The trails in Mesa County offer a valuable resource in promoting the health and well-being of your employees as well as the overall community.

When residents have easy access to trails, it encourages the outdoor recreation that’s beneficial for their physical, mental and social health.
In Mesa County, employees don’t have far to travel to enjoy trails.

“Mesa County Public Health has a four person, in-house trail crew that works to plan, create and maintain trails across Mesa County,” said Trails Coordinator Ross Mittelman. “They work in collaboration with federal, state, municipal and community partners to ultimately increase access for everyone.”

Last year, the crew maintained 50 miles of trails in Mesa County while building 3 miles of new trail. The crew wants to build on the momentum of trail and recreation work. This spring, the team will continue to focus on maintenance of the three main trail systems in Mesa County — the 18 Road, Kokopelli and Lunch Loops trails.

In addition to maintenance, a major trail project is under way along 18 Road in the north Fruita desert. The MCPH trail crew and Singletrack Trails are working to construct 32 additional miles to the 30 existing miles of trail.

The team is about halfway through the project, which should be mostly completed by the end of this spring.

The trail crew is also involved in planning projects for the Gunnison Bluffs and Old Spanish Trail areas south of the Mesa County Landfill.

Mesa County Public Health received a state outdoor recreation grant to develop the master plan for this trail system. The overall goals for the project include rerouting steep and unsustainable trail sections; adding easier trail experiences, more loop options and better signs; and maintaining existing trails.

“We continue to see an increase in trail usage in Mesa County. Whether your employees are starting out or hiking veterans, our team recommends staying off of trails when it’s muddy or wet this time of year,” Mittelman said.

For those just starting out in hiking trails, safety should remain the top priority. Check the forecast for inclement weather, pack water and snacks, select an appropriate trail type and length based on skill levels and let someone know beforehand where you’re headed and when you expect to return.

As more of your employees hit the trails, know our team remains hard at work creating more trail-based recreation opportunities in our area for everyone to enjoy. Our trail crew offers value to the community by maintaining and expanding a valuable resource.

Sarah Gray is a communication specialist with Mesa County Public Health. For additional information, call (970) 248-6900 or visit https://health.mesacounty.us.