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UTE PASS REGIONAL TRAIL MASTER PLAN
STAKEHOLDER MEETING MINUTES
UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE
April 15, 2015
2:00 pm -3:00 pm
Attendees:
Sue Miller, USFS
Julie Gamec, THK Associates, Inc.
Randall Navarro, THK Associates, Inc.
Discussion:
The THK team gave a brief overview of the project. Sue explained that for any trail design or
development through USFS that is proposed by an outside entity, a Special Use Permit would be
required. Sue explained that Special Use Permits are required for any use of National Forest lands
proposed by an outside entity; in this case, it would be El Paso County. USFS will not cover any of the
costs of the project including Environmental Assessment (full NEPA process), construction or
maintenance. In applying for the Special Use Permit the USFS uses Screening Regulations (attached).
One of the first questions asked is if the use can be accommodated on private land (e.g., any land not
owned by the Forest Service). If the answer is yes, that generally will halt the process.
Sue continued to explain that the USFS prefers the use of existing routes and currently has miles of trails
and roads on Forest Service lands. Trails and roads that are USFS recognized routes are considered
“System Trails”. System Trails are numbered, maintained, and surveyed on a regular basis (this may be
1, 2, or 5 year increments). “Non-System Trails” are not recognized by the USFS as an official trail. If
routes were being considered that utilized non-system trails, they would require environmental review.
Sue also pointed out that while there are many maps that do show trail alignments though USFS lands,
this does not indicate that all of the shown trails are System Trails. Only trails with a USFS inventory
number are recognized by the USFS as official trails.
In close proximity to the project area (SW of Heizer Trail) there is a USFS designated conservation area
called Hurricane Canyon Natural Area. This area is a protected area with a special designation as a
natural area. USFS recognizes that there is a System Trail through that area, but would not encourage
designation of this route as the Ute Pass Regional Trail because the increased trail use would violate
Forest Plan direction.
THK discussed several alignment options with Sue that were being considered. Sue had the following
comments regarding the possible alignments:
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USFS owns the Pikes Peak Highway (though City of Colorado Springs operates it under a special
use permit). The Pikes Peak Highway does not allow hiking/trails adjacent to the Highway. Sue
mentioned that there is currently one crossing point. Any additional crossings would have to be
reviewed and approved by the Pikes Peak Highway and the USFS.
Several of the existing trails on USFS land are non-system routes including Pyramid Mountain,
Crowe Gulch, and sections of Heizer Trail. Non-system routes are not recognized by USFS.
Additional trail use through the Hurricane Canyon Natural Area will not be considered.
Existing trails in the area that are system trails include Mt. Esther Trail (FS 754) which begins at the Crow
Gulch Picnic Ground and travels west off of USFS land and French Creek Trail (FS 703). French Creek
Trail (FS 703) begins at Barr Trail (FS 620), travels through the Hurricane Canyon Natural Resource Area,
and ends at Manitou Reservoir Trail (FS 638). French Creek Trail has a system trail length of 2.5 miles.
THK and USFS discussed the existing Waldo Canyon Trail system and parking area. Sue explained that
the USFS has no projected date of opening the currently closed part of the Waldo Canyon fire area
because of public safety concerns. The part of the Waldo Canyon area that is closed is generally
considered unsafe. There is also significant damage to the Waldo Canyon Trail. At this time, USFS would
not consider the use of Waldo Canyon trails for any reason.
THK and USFS discussed the roles of Trail Groups, specifically the “Ring the Peak” trail. USFS would be
interested in an alignment that can accommodate both the Ute Pass Regional Trail as well as Ring the
Peak. Should Ute Pass Regional Trail be developed in a location that may utilize lands not owned by
USFS, if acceptable to El Paso County, Ring the Peak would be encouraged to utilize the Ute Pass
Regional Trail alignment.
THK and USFS discussed the costs of developing environmental assessments, trail alignments,
construction and maintenance costs. These costs will generally be paid for by the entity proposing the
trail, not the USFS.
Finally, THK and USFS discussed regulations including the Pike and San Isabel National Forests Land and
Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) as well as USFS lands designated for municipal watershed
lands. Specifically, CSU and Manitou Springs have lands in the area that are designated to be managed
for municipal watershed lands.
Attachments:
 USFS Special Uses Checklist