North Valley Trails Project Summary – Lake Irwin Trail

Full USDA/Forest Service Project page –    

       https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/projects/archive/61177

History and Forest Service decision:

2017 – CBMBA Begins public outreach and scoping efforts.  Meets with stakeholders, begins trail planning. The Lake Irwin trail is a part of the process since the beginning. 

2019/2020 – CBMBA proposes full ‘Riders Off the Road’ plan to STOR, having met with ranchers, wildlife advocates, CPW, RMBL, HCCA, etc. The proposed Lake Irwin Trail saw consensus and support from stakeholders and continues in the plan throughout the process.

2021 – STOR approves Riders off the Road Plan, USFS/Gunnison Ranger District receives the project into the NEPA process, named the North Valley Trails Project.  

2022/2023 – Scoping begins, 2 distinct, advertised and promoted public comment processes happened in the NEPA Environmental Assessment process. 

2024/2025 – A decision is made and signed by the District Ranger and the Lake Irwin Trail is approved in that decision.

Below is the ‘Decision Rationale’ and ‘Proposed Action’ in the NVTP decision, by District Ranger Dayle Funka:

Proposed CBMBA build dates:

Begin clearing the corridor of deadfall with the CBCC: July 15

Wednesday Workdays: July 16 and 30, Sept 3rd 

CBMBA Annual Overnight Trail Work Weekend: August 16/17, 2025

Proposed Action/Decision Map of the Lake Irwin Trail

CBMBA Maps and explanation of the proposed action:

The Lake Irwin Trail was identified in the NEPA/Environmental Assessment as a suitable route with support from CPW, BHA, and GWA stakeholders along the scoping and planning process.  At two STOR committee proposals, the trail was identified as a suitable route as it was proposed in an already fragmented area, close to an existing, and well-traveled road.  It was identified as a suitable route to provide a safer alternative to motorized traffic, and connected existing routes and recreation areas.

The Lake Irwin Trail will provide better connectivity and access to the existing trails network, with a safer and better user experience.  We navigated around riparian and other wetland areas of concern, kept it close to the road, and its purpose is to provide a better experience than the road, both up and down, for all non-motorized trail users.  The proposed trail was aligned for ‘ease of use’ and should be a ‘beginner’ level trail.  In addition to better network connectivity, the trail provides a recreation amenity for campers and Lake Irwin visitors.  Trail construction will require some serious people power to build, along with dedicated CBCC build days and preparation work.

As the trail gets closer to the Lake and the Irwin Townsite, a specific alignment was realized to go ‘below’ the RMBL research area, closer to the existing road, and out of the viewshed of the Townsite itself.  We specifically aligned this area to navigate away from the homesites, and along the trajectory and travel of the main road, with the intention of getting the users to their destination, whether that’s the Lake, or the ‘Y’.  (uphill or downhill use). 

In CBMBA’s experience and alongside quality trail building practices and methods, we have realized that users prefer a well built and functioning trail over ‘free hiking’ or ‘free riding’.  A good trail will corral and keep users to the trail and set them onto their destination, from point to point.  We believe a quality trail will encourage less ‘shuttling’ of vehicles and give users the seamless trail connectivity they desire, with better, safer user experiences and less impacts.

Big Picture Map

Closer Zoom same map