The Continental Divide Trail, seen here, is currently being considered as off-limits to mountain biking, whihc has raised ocncerns among moutain bike gourps who say that would close off osme of the Rockies premier singletrack to riding./Photo by David Halterman

by Will Sands

More than 3,000 miles of celebrated singletrack could soon be completely off-limits to fat tires. The Forest Service is currently studying a proposal to prohibit mountain biking on the entire Continental Divide Trail, which links the Canadian and Mexican borders along the highest points of the Rocky Mountains.

The Continental Divide Trail was created in 1978 with a dual mission – to provide for hiking and equestrian recreation and to enable the conservation of surrounding natural features. In the last nearly 30 years, the trail has become a portrait of multiple use, however, and has attracted much more than hikers and horsemen.

Locally, the trail passes through the Weminuche and South San Juans wilderness areas and is off-limits to mechanized uses anyway. However, in many parts of its 3,100-mile length, the Continental Divide Trail has become a resource for the mountain bike community. The nearby Monarch Crest Trail follows the Continental Divide Trail for the majority of its length and is considered one of the top trails in the nation. Sections of the Continental Divide Trail also overlap the Colorado Trail and include popular stretches of New Mexico singletrack, revered trails near Steamboat Springs and top Montana bike rides.

However, the Forest Service has announced that the Continental Divide Trail and mountain biking may not be compatible. Citing a directive from a 1976 Study Report, long before the advent of mountain biking, the agency is proposing to ban bicycles from the trail’s entire length. The agency believes that the 1976 report mandates that the trail be oriented exclusively toward hikers and equestrians.

Richard Stem, deputy regional forester for the Rocky Mountain region, commented, “The intent of this new directive is to create a common vision among all interests for the trail’s future.”

Completion of the trail, which is estimated at 70 percent finished, is also among the agency’s main goals. But the current directive is aimed more at user groups than trail building. “Our challenge is to find the balance between the laws that govern the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and interests of the users who enjoy the trail,” Stem added.

However, objections have been strong and abundant since the directive was first proposed earlier this summer. Mark Eller, communications manager with the International Mountain Bike Association, commented that restricting mountain bikes on the significant trail would be short-sighted.

“Their logic is that the original intent of the trail was for equestrian and foot travel alone,” he said. “But we take issue with the fact that mountain bikes should be considered a nonpreferred use. We don’t think a broad proposal to restrict mountain bikes is appropriate given that the Continental Divide Trail is currently a great example of multiple use.”

The Continental Divide Trail Alliance (CDTA), the leading nongovernmental partner in the completion, management and protection of the trail, also has reservations about the plan and is finalizing its position on the proposal.

“Times have changed since the Continental Divide Trail was created more than 30 years ago,” said CDTA Co-Executive Director Paula Ward. “In addition to not clearly defining the nature and purpose of the Trail, the act that designated the trail in 1978 did not predict the development of the motorized recreational use of ATVs and dirt bikes on public lands. Mountain biking, which the CDTA does not consider motorized, is also being questioned as a legitimate use on the trail.”

Eller noted that mountain biking is already banned on the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail, two of the nation’s other national scenic trails. With nearly 5,000 miles of classic trail already off-limits to mountain bikers on either coast, IMBA has made a strong argument for leaving portions of the Continental Divide Trail open.

“The Continental Divide Trail is one of the national scenic trails, and we would hate to see bike use excluded on yet another long, great trail system,” Eller said. “Mountain bikers are not going to take this lying down, but we’re also interested in being practical, taking part in the discussion and having a seat at the table.”

Eller concluded that the current debate also goes well beyond the Continental Divide Trail. Mountain bikes are facing increasing restriction and exclusion throughout the nation, according to IMBA, as cyclists are being lumped in with motorized users.

“Mechanized and motorized are not equivalent and should not be treated that way,” Eller said. “Nonetheless, there’s a school of thought that sees us as a gateway drug into motorized use.” •