FORT COLLINS – Trail building crews from Larimer County Department of Natural Resources (LCDNR) and the Larimer County Conservation Corps (LCCC) are finishing a portion of a new multi-use trail between Inlet Bay and South Bay at Horsetooth Reservoir today, July 25. Known as the “Bay to Bay Trail,” the 1.8-mile, natural surface trail will run east from the existing Blue Sky Trail and wrap around the southern peninsula of Inlet Bay, and end at the existing swim beach at South Bay. Once finished, this trail will provide a connection between the two popular areas.

“We are really excited to partner with LCCC to bring this new trail amenity to our community,” said Daylan Figgs, LCDNR Director. “The project aligns nicely with our county’s objective to offer high-quality outdoor recreation experiences.”

LCDNR hired the LCCC crews for four weeks this July after being awarded a 2024 Conservation Service Corps Grant. When the crew finishes today, they will have completed 1,700 linear feet of trail. The crews, consisting of two crew leaders and eight young adults, ages 18-24, have nearly completed the westernmost portion of the trail. LCDNR’s trail crew will complete the remaining sections later this year and hope to open the trail to the public by Spring 2025.

Once finished, the trail will include a foot bridge, steps in and out of steep drainages, retaining walls, gates, trail wayfinding signs, and two kiosks.  The new trail will be built at sustainable grades and will be approximately 2-feet wide. Design of the trail hugs the shoreline to avoid fragmenting wildlife habitat, particularly mountain mahogany shrublands, in this foothill setting.  

Funds for this project were awarded by Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), which receives a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds, to the Colorado Youth Corps Association for use by accredited conservation service corps. The goal of the program is to employ crews throughout the state on critical outdoor recreation and land conservation projects in partnership with local governments and open space agencies. The Bay to Bay Trail is part of LCDNR’s 2017 Parks Master Plan which identified key recreation amenities at Horsetooth Reservoir which is owned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and where Larimer County manages recreation facilities under a cooperative agreement.  LCDNR was also awarded a grant from the BOR’s FY23 Title 28 Program of $75,000 toward this project.  

The trail will open for use by the public when it is completed next year. LCDNR appreciates the public’s cooperation as construction continues.  Those looking for trail updates can check Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) for the most up-to-date conditions, closures, and alerts.  

About Larimer County Department of Natural Resources

Larimer County Department of Natural Resources manages magnificent open spaces and water-based recreation areas and fosters responsible land stewardship through weed management and healthy forest practices. To learn more, visit larimer.org/naturalresources. 

About Larimer County Conservation Corps

For the past 30 years, the Larimer County Conservation Corps (LCCC) has been empowering corps members to develop personal and professional skills, gain environmental awareness and actively engage in the community, while developing self-sufficiency to help them become active members of the community through its conservation programs. LCCC is an accredited conservation corps with the Colorado Youth Corps Association since 2000 and accredited with The Corps Network since 2016.

Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to help preserve and enhance the state’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers, and open spaces. GOCO’s independent board awards competitive grants to local governments and land trusts and makes investments through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Created when voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1992, GOCO has since funded more than 5,700 projects in all 64 counties of Colorado without any tax dollar support. Visit GOCO.org for more information.