Community Spotlight | Gunnison Trails
In this summer’s issue of Bluebird Days Magazine, we spotlighted Gunnison Trails, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding outdoor access through sustainable trail building, stewardship, and advocacy. Founded in 2006 by Dave Wiens and now led by Executive Director Tim Kugler, the organization has grown from maintaining trails at Hartman Rocks to developing systems like Signal Peak and grooming over 20 miles of winter singletrack. Backed by community partnerships and dedicated volunteers, Gunnison Trails keeps recreation opportunities thriving in the Gunnison Valley. Read the full story below to see how they’re shaping the future of outdoor adventure!
Community Spotlight | Gunnison Trails
By Emma DeHaven
Since 2006, Gunnison Trails has been dedicated to developing access to outdoor recreation through sustainable trail development, stewardship, and advocacy. What began with founder Dave Wiens assisting the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with trail maintenance at the beloved Hartman Rocks has evolved into a thriving trail network rooted in local partnerships and public land stewardship.
“From the very beginning, we’ve focused our efforts on maintaining what we have while always working towards expanding our trail networks and building connectivity,” says Executive Director Tim Kugler, who took the reins from Wiens in 2017. Under his leadership, the organization has continued expanding trail access for the community. “Whenever we get an opportunity to build new trails, it’s definitely special,” he adds.
Now in its 10th season of employing a dedicated trail crew, Gunnison Trails staffs five to six crew members from April through October. They maintain hundreds of miles of trails on public lands across Gunnison County and expand areas like the Signal Peak Trail System—a 20+ mile non-motorized network east of Western Colorado University they began development on in 2018.
Key partnerships have fueled Gunnison Trails’ success. Agencies like the BLM, United States Forest Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the National Forest Foundation, and funding partners such as the Gunnison County Metropolitan Recreation District (MetRec) and the Gunnison Crested Butte Tourism and Prosperity Partnership (TAPP) have all played critical roles. “Over 80% of the land in Gunnison County is public land, managed for a diverse set of uses. Successful management of these important lands is all about maintaining local partnerships and working together to sustain our backyard.”
For Gunnison Trails, it’s not just about digging dirt—it’s about rallying the community. Every Memorial Day Weekend, the Original Growler race brings over 700 riders together, with 100% of proceeds going towards the organization’s trail maintenance and stewardship work. “We always need an army of volunteers,” Tim says. Volunteers help make it all happen, from course marshaling and rider safety to aid station duty and keeping riders well-fueled for a big day on the bike.
Looking ahead, Gunnison Trails is excited about new projects they have in the works, “Hartman’s 2.0,” a proposed trail network expansion to improve connectivity at Hartman Rocks. They are also on board to foster the recently proposed Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection Act and the Gunnison County Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation (STOR) Committee, which seeks to safeguard access for recreation, ranching, hunting, and conservation.
For Tim, one of the most memorable parts of his job doesn’t involve digging trail—it’s winter grooming. “I would say of all the things I’ve done—not even just for Gunnison Trails, but in my adult life, driving that machine around is probably the most comical and memorable,” he laughs. The machine? An eight-foot track sled, a unique contraption typically used for hauling gear across flat, snowy terrain. Gunnison Trails, however, uses the machine to groom over 20 miles of snowy, singletrack trails for winter fat biking, running, and hiking out at Hartman Rocks.
As Gunnison Trails continues to grow, it remains committed to sustainable trail development, user education, and partnerships that ensure access to quality recreation for generations to come.
To learn more about Gunnison Trails, find out about upcoming workdays, or volunteer for the Growler, head to gunnisontrails. org. Whether you’re racing, digging, or simply enjoying the ride, there’s a place for you on the trail.
View Bluebird Days Magazine Volume 15 here.
