For Immediate Release: August 18, 2003
Contact: Steven Hall, 970-244-3052
 

Illegal Icarus Trail near Douglas Pass closed to vehicles

GRAND JUNCTION—The Bureau of Land Management has closed the Icarus Trail, located approximately five miles east of Douglas Pass on East Douglas Pass Road, to all vehicles, including mountain bikes. The trail is approximately 6 miles long, descending into Hay Canyon across a Soil Slump Area, a designated route only area.

The Icarus Trail is not a designated route, making use of the trail by any vehicle, including mountain bikes, illegal.

"Because the Icarus Trail has not been formally planned or approved, the impacts of the trail on the wildlife and the area itself are still unknown," BLM Transportation Planner Jim Cooper said. "We discourage these ‘poached’ trails because they are not sustainable. This particular route is built on unstable soil and steep slopes, and does not follow appropriate standards for a recreational trail."

As the trail becomes more popular, negative impacts to natural resources are increasing. User conflicts have also increased, particularly between hunters and mountain bikers.

The BLM Grand Junction Field Office is trying to eliminate user-built or poached trails. These trails are often promoted within the recreation community, causing frustration for the public when illegal routes are closed.

"What we’d much rather do is have the public come to us with their trail suggestions or ideas so we can work those projects through the federal planning process, and conduct the appropriate environmental analysis," Cooper said. "That way we can ensure that we have the appropriate use occurring in the appropriate area."

-BLM-