The San Juan National Forest is requesting that fat-tire snow bikers avoid groomed Nordic ski trail systems on public lands.
Local ski clubs groom ski trails under U.S. Forest Service volunteer agreements at the Chicken Creek Ski Trail System near Mancos, Vallecito Nordic Trail System at Vallecito Reservoir, and West Fork Nordic Trails near Pagosa Springs. The Pagosa Ranger District grooms ski trails in the Coyote Hill area near Pagosa Springs. The agency seeks to protect these groomed trails for cross-country and skate skiing. The Forest Service hopes winter bikers will voluntarily avoid these Nordic ski areas, but if problems develop, formal closures may be necessary.
Fat-tire snow-biking opportunities are available on forest roads closed in winter to vehicle traffic and on hundreds of miles of routes groomed for snowmobile use. The Pagosa Ranger District hopes to groom a separate snow-biking loop this winter in the Turkey Springs area, near the Coyote Hill ski trail system. This will be done on a trial basis, dependent on adequate snow conditions and available staffing.
For more information, contact the ranger district nearest the destination.
