Opt In For Trails - Telluride Mountain Club

We need your help! The Opt in for Trails campaign directly supports funding for ongoing trail maintenance and new trail projects in the Telluride region. Opt in for Trails today, and together, we’ll create a better trail system for tomorrow!

Why Opt in for Trails?
Telluride does not have perpetual funding in place to maintain current trails, construct new trails, create a cohesive signage program, replace bridges and more. Our regional trails are continually experiencing increased use as our population and tourism numbers grow. At the same time, United States Forest Service (USFS) budgets are dwindling and no other entities are taking on the responsibility of financial planning for recreation on our public lands. Now is the time to work together to create a funding stream before it’s too late.

Did you know?
It costs upwards of $35,000 to construct one mile of new trail in the Telluride region. On top of that, it costs $1,000 to maintain one mile of trail annually. With no funding plan in place, the Telluride Mountain Club has created Opt in for Trails as a fundraising mechanism to help maintain and enhance our public lands and outdoor recreation resources.

How it Works
Funds are raised through participating businesses and direct donations. We invite you to join the cause. Participating businesses become the vehicle for customers to donate at checkout via one of the following:
1) a voluntary 1% donation,
2) by a round-up option at checkout
3) a custom option that works best for your business.
4) direct donations – donate here!

The donation option of choice is integrated into the participating business’s POS (set-up is complementary via Opt in for Trails). Participating businesses are supplied with rack cards and posters to provide information to their customers at checkout. Participating businesses won’t have to worry about any extra costs to their business or administrative work because the program is funded by customers and is only collected and passed through by the business.

Current Participating Businesses

Box Canyon Bicycles – Round-up on bike rentals. Thank you Box Canyon Bicycles who has donated over $1,644 so far!
Jagged Edge Mountain Gear – All TMtC hat and t-shirt sales support Opt in for Trails – In September 2020, Jagged Edge donated $3,800 from Via Ferrata equipment sales to Opt in for Trails and the Via Ferrata Sustainability Fund!
Stronghouse Brew Pub – Thank you to Stronghouse who donated $877 in 2021!
Telluride Tourism Board (TTB) – All 2021 Telluride Calendar proceeds benefit Opt in for Trails. Purchase your calendar at Between the Covers in Telluride. In January, the TTB donated $5,860.80 to Opt in for Trails.
Timberline Ace Hardware (certain months only) – In July 2020, Ace contributed $2,122.69 via 4,235 people who rounded up. Thanks to those who donated!

When visiting these businesses, we hope you will consider a 1% or round up donation at checkout!

Who
There is no restriction on businesses or individuals that can participate, nor are there any commitments on how much your business must contribute. TMtC is seeking partnerships through the Opt in for Trails campaign from restaurants, retail shops, realtors, building industry contractors, lodges/hotels, health/wellness/beauty service providers, property managers, guiding companies, landscapers, educational institutions, other nonprofits and more. We invite anyone and everyone to get involved and Opt in for Trails. Email telluridemountainclub@gmail.com with questions and to get started.

DONATE NOW

Current Projects Needing Funding:

♦A Jud Wiebe bridge replacement for the upper Cornet Creek crossing. Cost estimates are between $150,000 and $200,000 for engineering, replacement and construction. Learn more about this project here.

♦Engineering and construction for a bridge on the new Bridal Veil Trail connecting Idarado Mine to the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls. TMtC has worked with Idarado to secure an easement on their property for a trail that removes hikers from the road. While the trail has been constructed, TMtC now needs funding to complete bridge engineering and build. Cost estimates for engineering and construction range from $70,000 – $100,000.

♦A new trail connecting Eider to Mill Creek (Waterline). This new trail will start at the first switchback on Mill Creek Road and connect near the bridge on Mill Creek Trail. The alignment has been professionally scouted and paid for by TMtC. We are currently waiting for the USFS to approve and start their National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. TMtC is seeking funding to build this trail during the 2020 summer (if all approvals and NEPA are successful). Initial cost estimates are between $75,000 and $80,000 due to the steep nature of the hillside. View the map of this proposed trail here: Eider to Mill Creek Connector Map.

♦The new Mill Creek Bypass Trail will eliminate bikers the necessity of biking down the Jud Wiebe Trail and causing conflicts with hikers. This new alignment will take riders down a new segment of trail west of the established Jud Wiebe, coming out at the bike path. TMtC has also paid for the scouting and professional alignment planning of this trail and hopes to secure funding to be able to construct the trail in 2020 (if approvals and NEPA are successful with the USFS). Cost estimates are between $60,000 and $65,000. View a map of this proposed trail here: Mill Creek Bypass Trail Map.

This is only the beginning. TMtC has spent several years evaluating our region’s current trail system, surveying trail users and conceptualizing new trails to increase connectivity and create a more robust, environmentally conscious and well-planned trail system. We have 51 miles of conceptual, non-motorized trails on our radar. You can learn more about these new trails, connectors and reroutes in our recently released Trails Sustainability Plan.

More About Opt in for Trails:

Why Opt in for Trails?

Why Opt in for Trails?

Unlike many other mountain (tourism) towns across the country, Telluride does not have perpetual funding in place specifically for trails and other forms of outdoor recreation. As a result, Telluride is lacking the robust funding that a community of its nature should have in place to benefit its outdoor recreation infrastructure. At the same time, Telluride’s community and tourism numbers are growing and we need to proactively plan for and accommodate for increased usage of our trail system.

In addition, USFS recreation budgets are continuously being cut on a local and national level. There is no better time to collaborate as a community to set up outdoor recreation funding for the future.

What are other mountain towns doing?

Here are a few Colorado mountain town outdoor recreation funding examples:

• Steamboat Springs receives trail funding through their accommodations tax and has an endowment fund set up for trail maintenance.

• Crested Butte set up and is working towards permanent trail funding through their Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee. Additionally, they have 1% For Open Space established, a 1% opt-out donation at 70 regional businesses to help fund trail, open space and recreation projects.

• Eagle County has a ½ percent transportation sales tax to plan for and promote bicycling and walking systems essential to the regional transportation network.

• The Town of Eagle has a $2/night lodging occupation tax that funds trails.

• The Aspen Trail Finder Roaring Fork Fund (ROFO Fund) is the charitable giving arm to aid local land, river, trail, and outdoor education nonprofits in the Roaring Fork Valley.

• The Buena Vista Singletrack Coalition started 1% for Trails to build, maintain and advocate for new trails in the Buena Vista area. Learn more here.

How Does it Work?

How does Opt in for Trails Actually Work?

Donated funds will directly support expenses associated with regional trails (see ‘Example Fund Usage’ for specifics). Stakeholder meetings will be held on an annual basis to report what the funds have been used for and plans for the future.

Each participating partner is encouraged to develop an individual and creative model that will work best for their business. Participating businesses become the vehicle for customers to donate at checkout via one of the following:

1) a voluntary 1% donation,

2) by a round-up option at checkout, or

3) a custom option that works best for your business

Examples of custom support if one of the above options does not work for your business:

• Restaurants: host quarterly meal nights where 10% of sales are donated to Opt in for Trails

• Bars: host quarterly TOCF nights where 10% of sales are donated to Opt in for Trails

• Lodgers: donate $1 per lodging booking to Opt in for Trails

• Service industry: add a voluntary $1 to $5 donation to Opt in for Trails during checkout

• Real estate professionals: donate $50 – $1,500 per closing to Opt in for Trails

• Community members: $25 – $1,000 donation to Opt in for Trails annually

Example Fund Usage

Trail Funding Needs

• Trail work and maintenance
• Trail maintenance / building supplies
• Bridges
• Engineering
• Trail flagging
• Trail (on the ground) surveying
• NEPA for new trails
• New trail building
• Trail signage
• Trails planning
• New trail construction bids
• Trails mapping
• Trail easements work
• Private landowner coordination
• RFPs for trail engineering
• RFPs for new trail builds
• Trail GPS data
• Trail grant application research
• Grant applications for trail funding
• Trail events
• Trail administration

TMtC will report on the Opt in for Trails funds collected and projects accomplished annually. Additionally, TMtC will provide updated marketing materials for participating businesses to distribute to customers and celebrate our sustainability successes together.

Donate and Opt in for Trails today!

Click the image above to make a donation and Opt in for Trails. Donate now!

Your donation to the club is tax deductible via the Telluride Mountain Club’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. No donation is too small!