Clare Tone

By Suzanne Webel Imagine, if you can, an enormous new open space property… one at the scenic junction between mountains and plains, with a river running through it… one that contains a variety of wildlife including nesting golden eagles and Preble’s Meadow Jumping mice… one that was purchased in 2001 and opened to the public less than four years later, with more than five miles of new trails… one whose managers solicited equestrian expertise before building the trail system… one whose managers are carefully protecting wildlife habitat while simultaneously welcoming the public to experience its wonders. Yep, it’s probably hard for Boulder County residents to imagine, because things just don’t ever seem to play out that way in the People’s Republic. Indeed, most of our recent public land acquisitions are squirreled away quietly or were never intended for public access in the first place. Elsewhere, of course, public land managers have figured out how to balance preservation and recreation without subjecting the matter to endless and acrimonious debate, and they believe that the public is entitled to reasonable access to the lands it purchased. So, yep, you guessed it –you’ll have to head on up north of the border into Larimer County west of Ft. Collins to experience their latest sensation, the Eagle’s Nest Open Space. Proceed northwest through Ft. Collins on Hwy 287 to Livermore. Turn west on the Red Feathers Lakes Road (CR 74E), 0.3 mi to the Eagle’s Nest entrance road (after the fire station). The trailhead is about a mile down the […]

By Suzanne Webel Here’s another “diamond in the rough” – a series of elegant stacked-loop trails in Roosevelt National Forest just north of Nederland. The reason I say it’s “rough” is that a bulldozer had coincidentally just preceded us, grading the old roads and clearing trees, to make this trail system work. When the dust settles it will be a spectacular place to ride! Even now, the trails and roads can be combined to make several loops, and they connect all the way up to the Switzerland Trail system. Some day, we might even be able to get from Gordon Gulch across the Peak-to-Peak Highway and onto the northern portion of Caribou Ranch. Park at the newly-renovated Gordon Gulch Trailhead (P-1), about 4.7 miles north of Nederland. There is room for several trailers here, with a kiosk that has a map showing designated campsites. There are more campsites than I can show on the trail log map, and some of them could be fine equestrian camping opportunities, but there is no water or other amenities so plan on bringing in everything you might need. Do not try to park at other access points to this trail system such as at Sugarloaf Rd or at Sunset – there just isn’t room, and please respect private property. From P-1, proceed along FS 226 for a short distance, then take the first right – on 314E. This old road makes a long descent through the piney woods. A short distance after the road enters a meadow, look left for