Pole Mountain Trail Project

12/01/2021 UPDATE: The 2021 Pole Mountain Trail Project was delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.  The 2021 RTP grant is still in force and we anticipate being able to again begin work on the project early in 2022.  Please check back to keep up with the latest on the project as we move into 2022.  In addition to the RTP grant, the project will require substantial supplemental funding, so we hope that you can help us defray those costs by donating to the project. 

Please DONATE NOW

10/05/2020: Update: The 2020 Pole Mountain Trail Project is moving along at a good pace and according to Executive Director Tim Young who toured the site, it is “looking really good overall” (see the new photos below).  We want to thank all of the generous folks that have donated to the project this year.  We are getting closer to our goal to raise the $7,500 matching funds needed for our RTP grant and the good folks of Laramie and Southern Wyoming have made that possible.

 

Our professional trail builders this year, Dave Crosby and Red Construction, have been doing great work and their trail building knowledge and expertise is being expressed in what is shaping up to be very nice improvements to the remainder of the Aspen and Haunted Forest trail reroutes.  We have also been lucky to have former Wyoming Pathways chairman Bruce Burrows and Curt Gowdy super volunteer Bob Bonds on site to help direct the crews.  Anyone who knows Bruce and Bob will recognize their influence in the quality of the rock work and new bridge.

 

The crews have been dealing with smoky conditions from the Mullen Fire, but were still able to complete the Aspen trail work and are now working their way up the Haunted Forest trail reroute.  Progress there has been rapid as well, with a Forest Service provided Rocky Mountain Youth Corps crew helping with the work for the past week.  At this pace, we hope that the project can be completed in another week or so.

We can’t wait to see and try out the finished product.  We hope that you all are as excited as we are and will check the new trails out once they are finished.

 

 

---

9/24/2020: A quick heads-up that work is moving along rapidly on the 2020 edition of the Pole Mountain Trail Project. Our Chairman Emeritus and trail expert, Bruce Burrows has been working with Dave Crosby and his Red Construction crew to make some really fun and sustainable reroutes of the Aspen and Haunted Forest trails. The Aspen reroute has been completed and Wyoming Pathways’ Board Member and noted Laramie mountain biker Melanie Arnett has tested it out (and got a QOM in the process) and given it a “Fun Stuff!” seal of approval.

 

The crews are now heading to the Haunted Forest reroute and keep the “fun, sustainable trail” momentum going. We expect more “Fun Stuff!” feedback for the rerouted trail once it is done. We can’t wait…

9/14/2020 UPDATE: Just a heads-up that the crew has started work for this year’s Pole Mountain Trail Project. Our past Chairman and all-around trail-guy, Bruce Burrows is working with David Crosby and the crew from Red Construction to finish the Aspen Trail reroute and do the major reroute of Haunted Forest trail. We are very excited to see this project get rolling and can’t wait to see the completed Aspen reroute and the “guaranteed to be fun and sustainable” Haunted Forest reroute.

1/25/2020 UPDATE: We received some great news yesterday after the meeting of the Wyoming State Parks’ Trails Advisory Council…Wyoming Pathways’ application for a $50,000 Wyoming Recreational Trails Program grant to continue to improve the trails at Pole Mountain was approved. Executive Director, Tim Young attended the meeting, where the council voted on the projects that were recommended by the Review Committee, and was pleased to see the Pole Mountain Trail Project application make the final cut. This means that we will be able to move forward with the Project in 2020 and complete the reroute of the Aspen Trail and hopefully complete the major reroute of the Haunted Forest trail. We want to thank Wyoming State Parks and the Trails Advisory Council for seeing the value in continuing this worthwhile project that is making a real difference for the trails at Pole Mountain.

Click to download PDF of 2020 proposed trail work.

As we move into the trail building season, the 2020 Pole Mountain Trail Project is set to move forward with additional reroute work planned for the Aspen Trail and the Haunted Forest Trail. Wyoming Pathways, in partnership with the Laramie Ranger District, has applied for a $50,000 Wyoming Recreational Trails Program grant that calls for a $15,000 match. The grant and match will pay for a professional trail builder to work this summer on the trail improvements at Pole Mountain. If you would like to support that effort, please consider making a donation to our Pole Mountain Trail Project 2020 fund by using our online donation form.

DONATE NOW

By making a donation to the grant matching fund, you will be helping Wyoming Pathways and project partners to invest a nearly of $100,000 of improvements to to the Pole Mountain trail system this year. Combined work since 2016, Wyoming Pathways will have completed over $300,000 in trail improvements at Pole Mountain. We can’t do this without the help of our partners and the community and without the financial support from donors like you. Thanks for supporting Pole Mountain Trails!

To view information about the 2016 Trail Charrette, 2017 through 2019 Pole Mountain Trail Projects, please check out our archive pages:

Pole Mountain Trail Project 2019 Archive

Pole Mountain Trail Project 2018 Archive

Pole Mountain Trail Project 2017 Archive

2016 Pole Mountain Trail Charrette

Attendees exchanging ideas at the Pole Mountain Trail Charrette.

Wyoming Pathways Chairman, Bruce Burrows, reviews damaged trails at Pole Mountian.

Trail day with Laramie community members and the Wyoming Conservation Corps wraps up.

Representatives from the Governor’s Office visit the trail work site.

Donate to Support the Pole Mountain Trail Project 2020