Kokopelli Section of the Colorado Riverfront Trail

Bicyclists have another reason to gear up in western Colorado with the completion of the Kokopelli section of the Colorado Riverfront Trail, which extends west from Fruita to Loma within the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. The $4 million project was made possible with two Lottery-funded grants: $2 million from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and $300,000 from the Conservation Trust Fund. The Kokopelli section of the Colorado Riverfront Trail connects cyclists right from downtown Fruita to all of the iconic mountain trails and iconic outdoor areas.

Horsethief Canyon in VR

NEXT PROJECT: Kochevar Open Space

Kochevar Open Space

The 322-acre Kochevar Open Space on the edge of Crested Butte is now preserved and open to the public with help from $3,012,500 in Lottery proceeds. The project not only protects valuable wildlife habitats and scenic vistas like Smith Hill, the Lupine Trail, and Paradise Divide, but it also keeps wetlands healthy, reducing the frequency and intensity of flooding. The project also opens up possibilities for a new network of trails along the Slate River.

NEXT PROJECT: Trampe Ranch

Trampe Ranch

The Trampe Ranch Conservation Easement project received the largest-ever single transaction Lottery-funded grant for $10 million. The 6,000-acre working ranch in Gunnison County, with some of the most outstanding scenery in Colorado, will now be protected from development forever. The project includes the Jack’s Cabin land parcel, a critical part of the county’s agricultural economy and habitat for Gunnison sage-grouse, elk, and mule deer.

NEXT PROJECT: Monument View Trail

Monument View Trail

The Monument View Trail, also known as the Fruita Connection, is a vital part of the larger Colorado Riverfront Trail. This 8.3-mile section was completed in three phases and utilized nearly $5 million in Lottery funds. The project links to the vast Western Slope trail system including the Palisade Plunge Trail, Lunch Loops, Kokopelli Trail, the nearby Powderhorn Mountain Resort, and to other bike trails in Fruita.

BACK TO: Kokopelli Section of the Colorado Riverfront Trail