Telluride Trail Users,

Now more than ever we are relying on our public lands to offer us exercise opportunities, mental health and stability as we navigate the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. Our community is incredibly lucky to have trails and national forest lands out our backdoor. As spring progresses in Telluride and San Miguel County, we wanted to offer our best trail practices to help you navigate your personal outdoor recreation needs.

We love seeing people out and about but want to remind everyone that now is not the time to get rowdy or extreme. Now isn’t the time to head to popular destination trailheads. Now is the time to explore the obscure, tiny thing close to home… and to be stoked you got out. We hope you stay safe and healthy friends!

Recreate by yourself or with people in your household

• Limit contact and activities with individuals outside of your household
• Don’t carpool or choose options that require a shuttle

Avoid crowds and busy trails

• If you get to a recreation spot, trailhead or trail and it appears to be crowded, try going somewhere else
• Consider avoiding popular trails at busy times of the day
• Get creative to pick roads and trails that aren’t frequently used
• Exercise close to home
• Do not recreate in groups

Practice ‘Social Distancing’ guidelines on trails, the ski resort and in the backcountry

• Stay at least 6 feet apart from other people
• Wash and sanitize your hands frequently
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth, mask or other means when you are around others

Share the trail

• Be cognizant and considerate of others
• Step off the trail to create a 6-foot buffer when people need to pass

Follow proper trail etiquette

• Do not ride, run or hike on muddy trails, it causes rutting, widening and maintenance issues
• Respect trail closures
• Use proper yield guidelines (https://telluridemountainclub.org/trails-etiquette-101/)
• Share the trail, wave and be nice to other trail users

Other considerations during this time

• Avoid high-risk activities, our healthcare and emergency systems are already stressed
• Consider putting your dog on a leash and don’t forget to pick up after them
• Don’t recreate in public places if you are sick or have been in contact with someone who has Coronavirus
• Comply with local, county and state orders, codes and guidance
• Stay alert, communicate when needed and slow your activities down a notch
• Please consider staying within San Miguel County to recreate
• Respecting our outdoor resources and community members is number one!

During this unprecedented time, the Telluride Mountain Club (TMtC) asks for your help. If you haven’t already in 2020, please consider becoming a member to support the work we do to preserve and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities in the Telluride region. This summer, TMtC will be busy with the following trail projects:

• A Jud Wiebe bridge replacement
• Coordinating bridge engineering and construction for a bridge on the NEW Bridal Veil Creek Trail
• The approval process, fundraising and construction for a NEW trail connecting Eider to Mill Creek (view the map here: https://telluridemountainclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Eider-to-Mill-Creek-Connector-Map.pdf)
• The approval process, fundraising and construction for the NEW Mill Creek Bypass Trail (view the map here: https://telluridemountainclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Mill-Creek-Bypass-Trail-Map.pdf)
• Working with the USFS to identify the next feasible trails for our region
• Continuing our mission statement and helping to make Telluride a better place to recreate

You can become a member and make donations to the Telluride Mountain Club here. We can’t thank you enough for your support during these challenging times.

Helpful Links

• San Miguel County Coronavirus homepage: https://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/590/Coronavirus
• San Miguel County Public Health Order (effective Saturday, April 4, 2020): https://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5443/Public-Health-Order-2020-04-PDF?bidId=