For Immediate Release: November 30, 2004 
Contact: Mel Lloyd: 970-244-3097
 
 

Improvements made to popular trailhead

GRAND JUNCTION, CO—The Bureau of Land Management Grand Junction Field Office has completed upgrades to the popular Bangs Canyon trailhead.  Located off of Little Park Road, the trailhead provides access to Rough Canyon as well as the Tabeguache Trail, Billings Canyon Jeep Trail and the “mica mine.” 

“Implementing this portion of the Bangs Canyon Management Plan has been a priority,” said BLM Transportation Planner Jim Cooper.  “The levels of use at this site dictated the expansion of the parking area and installation of a vault outhouse.” 

Bangs Canyon trailhead users numbered over 12,000 in fiscal year 2004.  The larger parking area will better accommodate this use, allowing ample space for truck-trailer rigs hauling horses, ATVs, motorcycles and “rock crawling” 4x4 vehicles.

“Implementing the Bangs Canyon Management Plan is a milestone for BLM,” said Britta Laub, BLM supervisory outdoor recreation planner.  “While providing access to our public land resources is important, providing for the public’s health and safety through proper waste management is equally important.” 

These trailhead improvements are steps in the ongoing implementation of the Bangs Canyon Management Plan.  Other recent actions include completion and opening of the Billings Canyon Jeep Trail and initiation of a dog waste management program at the Tabeguache Trailhead on Monument Road, another popular access point into Bangs Canyon.  Users are encouraged to clean up after their pets.

Other potential actions in the area include linking the popular Old Gordon Trail, located on the Colorado National Monument, to the BLM-managed Ribbon Trail; completion of the Rough Canyon Trail; and installing signs in the Lunch Loop area to facilitate recreation opportunities.

For further information, contact Jim Cooper at (970) 244-3047.

-BLM-