2016 Clear Creek County Blue Ridge OHV Park & Georgetown Loop Railroad Trail System Request-for-Qualifications Points to Note:

Blue Ridge Area:  We note the adjacency of the State Land Board (who sometimes seeks land stewards) and the US Forest Service land holdings. We have been in contact with our local ranger district and informed them about this plan. Their response was favorable given the myriad of four-wheel-drive roads in the area connecting to Saxon Mountain in Georgetown, Ute and Cascade Creek four-wheel-drive roads accessed from Idaho Springs.  The actual Blue Ridge Road is challenging! If you go for a site visit, you MUST have a high clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle.  We note the road crosses private property of which we have reserved a road easement across these claims.  The yellow tint on the first Blue Ridge Lands map is County owned.  We have discussed a variety of uses in the Blue Ridge area: off-highway- vehicle, mountain biking, recreational-sport-shooting/archery range, and if we can fix the road, maybe some camping. We appreciate your epiphanies.  Ideas we have had but not married to? We have discussed a mountain bike park in Ohio Gulch which is the first left hand gulch/turn once you travel Blue Ridge Road. We have discussed the off-highway-vehicle park in the center gulch which also connects to State Land Board and US Forest Service. We have considered the shooting/archery range to the far west as there is a meadow there. Sounds tests were completed here with no impact to local residents. Several nice camping areas exist along the road but the access is a challenge!  Please email me your questions and I can update this page with new info and answers.

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Train Trail Area:  The access to the Train Trail is best from the trailhead at the west end of Mountain Street in Silver Plume. You will see the trailhead signage and trail when you get there.  You must use the Argentine Central Railroad Grade Trail to access the Train Trail.  When you head up the Argentine trail and turn left onto the Train Trail you will descend about 50-ft. and see a blue diamond reflector on the right. Take this unmarked trail. It will come to a fork with a sign that says Silver Plume left and Georgetown right. Go right. You will cross through the forest for about a half mile and come to another fork. At this fork, the blue diamond trail will head right. Stay left and you will connect with the rest of the Train Trail and begin your first crossing of the railroad tracks. You will see some work the railroad has begun on the trail system. Is this the best path? We defer to your expert judgement.  Beware of trains! Yes, they are still running until Christmas. Please look both ways before crossing the tracks.  At this time, the trail ends in one of 2 places: either at the Georgetown Train Station or forks right at the station and dumps out at Guanella Pass Road (this single track is not on the map but visible when you are on the trail). We need your suggestions.  We have considered a long-span bridge from the end of the tracks in Georgetown (where a spur of the trail descends) and connect to Loop Drive, or do we end the trail on Guanella Pass Road. (Note to self: There are no bike paths on Guanella Pass Road and I am guessing most of you know how busy that road is.)  Our hope is this trail will be our future option for the Clear Creek Greenway. The current footprint travels a paved bike path directly adjacent to I-70 ---- which is slowly eroding into the canyon. The bike path there now cannot stay forever so we need a permanent future option.  The Georgetown Loop Railroad (concessionaire) and History Colorado (landowner) are aware of this study and plan to participate with the selected consultant.  The Town of Silver Plume has preferred we use the Argentine Central Railroad Grade Trail as our access to this trail system and not cut through the residential area.  Please email me your questions and I can update this page with new info and answers.

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