhenWasinterview thethe permanentseasonala youorAre respondent was entering or leaving? respondentor wasentering Breckenridge/Summitthe of resident County area (excluding the Frontthe (excluding Countyarea Unsure Range)? Leaving 1% 24% Yes 10% n=533 No 90% Entering 76% n = 533

Age of respondentAge of Summitthe in overnight staying youAre County area or visiting only for today? for only visiting or Countyarea Under18 0% (Overnight does not include Front include notdoes (Overnight 18 - 24 - 18 13% Range/Denver/ColoradoSprings) 25 - 34 - 25 44% 35 - 44 - 35 20% Staying overnight in the areathe in overnight Staying 44% 45 - 54 - 45 11% 55 - 64 - 55 8% 65 - 74 - 65 2% daythe for Visiting 56% 75 or olderor 75 0% Avg. 35.8 n = 478 n = 532

Respondent ZIP Code

Northern Front RangeNorthernFront 43.7%

Breckenridge (80424)Breckenridge 7.7%

Other ColoradoOther 7.5%

Southern Front RangeSouthernFront 8.1%

Out of State ofOut 33.0%

A-3 QuandaryPeak/McCulloughStudyUseLakes Gulch/Blue

Persons Per VehiclePersonsPer District Overall

Average Number of People in Travel party: 2.8

Including yourself, howmany peopleyourself, Including are in your travel party (include party travel your in are How many people are in yourHow in manyare people they if vehicles other in people personal vehicle today? vehicle personal you)?with traveled

Solo 16% 14%

2-4 people2-4 77% 73%

5-10 people5-10 7% 12%

Morepeople10than 1%

Avg. 2.5 2.8

n = 532= n 531= n

A-4 QuandaryPeak/McCulloughStudyUseLakes Gulch/Blue

Prior Visitation Prior District Overall

Are you visiting to hike on the Quandary Peak Trail, hiking Quandarythe onTrail, Peak hike to visiting youAre M cCullough Gulch, visiting Blue Lakes, or multiple activities? multiple or Lakes, Blue visiting McCullough Gulch, Hiking the Quandarythe TrailPeakHiking apply)that all (Check (83%) was by far the mostthe (83%)far wasby popular activity. popular QuandaryHike TrailPeak 83% Hike McCulloughTrail HikeGulch 12% M ost visitors only weregoingonly Mostvisitors to one location during the day.the during location one to LakesBlue Visit 5% Other 1%

n = 532= n

Almost 3/4ths of visitors were visiting Quandary Peak, McCullough Gulch, or Blue Lakes for the ﬁrst time.ﬁrst the for Lakes Blue Quandaryor McCullough Peak,Gulch, werevisiting visitors of Almost3/4ths

Have you visited/hiked Quandary Peak,Have visited/hiked you threepast theOver previously] visited [If M cCullough Gulch, or Blue Lakes before?Lakes Blue or McCullough Gulch, madeyouhavehow to yearsmany visits (Check all that apply)that all (Check today? including site this

0 visits 0 6% No 73% 1 visit 1 12%

2-5 visits 2-5 71% Yes, Quandary Yes,Peak 22% 6-10 visits 6-10 5%

Morevisits 10than 7% Yes, McCulloughGulch Yes, 8% n = 147= n

Yes, Blue LakesBlue Yes, 5% Median:2.0

Average: 3.7Average: n = 531= n 0 5 10 15 20 25 NumberVisits of

A-5 QuandaryPeak/McCulloughStudyUseLakes Gulch/Blue

Parking InformationParking District Overall

Most visitors did not wait long for parking. However, the location visitors parked at varied. Over 35%Over ofvaried. atparked visitors However,location the parking. for long wait not did Mostvisitors visitors did not parking in the main parking lot. mainparking the in parking not did visitors

W here did you park today?parkWhereyou did Approximatelyhowmany you minutes did and your personal group have to wait towait to grouphavepersonal yourand Parking lotParking 64% today?ﬁndparking

On the side of the dirt the of side Onthe 30% minutes5than Less 92% access/Countyroad 5-10 minutes5-10 7% OnHighway 9 6% 11-20 minutes11-20 1% Another parking areaAnotherparking 0% and walkedand minutes21-30 0%

n = 533= n 533= n

Perhaps surprisingly, 66% of visitors expected visitors 66% of Perhapssurprisingly, expectedthat thoseOf findingparking. difficulties difficulty, a full 2/3rds visited at a time of day they thought was less crowded,known'temporalthought was theyless asday of time a at visited 2/3rds full a difficulty, displacement.'

W hen you planned your visit today, did you did today, Whenvisit plannedyouryou how possibility, thoughtthatabout you If think about the possibility that it mightbe it that possibility theabout think that all (Check plans? trip affectyour it did difficult to find parking at this site? this at findparking todifficult apply)

I visited at a time of day I thought I day of time a at visited I 67% would be less crowded less wouldbe Yes 66% It did not aﬀectmynotplans did It 36%

I visited on a day of the weekIthe of day a on visited I 9% thought it would be less crowded less wouldbe thoughtit No 34% I avoided parking areas I thought I areas parkingavoided I 2% would be crowdedwouldbe

Other impactOther 3% n = 531= n n = 352= n

A-6 QuandaryPeak/McCulloughStudyUseLakes Gulch/Blue

Parking InformationParking District Overall

Overall, most visitors thought the time they spent ﬁnding parking was either "very" or "completely"or "very" wasﬁndingeither parkingspent they time thoughtthe mostvisitors Overall, acceptable. This may be due to the fact that visitors parked in a variety of locations, both preferred andpreferred both locations, of variety a in parked visitors that fact the mayto duebe This acceptable. non-preferred.

How acceptable is the amount of time you spent waiting to ﬁnd parking at this site? this at ﬁndparking to waitingspent youamount time the of How is acceptable

1-Not at all acceptable ■all at 1-Not acceptable■ 2-Slightly ■3-Moderatelyacceptable acceptableVery ■ - 4 Completelyacceptable■ - 5

. Avg.n= Overall

4.8 532 9% 85%

. By Holiday vs.HolidayBy Non-Holiday DayLabor 4.5 115 11% 22% 64% Holiday visitors had visitors Holiday lower Weekend overall acceptability acceptability overall the in amount of time they spenttheyamounttime of waiting for parking. for waiting Non-holiday 4.9 417 91%

. By First Time vs. Repeat Timevs. First By Visitation First time visitor time First 4.8 386 9% 85% Nodiﬀerencesmajor betweenandﬁrst-time repeat visitors on parking on visitors repeat acceptability. Repeatvisitor 4.8 144 8% 86%

. By Overnight vs. Day vs. OvernightBy Trip overnightStaying 4.8 210 10% 84% Nodiﬀerencesmajor areathe in betweenandovernight day visitors on parking on visitors day acceptability. the for Visiting 4.8 267 9% 85% day

A-7 QuandaryPeak/McCulloughStudyUseLakes Gulch/Blue

Feeling of CrowdingSite At of Feeling District Overall

A majority of visitors (57%) felt either "not at all" or "slightly" crowded. However, there are still a still crowded.However,are there "slightly" or all" at "not either (57%)felt visitors of majority A segment of visitors who did feel quite crowded. Crowding occurs on a spectrum and does diﬀer betweenspectrumdiﬀerdoesandacrowded. Crowdingon occursquite feel who did segmentvisitors of somegroups.

So far, how crowded have you felt at this site today? site this at how crowded felt you havefar, So

1-Not at all crowded ■all at 1-Not crowded■ 2-Slightly ■3-Moderatelycrowded crowdedVery ■ - 4 Extremelycrowded■ - 5

. Avg.n= Overall

2.3 533 41% 16% 21% 15% 8%

. By Holiday vs.HolidayBy Non-Holiday DayLabor 2.3 116 46% 18% 10% 12% 14% Non-holiday and holidayandNon-holiday Weekend visitors had similarhad visitors perception of crowding. of perception

Non-holiday 2.3 417 39% 15% 24% 16% 6%

. By First Time vs. Repeat Timevs. First By Visitation First time visitor time First 2.3 386 41% 16% 22% 15% 7% Repeatﬁrst-timeand visitors sawlittle visitors variation in crowding in variation perceptions. Repeatvisitor 2.4 145 40% 14% 19% 17% 10%

. By Overnight vs. Day vs. OvernightBy Trip overnightStaying 2.1 211 48% 17% 18% 11% 6% Day visitors are Dayvisitors more areathe in sensitive to crowdingto sensitive than overnight visitors. overnight Visiting for the for Visiting 2.5 267 36% 15% 24% 16% 9% day

A-8 QuandaryPeak/McCulloughStudyUseLakes Gulch/Blue

Rating of Experience of Rating District Overall

Visitors rated their experience generally very positive at Quandary. Almost 80% rated their experience asexperience Quandary. Almost80%at their rated positive very generally experience their rated Visitors "excellent."

Other than weather conditions, how would you rate your experience right now? right experience yourhow would rate youweatherthanOther conditions,

■poor1-Very ■2-Poor ■ 3-Fair Good ■ - 4 Excellent■ - 5

. Avg.n= Overall 4.7 532 20% 77%

. By Holiday vs.HolidayBy Labor DayLabor Non-Holiday 4.5 116 6% 37% 56% Labor day visitors did visitors dayLabor Weekend percieve a percieve signiﬁcantly lower overall experince overall lower rating. Non-holiday 4.8 416 15% 83%

. By First Time vs. Repeat Timevs. First By Visitation visitor time First 4.7 385 19% 78% Nodiﬀerencesmajor betweenandﬁrst-time repeat visitors. repeat Repeatvisitor 4.7 145 23% 75%

. By Overnight vs. Day vs. OvernightBy Staying overnightStaying Trip 4.7 211 18% 79% Nodiﬀerencesmajor areathe in between overnight or daybetweenor overnight visitors. Visiting for the for Visiting 4.7 266 21% 76% day

A-9 QuandaryPeak/McCulloughStudyUseLakes Gulch/Blue

Problem of Crowding/CongestionProblem of District Overall

Despite the overall experience being quite positive, over half of visitors see crowding and congestion as atcrowdingascongestion andsee visitors of half over positive, quite being experience overall the Despite least a slight problem at the site. Visitors are enjoying their experience, but they do notice areas whereareas notice dothey but experience, their enjoying are Visitors site. the problemat slight a least problemsmayexist.

In your opinion, to what degree is crowding and congestion a problem at this site? this problemat crowdinga congestionand what is degreeto opinion, your In

1-Not at all a problema ■all at 1-Not problem ■ slight 2-A ■ moderate 3-A problem problem big A ■ - 4

. Avg.n= Overall

1.9 532 46% 27% 18% 9%

. By Holiday vs.HolidayBy Labor DayLabor Non-Holiday 1.9 115 50% 26% 10% 14% Nodiﬀerencesmajor Weekend betweenand holiday non-holiday visitors. non-holiday

Non-holiday 1.9 417 45% 27% 20% 8%

. By First Time vs. Repeat Timevs. First By Visitation First time visitor time First 1.8 386 51% 26% 17% 7% Repeat visitors are Repeatvisitors signiﬁcantly more likely to morelikely signiﬁcantly perceive problemsperceive withat crowdingcongestionand Repeatvisitor 2.2 144 33% 30% 21% 16% at the site. the at

. By Overnight vs. Day vs. OvernightBy Staying overnightStaying Trip 1.7 211 57% 22% 14% 7% Day visitors are Dayvisitors areathe in signiﬁcantly signiﬁcantly to morelikley perceive problemsperceive with crowdingcongestionand the for Visiting 2.0 266 41% 29% 20% 9% at the site. the at day

A-10 QuandaryPeak/McCulloughStudyUseLakes Gulch/Blue

Problem of Visitors' Behaviors Visitors' Problem of District Overall

In general, visitors perceived fewer problems with other people's behavior at the site, but there werethere but site, the at behavior people's problemsfewerother withperceived visitors general, In some larger diﬀerences between groups. Approximately 37% of visitors said that visitors' behaviors werebehaviors visitors' that said diﬀerencesbetweensomeApproximately visitors 37%groups.larger of a problem compared to over 50% who cited general congestion and crowding as a problem.a crowdingandcongestionproblemas 50%compared generalaover who to cited

In your opinion, to what degree are other people's behaviors (littering, acting (littering, behaviors people's otherwhat aredegree to opinion, your In unsafe, etc.) a problem at this site? this problemat a etc.) unsafe,

1-Not at all a problema ■all at 1-Not problem ■ slight 2-A ■ moderate 3-A problem problem big A ■ - 4

. Avg.n= Overall

1.5 127 63% 25% 7%

. By Holiday vs.HolidayBy Labor DayLabor Non-Holiday 1.7 47 55% 28% 13% Labor Day visitors were Dayvisitors Labor Weekend slighlty more likely to morelikely slighlty perceive problemswithperceive visitors' behaviors at theat behaviors visitors' Non-holiday 1.5 80 68% 24% site.

. By First Time vs. Repeat Timevs. First By Visitation First time visitor time First 1.5 92 67% 21% 7% 5% Repeat visitors are Repeatvisitors signiﬁcantly more likely to morelikely signiﬁcantly perceive problemsperceive withat visitors' behaviors at theat behaviors visitors' Repeatvisitor 1.6 35 51% 37% 9% site.

. By Overnight vs. Day vs. OvernightBy Staying overnightStaying Trip 1.3 42 69% 29% Day visitors are Dayvisitors areathe in signiﬁcantly signiﬁcantly to morelikley perceive problemsperceive with visitors' behaviors at theat behaviors visitors' the for Visiting 1.6 62 65% 19% 8% 8% site. day

A-11 QuandaryPeak/McCulloughStudyUseLakes Gulch/Blue Q uandary Trail Counter DataCounter QuandaryTrail

Trail counter data from the Quandary Trail trailhead displays data from2018Difference2019.anddatain displays trailhead Quandaryfromthe dataTrail counter Trail weather patterns between the two seasons lead to slightly different visitation patterns. visitation different slightly toweather betweentwopatternsseasonslead the

However, it's clear that peak days, particularly Saturdays in both years, experience much larger volumesmuch experiencelarger years, both Saturdaysin particularly days, peakthat clear However,it's of use. In fact, Saturday trail user counts equate to nearly 4x-5x the amount of use as weekdays.as amountusethe of 4x-5x nearly equateto counts user Saturdaytrail fact, In use. of

Daily Trail Users: 2018 - 2020 2018- Users: Trail Daily • Saturdays= Average Daily Trail Average Daily June July August September October YearbyUsers 1200 945 1,067 1000 850 911 901906 867 796 800 746 758 2020 339 800 563 600 353 2019 246 400 247 160 200

Daily Users (Count/2) Users Daily 2018 274 3 8 3 8 3 8 3 8 3 8 13 18 23 28 13 18 23 28 13 18 23 28 13 18 23 28 13 18 23 28

The ﬁlled areas in the following graphs show an average week (by day of week) and an average day (byaveragedayweek)anand ofgraphsshow dayaverageweekan (byfollowing the in areas ﬁlled The hour of day) for each of the summer months. The dots represent individual days: the maximumusersthe days: summertrail the individual represent of months. dotseachThe for day) of hour for that day of week/hour of day in each year.each in dayweek/hour of of day that for

July and August lead the summer months with average hikers, but weather and snow cover also play roles play summerweather snowbuttheandalso Augustandcover lead months average hikers, July with in terms of the numberhikers. the of terms of in

Furthemore, trail counts reach their peaks generally around 700 AM and then at 1200 PM. This accountsPM. This 1200AM aroundat 700then and generally peaks their reachcounts Furthemore,trail for those starting their hike, then returning hours later. hours returning then hike, their starting those for

Average Trail Users by Day of Week DayofMonthandbyUsers AverageTrail MonthDayandHour of byUsers AverageTrail

1000 300 PM:Noon12001200PM:Noon 200 Jun 500 100 0 1000 300 200 Jul 500 100 0 1000 300 200 Aug 500 100 0 1000 300 200 Sep 500 100 0 1000 300 200 Oct 500 100 0 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun AM6 AM 8 AM 10 PM 12 PM 2 PM 4 PM 6

Day of Week Dayof DayHour of

A-12 QuandaryPeak/McCulloughStudyUseLakes Gulch/Blue McCulloughDataCounterGulch

The Upper McCullough Gulch trail counter shows sustained increases during the 2020 season. While someWhile2020season. the during shows increasescountersustained UpperTheMcCulloughtrail Gulch data was not avaiable during 2019, almost all of July, August, and SeptemberandAugust, onpeakssaw higher July, of all almost2019, during avaiable wasdatanot weekends.

Upper McCullough Gulch Daily Trail Users: 2019 - 2020 2019- Users: Trail Upper McCulloughDaily Gulch • Saturdays= 2019 2020

Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

400

300

200 Daily Users (Count/2) Users Daily

100

0 3 7 1115192327 3 7 1115192327 3 7 1115192327 3 7 1115192327 3 7 1115192327

A similar use pattern was observed on the Lower McCullough Gulch trail, but this area is much less used than the Upper McCullough Gulch trail. However, this trail is more likely to be used by those accessing the trailhead via the highway.

Lower McCullough Gulch Daily Trail Users: 2020Users: Trail Lower McCulloughDaily Gulch Aug Sep Oct

400

300

200 Daily Users (Count/2) Users Daily 100

0 272931 2 4 6 8 1012 14 1618 20 22 2426 2830 2 4 6 8 10 12 1416 18 2022 2426

A-13 QuandaryPeak/McCulloughStudyUseLakes Gulch/Blue O b served Vehicle CountsObserved Vehicle

S urvey interviewers conducted counts of parked vehicles on 17 days betweendays17on AugustOctober and30th vehicles parked conductedof countsinterviewers Survey 3 rd, 2020. Counts were conducted at 6 locations, and the average number of vehicles by weekdayby vs. averagenumbervehicles theand of locations, 6Countswere 2020.conductedat 3rd, weekendsummarizedare below.

O f the 17 days on which observations occurred, vehicles were parked on Highway 9 on four days. Thedays. Highwaywere fouronparkedon 9 vehicles occurred, whichobservationsondays 17 the Of m aximu m num ber of vehicles observed on Highway 9 occurred on Sunday, September 6th (just prior to prior maximum Sunday,SeptemberHighwayonobservedon(just occurred 6th9 numbervehicles of Labor Day) with 60 vehicles counted. vehicles 60with Day) Labor

AverageNumberParkedVehicles of Weekdays Weekends

QuandaryArea Trailhead LotMainParking 39 67

McCulloughRoadGulch 41 70

B lue Lakes RoadLakes Blue 1 22

Highway9 1 22

B lue Lakes TrailheadLakes Blue 13 47

McCulloughTrailheadGulch 25 35

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

B ased on counts conducted on 17 days betweendaysconducted1710/3/2020andcountsBasedon 8/30 on

D a ily Counts: QuandaryAreaCounts: Trailhead Daily RoadLakes Blue LotMainParking Highway9 McCulloughRoadGulch Aug. 30 31 Aug. 1 Aug. 2 Sep. 3 Sep. 4 Sep. 5 Sep. 6 Sep. 7 Sep. 8 Sep. 9 Sep. 10 Sep. 11 Sep. 12 Sep. 13 Sep. 14 Sep. 15 Sep. 16 Sep. 17 Sep. 18 Sep. 19 Sep. 20 Sep. 21 Sep. 22 Sep. 23 Sep. 24 Sep. 25 Sep. 26 Sep. 27 Sep. 28 Sep. 29 Sep. 30 Sep. 1 Sep. 2 Oct. 3 Oct. Oct.

250 2 3 1 2 1 8

200 1 9 5 1 7 9 1 7 5 1 6 4 1 5 3 150 1 5 0 1 3 5 1 2 5 1 1 4 1 1 4

100 9 2 Number of Vehicles of Number 6 3 5 5 5 0

50 4 4

0 Fri Fri Fri Fri Fri Sat Sat Sat Sat Sat Tue Tue Tue Tue Tue Thu Thu Thu Thu Thu Sun Sun Sun Sun Sun Mon Wed Mon Wed Mon Wed Mon Wed Mon Wed

A-14 QuandaryPeak/McCulloughStudyUseLakes Gulch/Blue H ighway 9 Vehicle EstimatesHighway Vehicle 9

Because data collection occurred only during the late summer/fall period, it's unclear whether parking on Highway 9 occurred at the same rate during peak season as was observed. During Fall of 2020, parking on Highway 9 during the data collection period occurred mainly on Labor Day Weekend.

Using observational data and historic trail count data on Labor Day Weekend, results were extrapolated to estimate how many additional days parking may spill over to Highway 9 in 2019 and 2018. Note: This is only an estimate and actual traffic counts may differ during the peak season.

Estimated Number of Days with Vehicles on the Highway, 2018 - 2020: 2018- Highway, the on Estimated Number Vehicles Dayswith of

GrandTotal Week: Dayof By

2020 35 1 2 5 6 15 6

2019 20 1 3 11 5

2018 22 1 1 1 2 12 5 Total Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

2020

4th of July of 4th DayLabor

2019

2018

Jun 24Jun 4 Jul 14 Jul 24 Jul Aug3 Aug13 Aug23 2 Sep 12 Sep 22 Sep 2 Oct 12 Oct

A-15 QuandaryPeak/McCulloughStudyUseLakes Gulch/Blue Vehicle Counter DataCounter Vehicle

Data from vehicle counters at four locations shows a pattern of peaks and valleys in terms of daily terms of in valleys andpeaks of showspattern a locations four at counters fromvehicle Data vehicles. Labor DayWeekendLabor vehicles.approximately1,050peaked atvehicles.

By location, the McCullough Gulch road below and above the Quandary Trailhead accounted for theQuandary accountedfor belowMcCulloughaboveandtheroad theTrailheadGulch location, By majority of vehicles. of majority

M.G. Rd Below Entrance to Large LotLarge BelowRdM.G.to Entrance Daily Vehicle Counts: 9/4 - 10/10/2020 - 9/4 Counts: Vehicle Daily BelowQuandary Trailhead AboveQuandary Trailhead AboveSubdivision 1000 • Saturdays= 800

600

400 Daily Vehicles (Count/2) Vehicles Daily 200

0 Sep 2Sep 7 Sep 12 Sep 17 Sep 22 Sep 27 Sep 2 Oct 7 Oct 12 Oct

Date [2020]Date

Each counter experienced a similar pattern with large dips fromMonday dipsspikethroughaThursday large withwith pattern similar aexperienced counterEach into the weekend. Saturdays spiked in total counts, nearing 800 vehicles each day with weekdayswithday each only 800vehicles nearing counts, total weekend.in theSaturdays spiked into tracking approximately285-450vehicles. tracking

By time of day, traffic counts were highest during mid-day, likely due to cars driving around to findaroundto driving cars to due likely mid-day, duringtraffic werehighestcounts day, of timeBy parking.

Average Vehicles by Location and Day of Week Dayofand Location by Average Vehicles DayHour andof Location by Average Vehicles

100 800

600

400 40 Avg. Hourly Vehicles Hourly Avg.

Avg. Average Daily Vehicles Daily Average Avg. 200 20

0 0 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun AM12 AM 5 AM 10 PM 3 PM 8

Day of Week Dayof TimeHour of

A-16 Report for Quandary Peak/Blue Lakes/McCullough Gulch Neighborhood Survey

1. Which of the following best describes you?

16% Non-resident owner of the property

47% Year-round Quandary neighborhood resident (11+ months/year)

37% Part-time/seasonal Summit County resident

Value Percent Responses

Year-round Quandary neighborhood resident (11+ 47.4% 9 months/year)

Part-time/seasonal Summit County resident 36.8% 7

Non-resident owner of the property 15.8% 3

T ot als: 19

A-17 2. How long have you lived/owned property near the Quandary Peak/Blue Lakes/McCullough Gulch area?

21% More than 20 years

26% Less than 5 years

26% 11-20 years

26% 6-10 years

Value Percent Responses

Less than 5 years 26.3% 5

6-10 years 26.3% 5

11-20 years 26.3% 5

More than 20 years 21.1% 4

T ot als: 19

A-18 3. How important is access to the Quandary Peak/Blue Lakes/McCullough Gulch area in your decision to live/own your property?

21% Not at all important

32% Extremely important

5% Slightly important

5% Moderately important

37% Very important

Value Percent Responses

Not at all important 21.1% 4

Slightly important 5.3% 1

Moderately important 5.3% 1

Very important 36.8% 7

Extremely important 31.6% 6

T ot als: 19

A-19 4. Currently, to what degree is crowding and congestion a problem around the Quandary Peak/Blue Lakes/McCullough Gulch area? Please provide an answer for all time periods. A Not at all A slight moderate A big a problem problem problem problem 1 2 3 4 Responses

Weekdays early/late season (May/June and 3 4 9 3 19 Sept./Oct.) 15.8% 21.1% 47.4% 15.8% Count Row %

Weekdays peak season (July and August) 0 1 6 12 19 Count 0.0% 5.3% 31.6% 63.2% Row %

Weekends early/late season (May/June and 0 1 5 13 19 Sept./Oct.) 0.0% 5.3% 26.3% 68.4% Count Row %

Weekends peak season (July and August) 0 0 0 19 19 Count 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% Row %

Totals Total Responses 19

A-20 5. In a few words, why do you feel that way?

drivers difficult house danger trash area parked early children parking park roads peoplecars0 lot trafficblue road lakes dangerous problem highway front dust

ResponseID Response

8 High speed of traffic on the road and safety for children in neighborhood (including our son); Loud traffic/noises/car alarms in the very early morning right outside our windows; road damage/corrugation from heavy traffic; trash and items left on roadways; struggle to maneuver roads

9 too many autos and trucks, driving way too fast, parking on shoulder prevents emergency vehicle access, lots of garbage including human waste.

11 There are hundreds of people, cars, trash all the time. People are parked all over in appropriately. There is toilet paper and trash all over. Hundreds of people walking around it is a nightmare. Cars speeding down roads all the time. I worry about kids and dogs getting hit!

12 Excess population density of hikers and campers, especially motor vehicles - not enough parking, speeding cars and trucks, too many people on trails. Garbage including human waste and toilet paper on trails and campgrounds. Too many campfires - increases likelihood of forest fires.

13 The cars are parked on both sides of the roads making it difficult to drive to our house. Driving fast and creating lots of dust and danger for the children in the area.

A-21 ResponseID Response

14 In previous years, I would have said that week days during early/late season were a slight problem, and weekdays during peak season were a moderate problem, however, with COVID situations being what they were, I found that the business was greatly increased. In addition, having nothing to do with the COVID situation, I have noticed in general over the past number of years ,that all days during all seasons are getting increasingly busier, with the last 5 years being a jaw-dropping increase. And, as more people come into the area, they become less considerate of the land they are using (amounts of trash and using the woods as a toilet, even though there is a porta poty in the parking lot). Most people also don't seem to consider the fact that people actually live in this area. They haul-ass up blue lakes rd heading toward the lakes; I should not have to fear that my daughter or my dog will get hit right in front of my own house. It's also a huge danger to all drivers (not to mention emergency vehicles) on hwy 9 when the Quandary congestion is so bad that cars are parked on the highway, right on the white line in many places. It also bothers me that none of these parking violations have been enforced over the years. When the electronic sign was placed on Blue Lakes rd earlier in this summer, and it was on and legible, it seemed to work a little bit as far as keeping some folks at by, but at times just seemed to push more people to park on the hwy.

15 People park on the road where they aren't supposed to. Sometimes they park in front of our house very early in the morning with their music blasting which wakes us up. People now park along the side of the highway. It is very difficult to see around the cars when pulling out onto the highway which creates a very dangerous situation as not all drivers have the common sense to slow down when there are cars on the side of the road. When people are parked on the highway they walk across it like they are on a side road. This all causes a lot of congestion and unsafe conditions. I've had to pick up trash as well left by people that have parked along the road by my house.

16 Cars often park along Blue Lakes Road past the junction with Monte Christo Mine Road. There is often heavy traffic all the way up to the parking area below Blue Lake Dam.

17 We are on Blue Lakes Road, 1/4 mile from the parking lot. We have owned the property since 1973. What we notice most is the high volume of traffic going past our house on their way to the Blue Lakes. This has been very noticeable over the last few years.

18 Too many cars parked each way; campsites not cleaned up; trash; trailhead at McCullough Gulch is insane- adds one mile to your hike!

19 Many younger drivers speed down Blue Lakes Road. It creates dust and a danger to children and pets. Signs have been posted but ignored mostly.

A-22 ResponseID Response

20 The trailhead has become over run in the time I have lived here. I'm concerned about the safety of my neighbors and their children with so many cars flying down the roads and potential for vandalism in what was once a sleepy neighborhood. In the summer the lot is full by the time I leave for work (6am). Parking on the highway and down Blue Lakes road etc has become an increasing problem.

21 Parking is congested along the streets

22 Parking, traffic and overcongestion have become shocking over the past few years. Riding my bike up Blue Lakes Road, which I like to do in the evenings, has become fraught with tourists and dangerous. Worse, the parking situation is utterly bonkers. Cars up and down Blue Lakes Road; up and down Hwy 9, people walking everywhere and leaving refuse behind... the volume of people is difficult to change, but if the cars were limited that could massively improve the experience of visiting as well as living here. It's like living in a parking lot many days. Thanks for your help with this important issue!!

23 Cars parked all over Blue Lakes Road and Hwy 9, leaving trash behind. Safety concerns that the Fire Department couldn't get to the houses in an event of emergency.

24 Parking along highway 9 is along my property and cars block our road entrance. Leave trash on my property. It becomes dangerous for the cars to be parked along highway 9.

25 Early season isn't bad, but once July hits its super bad into winter. Pulling out of my house can be a problem because of people parked in the ditch behind us, people park on my property, campers use my and my neighbors trash cans to throw away their trash. My wife has been threatened by people that have parked in our driveway. We have had to tow cars that have parked in our driveway and had our house vandalized by the people we towed. It seems like there is zero parking enforcement of any kind on this road and hikers do whatever they want.

26 Big problem with disturbance & parking, littering etx during the peak summer season. The winter has not been as bad but would be preferable in winter months to add a bus stop here and let people pay to park in breckenridge and take the bus to The trails or lake etx a lot of people get stuck and don't know how to drive or park etx and would be handy in peak summer months as well for the major parking issue.

27 The amount of traffic on the road in front of our house; the dust and most importantly, the SPEED at which vehicles travel to go up to the Blue Lakes through a "residential" neighborhood.

A-23 6. How have crowding and congestion in the Quandary Peak/Blue Lakes/McCullough Gulch area changed over time?

5% I don’t know

95% Crowding and congestion have gotten worse over time

Value Percent Responses

Crowding and congestion have gotten worse over time 94.7% 18

I don’t know 5.3% 1

T ot als: 19

A-24 7. To what extent are the following behaviors of people visiting the Quandary Peak/Blue Lakes/McCullough Gulch area a problem? A Not at all A slight moderate A big a problem problem problem problem 1 2 3 4 Responses

Parking at unauthorized/ 0 1 3 15 19 challenging areas 0.0% 5.3% 15.8% 78.9% Count Row %

Littering/trash being left behind 1 1 8 9 19 Count 5.3% 5.3% 42.1% 47.4% Row %

Negative interactions with visitors 7 5 1 6 19 Count 36.8% 26.3% 5.3% 31.6% Row %

Negative impacts on the natural resources 0 6 5 8 19 Count 0.0% 31.6% 26.3% 42.1% Row %

Excessive noise Count 2 4 7 6 19 Row % 10.5% 21.1% 36.8% 31.6%

Totals Total Responses 19

A-25 8. Has the behavior of visitors to the Quandary Peak/Blue Lakes/McCullough Gulch area changed over time?

5% Visitor behavior has gotten 11% I don’t know better over time

11% No change in the behavior of visitors over time

74% Visitor behavior has gotten worse over time.

Value Percent Responses

Visitor behavior has gotten better over time 5.3% 1

No change in the behavior of visitors over time 10.5% 2

Visitor behavior has gotten worse over time. 73.7% 14

I don’t know 10.5% 2

T ot als: 19

A-26 9. To what extent has visitation at Quandary Peak/Blue Lakes/McCullough Gulch area impacted your life and/or ability to enjoy your home or property recently?

5% No impact at all

11% Slight impact

42% Large impact

42% Moderate impact

Value Percent Responses

No impact at all 5.3% 1

Slight impact 10.5% 2

Moderate impact 42.1% 8

Large impact 42.1% 8

T ot als: 19

A-27 10. Please provide any specific recommendations or overall comments concerning the management of the Quandary Peak/Blue Lakes/McCullough Gulch area below.

other park summer lake stop enforce road signs limit access lakesbus blue cars folks parkingtrail lot quandary area people speed enforcement tow full

ResponseID Response

8 Ideas: Provide free shuttle to Quandry Trail; Create a larger parking lot area; Add no parking signs to all roads/more intervals in area; ticket and tow cars who don't follow

9 Speed limit signs are needed, prohibit parking (ticket/tow) on shoulder, limit daily access to Quandary Trail. Blue Lakes possibly via permits

11 Please require a permit to climb quandary. This is done effectively for areas like boundary waters canoe area wilderness. When folks go in to get their permit they have to listen to the rules of the area including impacts to the environment and garbage etc. Making them pay for the permit and knowing their will be rangers patrolling makes visitors more committed to the rules and know they will be held to certain standards. Having to get a permit will make visitors more responsible it will be taken more seriously. The impact to the environment is terrible. I have noticed bubbles in in the lower blue lakes from people washing dishes, bathing etc. Toilet paper flies all over and other trash as well. Limbs to trees are cut. Erosion everywhere. It is sad. This is a beautiful place but will not continue to be if we dont take care of it.

12 Limit the number of daily hikers to Quandary and visitors to Blue Lake area.Limit number of campers. Limit parking to designated areas. In winter, close access to Blue Lake Road west of houses - people ski, snow shoe and families sled on this road. Motor vehicles constantly try to drive up to Blue Lakes in winter. Many vehicles get stuck. Also, just a matter of time before children get killed by motor vehicles on Blue Lakes Road in the winter (as well as summer). Continue to close McCullough Gulch Road in winter too.

A-28 ResponseID Response

13 It is difficult to walk on the road because of the large number of cars and their speed. There is so much dust from the road permeating the house from the road speeding. Safety of dogs and kids is a big concern.

14 -Please install speed limit signs on all area county roads (preferably 15mph) -Please install "no parking" signs on all area county roads -Please enforce the signs once installed, and if possible have more of a presence from law/parking/forest service personnel. An in-person educational component would also be nice, in addition to enforcement. -Create informational signage about being a better steward of the land, and being considerate of fellow nature appreciators (Similar to the new trail signs around town created by Nikki LaRochelle). The signs could relay information about packing out trash, respecting other trail/road users, and perhaps make suggestions of other places to go/things to do if the parking is full. -I have heard there has also been talk of bussing people up to Quandary from town, or charging a use fee, which is also a possibility. -I feel like a really difficult part of this situation is that there is a new crowd of out-of-town/front range folks every week, so word doesn't get spread that it's so congested up here. So, you get all the people who make a plan that they are going to come up here, and they're so set in their plans, that no amount of congestion will make them change their plans even when they get here and see how bad it is, and they just carry on with said plans without actually stopping to consider what is going on in front of them. They're like "this is our weekend that we had planned, and we're going to climb this mountain, gosh darn it". That's probably why there are so many rescues up here as well, people have set in their minds that they are going to hike no matter what the crowds, no matter what the weather, no matter if they feel crappy from the altitude... no matter what. -Thank you for putting this together and seeking out input form residents; it is appreciated, and I hope that some good solutions will come out of this effort.

15 Permanent no parking and speed limit signs on blue lakes rd with enforcement. You had no parking signs up periodically throughout the summer and they seemed to be affective at getting people not to park on blue lakes rd when they actually were turned on. People then end up lining the highway with cars which isn't ideal either but i guess is legal according to CDOT.

16 Because of the extremely high climber count on Quandary and the heavy car use of Blue Lakes Road, we suggest requiring both user groups be required to apply for use permits.

17 This survey alone shows that Summit County, Town of Blue River, and the USFS are concerned with and are making an effort at coming up with solutions to the crowding problems. I appreciate these efforts and really have no clue what solutions would work best.

A-29 ResponseID Response

20 Winter has become nearly as busy as summer. In the winter, access to Blue Lakes is at the end of my driveway. I have had to call the police on several occasions to tow cars who are blocking my driveway. One time someone even put up a tent in the end of my driveway. When I left home at 4am for work I had to wake them up to move! I have had several negative interactions with folks who don't understand that we actually live in this neighborhood. They think they can park where ever they like and cross through peoples property at will. I would like to see some sort of year round bus stop at the Quandary Trailhead. As well I would like to see speed limit and no parking signs put out. I would like to see a heavier police presence here during peak periods educating guests about public land use and safe parking/ driving. The trails themselves have gotten really beat up. It would be nice to see more regular maintainence on the trails of Quandary and McCullough. Too much trash and TP all over the trails. Maybe some sort of Leave No Trace sign off or education to hike the trails. I would be in favor of users paying to hike Quandary in order to fund trail work or the bus system.

22 Summary: Vastly less cars/ parking. This is needed to get this area back to where it was even 5 years ago, much less 10-20. Is a mandatory shuttle, like Hanging Lake, feasible?

23 Enforce the law; permit hike; once parking lot is full, you can't hike

25 You could have a stop for the blue river bus up here and enforce and force visitors to use the bus once the parking lot is full. This is how they mitigate crowds at maroon bells in aspen. Also any enforcement of any parking laws of any kind would help out the situation. 14ers.com and other travel sites would take notice quick.

27 Enforce speed limits and vehicle safety on Blue Lakes Rd. Post signs to reduce speed. Enforce littering laws and illegal dumping. Post signage with enforcement and penalties.

A-30 11. Which of the following best describes your employment status?

5% Other (please specify):

21% Retired

42% Work 8 months or more a year in the local area

26% Currently employed outside of the local area (work on the 5% Work 7 or fewer months a Front Range, out of state, etc.) year in the local area

Value Percent Responses

Work 8 months or more a year in the local area 42.1% 8

Work 7 or fewer months a year in the local area 5.3% 1

Currently employed outside of the local area (work on the 26.3% 5 Front Range, out of state, etc.)

Retired 21.1% 4

Other (please specify): 5.3% 1

T ot als: 19

Other (please specify): Count

Work from Home 1

Totals 1

A-31 12. Do you own or rent your residence?

5% Other (please specify):

95% Own

Value Percent Responses

Own 94.7% 18

Other (please specify): 5.3% 1

T ot als: 19

Other (please specify): Count

I'm the live in caretaker for a property on Blue Lakes Road. 1

Totals 1

A-32 13. If you own your home, do you rent your residence out to others when you are not present (e.g., via Airbnb/VRBO)?

6% Not Applicable or Other (please specify): 12% Yes, I rent my property out when I am not using it

6% Not yet, but I may later

77% No, I do not rent my property out

Value Percent Responses

Yes, I rent my property out when I am not using it 11.8% 2

Not yet, but I may later 5.9% 1

No, I do not rent my property out 76.5% 13

Not Applicable or Other (please specify): 5.9% 1

T ot als: 17

Not Applicable or Other (please specify): Count

Covenant for accessory apartment 1

Totals 1

A-33 14. Do you have any additional comments or suggestions?

county inevitable campfires peoplesummer limit mccullough lovecontrol or lakes campers road areablue heavy forestlake car major numberparking drive enforce quandary

ResponseID Response

8 Would love to have the road graded more often; there are large pot holes and corrugations from the heavy traffic which have negatively impacted our car (alignment off/tire damage)

9 The current situation is extremely unsafe. It is just a matter of time until someone gets hit by car. There are conflicts between walkers/hikers, campers and motor vehicles - an incident due to "overpopulation" is inevitable. Also, due to all the campers, a forest fire is inevitable. The number of campfires has exploded. Take the recommendations to hike McCullough Trail and Blue Lakes area off the Summit County website until an effective management plant is developed and put into effect. The current situation is unsustainable. It is a tinderbox just waiting to explode.

11 All of the people on the quandary trail, speeding up Blue Lake Road and now camping everywhere is just going to continue to erode the pristine beauty of the area. It is imperative that the county who has promoted the area heavily on their website for hikes, waterfalls etc. needs to implement control measures including speed limit signs, the ability to close the road in the winter up Blue Lake Road, permits for quandary, enforce parking restrictions, educate visitors about not leaving trash and not putting soap into blue lake, dont leave fishing hooks and line laying about etc. Something needs to be done before the entire area is ruined. It is a gorgeous area but all of the people who are not responsible plus just the sheer numbers will destroy it. I am glad to see a survey but now we need ACTION!

12 Please help - the situation is out of control. If nothing changes, serious injuries, death and forest fires are inevitable.

A-34 ResponseID Response

13 Perhaps a limit on the number of visitors with a reservation system or limited parking for both McCullough Gulch and Quandary would be helpful. Additionally the Blue Lakes Reservoir is a major cause of speeding and rude drivers and campers.

14 I love living up here, and it has always been a respite for me to come home. I can feel my blood pressure drop when I drive out of town after a busy day. Unfortunately, more and more in recent years, I find myself getting so frustrated at the number of people who come up to this neighborhood and treat it as if there is no one else who they should be looking out for or aware of. I understand that they want to experience these beautiful places as well, and they have every right to; I just wish for the general population to consider their actions a bit more. Campfires for example! Ugghhh, the # of illegal campfire situations I have come across and called in to dispatch is so unfortunate and makes my head spin in utter disbelief! -Again, thank you for looking into this overuse dilemna, and I hope to see some workable solutions come out of it.

17 Would like to emphasize the heavy traffic on Blue Lake Road that goes up to the lakes.

20 Anything helps! I appreciate everyone who is brain storming ideas to fix the Quandary/ McCullough/ Blue Lakes over use problems. It was nice to see the electric sign and usage counters this summer.

24 Please control and limit parking along highway 9 as it is dangerous and becomes messy with trash during the summer.

27 Reduce and enforce speed for safety of neighborhood

A-35 Quandary Peak/Blue Lakes/McCullough Gulch Survey By "Respondent Residency"

Summit or Park Non-resident of Year-Round Summit or Overall County second Summit or Park Park County resident homeowner County

Non-resident of Summit or Park County 46% 93%

Year-round resident of Summit County 32% 85%

Summit County second homeowner 12% 88% Which of the following best Year-round resident of Park County 6% 15% describes you? Park County second homeowner 2% 12%

Other 3% 7%

n= 1,312 492 177 643

1 - Not at all 2% 1% 3%

2 - Sometimes 37% 13% 23% 60% Weather permitting, how frequently do you use hiking 3 - Frequently 30% 26% 43% 30% trails/pathways in Summit 4 - Very Frequently 31% 60% 35% 7% County? Avg. 2.9 3.4 3.1 2.4

n= 1,306 490 176 639

Yes, I typically carpool 27% 18% 29% 33%

Do you typically carpool to Yes, but only sometimes 32% 37% 26% 29% access Summit County trails? No, I do not typically carpool 42% 46% 45% 38%

n= 1,280 483 174 622

Yes, Quandary Peak 83% 84% 79% 84%

Have you visited/hiked Yes, Blue Lakes 64% 80% 77% 48% Quandary Peak, McCullough Yes, McCullough Gulch 63% 82% 83% 44% Gulch, or Blue Lakes before? (Check all that apply) No 6% 3% 4% 8%

n= 1,307 490 176 640

0 - I haven't visited in the past three years 7% 8% 5% 7%

1 - 5 58% 45% 43% 72%

6 - 10 19% 21% 31% 14% Over the past three years, approximately how many 11 - 20 10% 16% 14% 6% visits have you made to the Quandary Peak/ McCullough 21 - 30 3% 5% 6% 1% Gulch/Blue Lakes Area? Over 30 times 3% 6% 2% 1%

Avg. 6.8 9.5 8.7 4.3

n= 1,174 430 162 581

1 - Very poor 6% 13% 2% 2%

2 - Poor 7% 13% 7% 3%

3 - Fair 22% 26% 19% 20% Please rate your experience in the Quandary Peak area from 4 - Good 44% 36% 49% 48% your last visit: 5 - Excellent 21% 12% 23% 28%

Avg. 3.7 3.2 3.8 4.0

n= 1,221 471 167 582 1 - Not at all a problem In your opinion, to what Source: RRC Associates, PRELIMINARY RESULTS degree is crowding and congestionA-36 a problem on trails in the Summit County area? Quandary Lakes/McCulloughPeak/BlueSurveyGulch By "RespondentBy Residency"

SummitParkor ofNon-resident Pleaserateyourexperiencein Year-RoundSummit or Overall Countysecond SummitParkor theQuandaryPeakareafrom CountyresidentPark homeowner County your last visit: last your n= 1 - Not at all a problema all at Not - 1 3% 2% 3% 5%

2 - A slight problem slight A - 2 10% 7% 9% 12% In your opinion, to whatto opinion, your In degree is crowdingand is degree moderateA problem - 3 37% 24% 49% 45% congestion a problemtrails ona congestion 4 - A big problem big A - 4 50% 67% 40% 38% in the Summitthe Countyarea? in Avg. 3.3 3.6 3.3 3.2

n= 1,206 471 171 563

Yes, I typically expect parking to be a problema be to parking expect typically I Yes, 70% 79% 68% 63% W hen you plan to visit/hike in visit/hike Whento plan you the Quandary Peak area, doQuandarythe area, Peak sometimes problemshaveI findingparkingbut No, 18% 14% 19% 22% you expect to have difficultieshave to expectyou No, I don’t typically expect parking to be a problema be to parking expect typically don’t I No, 12% 7% 13% 15% findingparking? n= 1,165 459 165 540

Yes 79% 92% 71% 76% Have you heard of the ofHaveheardyou QuandaryhavingareaPeak No 19% 8% 29% 20% crowdingcongestionand Unsure 3% 4% issues? n= 70 13 7 50

1 - Very unlikely Very - 1 23% 30% 27% 17%

2 - Unlikely - 2 22% 22% 21% 23% How likely would you be towouldbeyou Howlikely use a voluntary shuttle voluntary a use Neutral - 3 19% 15% 14% 24% service to access a variety of variety a access to service trails in Summit County,in trails Likely - 4 23% 22% 27% 24% including the Quandarythe Peak including area? (Please think beyond think (Please area? Likely Very - 5 12% 10% 11% 14% COVID-19concerns) Avg. 2.8 2.6 2.7 3.0

n= 1,104 431 154 518

Nothing 17% 25% 10% 13%

$1-$2 32% 32% 39% 30% Up to howmuchUpto would beyou w illing to pay each ride, if ride, eachpay to willing $3-$5 38% 33% 37% 42% anything, to use a voluntarya use to anything, shuttle service to accessto service shuttle $5-$10 11% 5% 11% 14% SummitCountytrails? $10+ 2% 3% 3% 1%

n= 598 204 79 315

1 - Very unlikely Very - 1 28% 29% 27% 28%

2 - Unlikely - 2 17% 16% 23% 16% How likely would you be towouldbeyou Howlikely use a permitting/reservationa use Neutral - 3 14% 15% 12% 15% system to access theaccess systemto Quandary(Note:area?Peak Likely - 4 24% 21% 25% 26% This is currently only aonly currently is This hypothetical situation and situation hypothetical Likely Very - 5 17% 19% 13% 15% needs to be explored further)explored be needsto Avg. 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.8

n= 1,106 426 155 524

Under18 0% 0%

18 - 24 - 18 3% 2% 1% 4%

Age of respondentAge of 34 - 25 28% 25% 10% 35% 35 - 44 - 35 Source: RRC Associates, PRELIMINARYRRC Associates, Source: RESULTS A-37 Quandary Lakes/McCulloughPeak/BlueSurveyGulch By "RespondentBy Residency"

SummitParkor ofNon-resident Year-RoundSummit or Overall Countysecond SummitParkor Park CountyresidentPark homeowner County 25 - 34 - 25 35 - 44 - 35 27% 28% 20% 29%

45 - 54 - 45 17% 16% 29% 15% Age of respondentAge of 55 - 64 - 55 16% 19% 24% 10%

65 - 74 - 65 8% 9% 13% 6%

75 or olderor 75 1% 1% 5% 1%

Avg. 43.8 45.0 52.2 40.3

n= 1,085 419 153 512

Male 52% 45% 56% 56%

Female 47% 54% 43% 43% W hat is your gender?your What is I prefer to identify as identify to prefer I 1% 1% 1% 1%

n= 1,098 427 153 517

Single, no children no Single, 25% 24% 10% 30%

Single with children living at homeat living children with Single 3% 3% 3% 3%

Single with grown children no longer at homeat longer no grown withchildren Single 3% 3% 2% 3% Whichbestcategory Couple, no children no Couple, 32% 32% 19% 35% describes your household?your describes Couple with children living at homeat living children withCouple 23% 23% 32% 20%

Couple with grown children no longer at homeat longer no grown withCouplechildren 15% 15% 34% 8%

n= 1,096 426 154 515

Under$50,000 10% 14% 1% 10%

$50,000 to $74,999$50,000to 15% 19% 5% 15%

$75,000 to $99,999$75,000to 14% 15% 9% 15% Whichbestcategory describes the annual incomeannual the describes $199,999$100,000to 30% 28% 18% 35% of your household?your of $200,000 or more$200,000or 16% 13% 37% 12%

Prefer not to answerto not Prefer 15% 12% 30% 13%

n= 1,096 426 152 517

Yes 3% 3% 1% 4%

Are you of Hispanic, Latino or Latino Hispanic, of youAre No 86% 86% 88% 85% Spanish origin?Spanish Prefer not to answerto not Prefer 11% 11% 12% 12%

n= 1,088 422 152 513

White 82% 81% 81% 84%

Prefer not to answerto not Prefer 14% 16% 16% 12%

Asian 2% 2% 1% 2%

W hat race do you consideryouWhatdo race Someraceother 2% 2% 1% 2% yourself to be? (Check all that all (Check be? to yourself apply) NativeAlaska or American Indian 1% 2% 1% 1%

Native Hawaiian or Other Paciﬁc IslanderPaciﬁcOther Hawaiian orNative 1% 1% 1%

Black or African American African or Black 0% 0% 1% 0%

n= 1,094 423 153 517

Source: RRC Associates, PRELIMINARYRRC Associates, Source: RESULTS A-38 MCCULLOUGH GULCH ROAD PARKING CONCPETS

To study the amount of parking that could be accommodated on McCullough Gulch Road, a series of descriptive sections were developed. These sections describe the existing width and configuration of the roadway, and provide potential design ideas for how parking could be accommodated based on the road width. These are not final design concepts, but served as a tool to study the conditions on McCullough Gulch Road between the Quandary Peak parking area and the trailhead.

Existing Conditions

In the widest sections, McCullough Gulch Road is currently accommodating parking on both sides of the road, leaving room for two 12’ travel lanes. Though this can be supported in the widest areas, many visitors are parking on both sides of the road in narrow stretches, too, leading to impeded access for emergency vehicles and Colorado Springs Utilities.

In narrower sections, the road can only support parking on one side of the road, which leaves two narrow 8’ travel lanes for vehicles. This is very narrow and may present challenges in case of an emergency. In sections narrower than 24’, roadside parking should not be allowed.

A-39 Possible Design Solutions

Parking on Both Sides

In road sections wider than 36’ feet, parking on both sides of the road can be considered if conditions allow. This allows for two 8’ parking lanes and 22’ total for vehicle travel lanes, allowing for safe access.

Parking on One Side

Boulder Barriers

In narrower sections, only one parking lane should be provided. For a roadway that is 28’ wide, one 8’ parking lane and 2 10’ vehicle lanes can be accommodated. This allows for visitor parking while still providing access for utilities and emergency vehicles.

A-40 Parking on One Side Timber Fence Barriers

This concept allows for parking on one side of the road, using timber fences to limit drivers from parking on the shoulder.

Parking on One Side Log Barriers

This concept allows for parking on one side of the road, using log barriers to limit drivers from parking on the shoulder.

A-41 Parking on One Side

Separated Pedestrian Pathway

This concept allows for parking on one side of the road and a separated pedestrian pathway that allows hikers to reach the trailhead without walking in the road. The pathway is separated from the roadway using log barriers. In order to provide this pathway, a minimum road width of 32’ is needed, meaning that the pathway could be installed in specific sections of McCullough Gulch Road, or the roadway could be expanded in narrow areas to accommodate it.

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