Rio Grande Trail Now Complete

Glenwood Springs, CO (June 26, 2008) -  Visitors (and locals) who love biking the 16-mile, paved recreation path through awe-inspiring Glenwood Canyon can now access the Rio Grande Trail in Glenwood Springs—and take it for 44 miles all the way to Aspen.

“This is a wonderful addition to the network of other recreation trails in Glenwood Springs,” said Kate Collins, Vice President of Tourism Marketing. “The newly completed trail will certainly attract more visitors and boost the local economy.”

This spring, the final pieces of asphalt were put down along the stretch of the Rio Grande Trail between County Road 114 (Colorado Mountain College Road near Thunder River Market) and the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority’s park-n-ride lot in Carbondale. The finishing touches, such as signage and fencing, were put on the newly paved section of the trail in late May. 

To access the Rio Grande Trail in Glenwood Springs, cyclists (or walkers, joggers or rollerbladers) can park at the 7th Street municipal parking lot in Glenwood Springs and get on the River Trail, which parallels the Roaring Fork River until it becomes the Rio Grande Trail at 23rd Street.  

The Rio Grande Trail passes through Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Basalt, Woody Creek and Aspen, following the Roaring Fork River and Highway 82 in some sections. It is a relatively flat trail with some rolling hills and a 2 percent grade from Glenwood Springs to Aspen. The path is paved for 33 miles from Glenwood Springs to Woody Creek; it is a soft-surface dirt trail for 11 miles from Woody Creek to Aspen.

The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority also has a new bus called Bike Express.  Half the bus is equipped with special racks to transport bikes.  This allows cyclists to travel easily between Glenwood Springs and Aspen so they can experience different sections of the Rio Grande Trail.  For route stops and a bus schedule, go to www.rfta.com/bikeexpress.html.

The midvalley portion of the Rio Grande Trail from Catherine’s Store Bridge to Hook’s Spur is closed seasonally between December 1 and May 1.

For more information, visit www.rfta.com/rio1.html.

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