July 21, 2022
Salida Mountain Trails (SMT) and the City of Salida have completed a 0.7-mile-long extension of the Rise-N-Shine trail that greatly improves access from downtown to the Arkansas Hills. This new segment completes a friendlier route—less exposure risk, and easier grades—for novice and risk-averse trail users, as well those unaccustomed to recreating at 7,000 feet above sea level. In filling a gap from the F Street trailhead to the first phase of Rise-N-Shine, which SMT built in 2021, this new singletrack will also reduce congestion on popular trails like Frontside.
“Although this is a relatively small project in terms of new mileage, it will have enormous benefits,” said Jon Terbush, executive director of Salida Mountain Trails. “This trail increases carrying capacity, improves connectivity, and provides better access for more people to our trails—all close to town.”
This project deepens a longstanding partnership between SMT and the City of Salida. Though the nonprofit and city have always worked together, in a first, Salida’s Parks and Recreation Department dug dirt alongside SMT for this project, providing an excavator and crew.
“SMT has been an essential partner in building and maintaining Salida area trails,” stated Diesel Post, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Salida. “As the City grows, we not only need to provide more recreational opportunities, but also mitigate recreational impact. The right trails in the right place are very important. It was great to not only help plan Rise-N-Shine, but to finally help build the trail. We also look forward to working with SMT to create a plan for trail development on City of Salida land and open space in the future.”
In another first, with volunteer help from the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA), and guidance from the county weed department, SMT planted native seeds alongside the trail to proactively combat tumbleweeds. The goal of this effort: fewer invasive plants, and as a result fewer maintenance problems, too.
“Invasive species are the biggest contributor to the loss of biodiversity worldwide,” said Dominique Naccarato, executive director of GARNA. “Introducing native seed into the seed bank when soil gets disturbed is one of the easiest and most effective ways of combating the spread of invasive weeds. GARNA is beyond grateful to SMT for embarking on this effort to prevent the spread of invasive weeds during trail construction.”
SMT and the City of Salida will host a grand opening and first ride/run/walk event on Friday, July 22, at 10 a.m. The program will include brief remarks and a ribbon cutting, with the public invited to enjoy the trail via the nonmotorized mode of their choice.
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About Salida Mountain Trails
Founded in 2003, Salida Mountain Trails (SMT) is a 501c3 nonprofit that builds, maintains and advocates for non-motorized trails in and around the City of Salida. SMT believes trails improve quality of life for residents while boosting the bottom line of local businesses. We work with other stakeholders—including the City of Salida, federal land managers, and other recreation groups—to plan and develop new trails. Our primary focus though is maintaining and improving our current network of 50+ miles of trails.