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East Shore Trail Rulemaking for Bicycle Use
Rocky Mountain National Park » East Shore Trail Rulemaking for Bicycle Use » Document List
Dear Reader:
In February 2015, after considering the environmental consequences described in the Environmental Assessment, and public input, the Director of the Intermountain Region of the National Park Service signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) that would allow bicycle use on a two mile section of the East Shore Trail within Rocky Mountain National Park. The East Shore Trail is an existing hiking and equestrian trail on the west side of the park near the Town of Grand Lake. The East Shore Trail Area is excluded from the park's designated wilderness.
To safely accommodate bicycles, and for the sustainability of the trail, a 1/4 mile section of the trail required rerouting. Per the NPS Bicycle Rule (36 CFR4.30), and based upon a review by the Office of the Regional Solicitor, the 1/4 mile reroute was considered a "new trail," and rulemaking was required before the reroute could be constructed and the trail designated for bicycle use. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on December 1, 2015.
After extensive public involvement, a decision document was signed that approved bicycle use on this two-mile section of the trail inside the park. This decision was documented with the publication of a final rule in the Federal Register on March 2, 2018 and becomes effective on April 2, 2018.
The rule can be found at www.regulations.gov. Search for the regulation identifier number "1024-AE31."
Trail proponents, including the Headwaters Trails Alliance, will be responsible for completing work on the trail before it opens to public bicycle use. The timeline is still being negotiated.
Sincerely,
Darla Sidles
Superintendent
(970) 586-1320
In February 2015, after considering the environmental consequences described in the Environmental Assessment, and public input, the Director of the Intermountain Region of the National Park Service signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) that would allow bicycle use on a two mile section of the East Shore Trail within Rocky Mountain National Park. The East Shore Trail is an existing hiking and equestrian trail on the west side of the park near the Town of Grand Lake. The East Shore Trail Area is excluded from the park's designated wilderness.
To safely accommodate bicycles, and for the sustainability of the trail, a 1/4 mile section of the trail required rerouting. Per the NPS Bicycle Rule (36 CFR4.30), and based upon a review by the Office of the Regional Solicitor, the 1/4 mile reroute was considered a "new trail," and rulemaking was required before the reroute could be constructed and the trail designated for bicycle use. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on December 1, 2015.
After extensive public involvement, a decision document was signed that approved bicycle use on this two-mile section of the trail inside the park. This decision was documented with the publication of a final rule in the Federal Register on March 2, 2018 and becomes effective on April 2, 2018.
The rule can be found at www.regulations.gov. Search for the regulation identifier number "1024-AE31."
Trail proponents, including the Headwaters Trails Alliance, will be responsible for completing work on the trail before it opens to public bicycle use. The timeline is still being negotiated.
Sincerely,
Darla Sidles
Superintendent
Contact Information
Joe Neubauer(970) 586-1320