Colorado Trail Foundation
The Colorado Trail Foundation, based in Golden, Colorado, is a nonprofit organization that operates and maintains the Colorado Trail, a 567-mile hiking, biking, and horseback riding trail running from Denver to Durango, Colorado.
History
The Colorado Trail was conceived in 1973 by the Roundup Riders of the Rockies, but not connected end-to-end until 1987.[1] The Colorado Trail Foundation (CTF) evolved out of cooperative efforts by the United States Forest Service, the Colorado Mountain Trails Foundation, and individual volunteers from the Colorado Mountain Club and the Friends of the Colorado Trail. In 2005, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the CTF and Forest Service, detailing their respective roles in the future development of the trail.[2]
Activities
Assisted by 600 volunteers and 3,000 donors each year, the CTF maintains over 500 miles of trail. Each summer, its trail crews work for about 12 weeks and six weekends clearing trees, working on erosion controls, and maintaining signage along the trail. The trail crews work on major projects that are beyond the scope of its sister "Adopt-A-Trail" program. That program lets interested volunteers "adopt" one of 78 maintenance sections along the trail, each averaging about eight miles long.
Every summer, the CTF offers week-long supported treks on the Trail, providing hikers with guides and the services of the trekking staff.[3]
The Foundation maintains an extensive web site with information about the trail, and publishes a series of books and trail guides for hikers.
Governance
The CTF is governed by a twelve-person board. There is a full-time Executive Director and one administrative staff member. Its total revenues in 2013 were just over $400,000.[3][4]
References
- ^ Krakel, Dean (2015-07-14). "As snow clears off The Colorado Trail, final prep before the hike". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
- ^ "Memorandum of Understanding Between The Colorado Trail Foundation and United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service" (PDF). United States Forest Service. 2005-07-08. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
- ^ a b "The Colorado Trail Foundation". guidestar.org. GuideStar. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
- ^ "The Colorado Trail Foundation in Golden, Colorado". nonprofitfacts.com. NonProfitFacts.com. Retrieved 2016-02-17.