Pitkin County is considering management changes in its latest update plan for the popular Rio Grande Trail. The plan examines the upper half of the 42 mile trail, from Emma to Aspen.
Under the plan, signs would be updated, trail connections, such as from the Aspen Village neighborhood to the trail, would be improved and a policy for special events may be developed.
Last year commercial operations and special events brought more than 4000 users onto portions of the trail. At a meeting Tuesday, county commissioner George Newman said the management plan should include research around limitations for special events.
"Those events are typically over a short period of time, in the summer months when you have most of the users, usually over the weekend, so it’s a real conflict."
Pitkin County’s Open Space and Trails Department is taking public comment on the plan until April 10th.