About Us

 

In 1999, a group of concerned citizens gathered to explore ways to protect and improve access to the lower Colorado River through western Garfield County.

From those first meetings a movement was born to create the LoVa Trail, a 47-mile, non-motorized recreation path along the river corridor from west Glenwood Springs to the Garfield County line near DeBeque.

LoVa's Vision

In a majestic sweep of landscape including roaring, high-vaulted canyons, lively rapids and pastoral meadows, the renowned Colorado River cuts a twisting forty-seven mile ribbon through Garfield County. Imagine a trail, accessible to all, that parallels the river and opens its excitement, diverse beauty and tranquility to the citizens of Garfield County and our visitors. This is LoVa's vision.

Stretching from west of Parachute to Glenwood Springs, LoVa envisions a multi-surface trail that connects communities, educates all who use it, and provides a continuous, non-motorized recreation and transportation opportunity in the colorful heart of Garfield County. The trail is a critical component for those who wish to see a continuous East - West trail across Colorado.

LoVa: Past and Future

To date LoVa has: created an organizational framework for itself, communicated its goals in a series of public meetings and solicited financial and institutional support throughout Garfield County. Our most challenging and exciting work lies just ahead.

LoVa has benefited from the financial support of various entities including our members, the State of Colorado, the Environment Foundation, local governments, and business contributors. Many communities and municipalities along the Colorado river corridor in Garfield County have expressed formal support for LoVa's goals and have contributed financial resources. With time, our roots grow stronger in our local communities and our volunteers make more progress in achieving our goals.

Engineering planning work is currently underway in West Glenwood Springs. LoVa took the initiative to move forward with the construction of CDOT's design for a 3-mile section of trail through South Canyon. This trail section begins at the West Glenwood Springs I-70 interchange and extends to the South Canyon I-70 interchange. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2005. LoVa anticipates receiving significant financial support for this work in late 2004 persuant to a Great Ooutdoors Colorado grant request.

West along the I-70 corridor, LoVa is working on a signage project to designate an interim LoVa bike route. This will consist primarily of existing roads along the corridor creating a continuous, marked route for bike trail users. The Colorado Dept. of Transportation is partnering with LoVa to accomplish this task. LoVa is also planning other sections of trail in close proximity to local municipalities that will be built in the near future. Some of these sections include a trail in Parachute and a trail section between New Castle and Silt.

What We’ve Achieved

  • 2001- With the help of matching funds from the Town of Silt, LoVa is awarded a planning grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO). LoVa incorporates with the State of Colorado as a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization.

  • 2002- The LoVa Trail Master Plan is completed (link). It describes a 47-mile non-motorized “trunk trail” along the Colorado River corridor, to which member communities will connect. (map link).

  • 2003- Through LoVa’s efforts, Garfield County is awarded a $150,000 Enhancements grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to design the trail segment from west Glenwood Springs to South Canyon.

  • 2006- Garfield County is awarded a GOCO grant to construct the trail segment.

  • 2008- the first segment of the LoVa Trail is constructed in west Glenwood Springs.

  • 2010- the second segment of trail is constructed beginning at the historic bridge in South Canyon, extending 2000 linear feet east.

  • 2016- The LoVa Trail is named to Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper’s “Colorado the Beautiful: 16 in 2016 Initiative”, as one of the most important regional trail projects in the state.

  • 2016- LoVa is awarded a $45,000 planning grant from Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s (CPW) Non-Motorized Trails program to plan & design the trail from Canyon Creek to New Castle. A preferred alignment is identified and preliminary design work completed, taking the trail south across the Colorado River and along County Road 335.

 

  • 2017-LoVa is awarded a $45,000 planning grant from Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s Non-Motorized Trails program to plan and design the trail from South Canyon to Canyon Creek. A preferred alignment is identified, hugging the south guardrail of the interstate, above the riverbank.

  • 2018- LoVa is awarded a $500,000 construction grant from CPW’s Colorado The Beautiful program, to install a bridge across the Colorado River, connecting to CR 335 near Riverbend subdivision.

  • 2019- using the above grant as local match, the LoVa Trail collaborative- City of Glenwood Springs, Town of New Castle and Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA)- is awarded the first-ever partnership grant of $700,000 from the Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District (FMLD), to construct the “Meet Me In The Middle” trail project. It will extend the existing trail in west Glenwood Springs, west to a wide spot on the riverbank and construct a picnic shelter/ fishing scout platform.

  • 2020-2022- The Covid-19 pandemic, in addition to permitting and Right-of-Way (ROW) issues with CDOT cause extensive delays on both grant-funded projects.

  • 2022- Work begins on the trail segment between Canyon Creek and New Castle.