Hello, Trails Preservation Alliance Supporters!
As our peak riding season wraps up and the holidays approach, it’s hard to believe 2024 is nearly behind us! We hope you had an amazing season exploring the trails we all work so hard to protect—after all, that’s why we do what we do!
Before the end-of-year hustle takes over, we wanted to share some highlights from the TPA and our Partner Clubs across the state. No wonder the year flew by—we hosted the 5th Annual TPA Partner Club Meeting, completed our 4th TPA Sweepstakes, and held our flagship event, the 13th Colorado 600 Trails Awareness Symposium.
And when we weren’t busy with those major projects, we stayed active by joining Club gatherings, workdays, conferences, workshops, and other important meetings.
Read on for more information and as Riggle would say… we hope you all “ride safely and more often”!
Cheers,
Chad Hixon
Trails Preservation Alliance
Executive Director
Recent Highlights
Club Meeting
The TPA extends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made our 5th Annual TPA Partner Club Meeting a success—attendees, sponsors, presenters, panelists, and representatives from local land management agencies.
We were thrilled to have welcomed 50 attendees and 26 organizations from across Colorado and Southeast Utah.
The ride day in Bangs Canyon was the biggest turnout ever, with 20 riders coming to check out the ongoing progress in this awesome riding area.
This meeting brings together clubs and individuals from across Colorado and eastern Utah who are making a positive difference in riding opportunities. Your dedication, support, attendance, and active participation are what make this event truly impactful. Here’s to all the amazing clubs!
New Resource: Interactive Club Map
At the 2024 Partner Club Meeting, there was broad agreement that a map showing the regions each affiliated club manages would be a valuable resource. We’re excited to announce that this interactive Google-based map is now live!
The map highlights each club’s stewardship area and includes links to their websites and social media pages. You can find it on our website’s Affiliated Clubs page or view it directly on Google Maps. It’s a fantastic way to see the impact of our clubs and connect with them.
2024 TPA Moto Adventure Sweepstakes
The Sweepstakes is one of the TPA’s largest annual fundraisers. This year we went bigger and better than ever with the Moto Adventure Sweepstakes Grand Prize package which included the Haulin’ Summit Hybrid Camp Trailer and a decked-out 2024 KTM 300 XC-W.
Thank You to all the donors and Sweepstakes supporters for making this fundraiser a huge success and congratulations to our winners!
2024 TPA Sweepstake winners!
Grand Prize – Eric Balzhiser
Second Prize – Doug Wills
Third Prize – George Bielinski
The 2024 Colorado 600 Trails Awareness Symposium: A Huge Success!
This year’s Colorado 600 returned to the beautiful town of South Fork, and it didn’t disappoint! Riders were treated to stunning fall weather and a fresh event format, midweek-to-Sunday, offering three unforgettable days of riding before heading home. The welcoming community of South Fork and the ongoing upgrades to the LOGE facilities made this year’s event even more memorable—many of us are already looking forward to our next stay!
While the rides are always a highlight, what truly sets the Colorado 600 apart are the daily discussions. These gatherings offer a chance to hear updates from the TPA, exchange ideas, and collect valuable feedback from our dedicated riders.
A standout moment this year? A special appearance by none other than Ty Murray, “The King of the Cowboys”! Ty, a passionate dirt bike enthusiast and TPA supporter, joined us this year for the event and an incredible Q&A session at the rider banquet—an evening that won’t soon be forgotten.
Ty Murray and Chad Hixon at the 2024 Colorado 600
Save the Date:
Missed out this year? Don’t worry—mark your calendars for the 2025 event, happening Wednesday, September 17th through Sunday, September 21st. We can’t wait to see you there!
Club Spotlight
Colorado Motorcycle Trail Riders Association (CMTRA)
Since 1972, the Colorado Motorcycle Trail Riders Association (CMTRA) has been the leading advocate for motorcycle trail riders in the Pikes Peak and Southern Colorado region. This passionate group works tirelessly to maintain and expand access to multi-use trails while promoting responsible trail stewardship.
CMTRA collaborates with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on trail projects that benefit riders and the wider recreation community. Notable efforts include ongoing work in the Captain Jacks/Jones Park and 717 trail systems, as well as the Penrose Commons and Seep Springs areas managed by the BLM. These projects have been made possible through the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) OHV program, from which CMTRA has secured over $250,000 in grants. Every dollar has gone toward tools, materials, and labor to construct and maintain motorized trails in the region.
Trail workdays are a cornerstone of CMTRA’s mission. They not only improve trail systems but also foster a sense of community among riders who share a love for Colorado’s diverse landscapes. Regular monthly meetings provide members with opportunities to connect, plan rides, and discuss ongoing advocacy efforts.
CMTRA’s active involvement is vital to keeping motorcycle trails open in Colorado. Ready to get involved? Visit cmtrail.org to learn more or join their next meeting.
Thank you CMTRA for all that you do!
CMTRA
P.O. Box 38006
Colorado Springs, CO 80937
Email: president@cmtrail.org
Facebook: facebook.com/cmtrail.org
Web: cmtrail.org
Fundraisers
Supporting trails and preserving access is truly a team effort! Recent fundraising events, made possible by the generosity of our donors and partners, highlight the incredible dedication of the off-highway motorcycle community. Thanks to your support, we’re making great strides in protecting and enhancing the trail systems we all love. Here’s a look at the highlights and impacts of our partners recent efforts!
David Pierce – Museum Open House
David Pierce of Farmington, NM, a longtime supporter of the TPA and the San Juan Trail Riders, hosted an incredible open house at his Motorcycle Museum this past April. The event was a huge success, drawing roughly 100-150 motorcycle enthusiasts who enjoyed raffles, silent auctions, great food, and a day filled with camaraderie.
Gary Wilkinson, David Pierce and Don Riggle at the Pierce Museum open house along with the donated bike.
Thanks to David’s generosity, the event raised significant funds, including an extraordinary donation of a fully refurbished 1997 Kawasaki KX 500 from his collection. This special bike was sold, with all proceeds benefiting the TPA and SJTR. In total the event and bike sale raised $9248!
The TPA and SJTR cannot thank David Pierce enough for his unwavering dedication to our sport and his commitment to supporting our mission. Thank you, David, for making a lasting impact!
Moto Coffee Fundraiser
In June, we partnered with Moto Coffee to support the Trails Preservation Alliance.
Throughout the month, 20% of all coffee and merchandise purchases from Moto Coffee were donated directly to the TPA. Based in Wyoming, Moto Coffee shares our passion for keeping trails open and supporting causes riders care about. We love their mission and philosophy—here’s an excerpt from their website:
Protecting the Freedom to Ride. Together.
“We created Moto Coffee to fuse our passion for coffee with our love of motorcycles in a way that allows us to truly support and give back to the riding community. A portion of profits go back to two-wheeled causes like protecting our trails, helping injured riders to recover from accidents, education initiatives, and more.”
Colorado 500 Donation
Thank you to the Colorado 500 for their initiative in securing a $15,000 Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative grant. The “Colorado 500 Trail Preparation Project” enabled the CO500 to donate $2,500 to each of the following clubs, supporting their efforts to preserve, enhance, and improve OHV access opportunities:
1. Colorado Off-Hwy Coalition (COHVCO)
2. Trails Preservations Alliance (TPA)
3. Western Colorado Riders and Enthusiasts (WESTCORE)
4. Gunnison Valley OHV Alliance of Trail Riders (GOATS)
5. San Juan Trail Riders (SJTR)
6. Colorado Backcountry Trail Riders (CBTRA)
28th Annual Colorado Gold Rush
A special thank you from all of us at the TPA to Merve Davies and all the Gold Rush riders and supporters. For the 28th year riders enjoyed a week of riding in Colorado filled with great trails, good meals, and the joy of reconnecting with old friends while welcoming new ones. This year, the event had 36 riders, including 8 first-timers from Tennessee, Colorado, and California!
Thanks to everyone’s participation, we raised $6K for the TPA! Special thanks to the Widener family for hosting a wonderful lunch at the cabin and to Dennis Larratt for the memorable mine tour.
Mark your calendars for next year’s ride, happening August 10-15, 2025. Let’s aim for 50 riders—start spreading the word now! Invitations will go out in February.
Corporate and Private Donations
The TPA is blessed with numerous corporate and private donors both large and small. It is energizing to the entire TPA team to have all of your support and we thank each and every one of you for your generous support – we couldn’t do it without you!
Land Use
Jerry Abboud: The Father of Colorado’s OHV Program
Chapter 9 of At Home in Nature by Colorado Parks and Wildlife highlights Jerry Abboud, the “Father of Colorado’s OHV Program,” for his visionary leadership in creating and advancing the state’s Off-Highway Vehicle Program.
Abboud’s efforts led to the passage of House Bill 1329 in 1990, establishing the Colorado State Trails OHV Program, which has since directed $80 million in registration fees to improve motorized recreation across the state. This September, Jerry was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition as he retires from his role as Executive Director of COHVCO.
Thank you, Jerry, for a lifetime of dedication to our sport and community!
TPA News page – Busy, Busy, Busy!
2024 has been a whirlwind of activity for the TPA! We’ve submitted a total of 26 letters and comments on various land use issues, ensuring that the voice of off-highway motorcycle recreation is heard loud and clear.
Together with our partners, the TPA has been actively involved in a diverse range of topics—from federal employee hiring and wildlife conservation to forest health and National Monument planning. These efforts reflect our commitment to preserving and expanding access for our community.
For a full breakdown of the issues we’ve tackled this year, visit the TPA News page!
New Trail Stuff
Porter Gulch
The Central Colorado Mountain Riders (CCMR), in partnership with the Salida Ranger District, completed a NEW 1.6-mile motorized, multi-use trail in Howard, Colorado. They constructed a 1.6-mile motorized, multi-use trail providing access to the Rainbow Trail from County Road 4 in western Fremont County. This new trail greatly benefits both motorized and non-motorized users by improving access to the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness trails for non-motorized activities and creating new loop options for mountain bikers, e-bike riders, and motorcyclists. The project was entirely funded through generous private donations to the TPA and CCMR.
Penrose Commons
Collaboration is at the heart of the effort to improve Penrose Commons, a popular winter riding destination near Colorado’s Front Range. The Colorado Mountain Trail Riders Association (CMTRA) and Rampart Range Motorized Management Committee (RRMMC), in partnership with the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office, have taken a significant step by officially opening 3 miles of previously user-created trails. This marks the beginning of a broader effort to enhance the riding experience in the area.
CMTRA has also secured CPW OHV grant funds to develop a comprehensive plan for Penrose Commons, aiming to create additional trails and improve amenities. These initiatives will make this important off-season riding destination even more enjoyable for Front Range riders.
Soldier Stone Trail and Signage
The Soldier Stone Vietnam War Memorial on Sargents Mesa, located near the Colorado Trail and Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, now features a dedicated non-motorized hiking trail. This safe, stable, and accessible path provides a direct route from the nearby road, allowing visitors to honor this remarkable memorial.
The Trails Preservation Alliance, in partnership with the Saguache Ranger District, collaborated to establish this single trail and install interpretive signage to enhance the visitor experience. If you’re riding in the Sargents/Saguache area, be sure to take the time to visit this special and meaningful place.
Partners & Sponsors
We couldn’t do it without these folks. Their donations to the TPA of time, money, and goods keep us all on the trails.
Partners
Sponsors
