Read the December, 2011 NewsletterWhat's New
Colorado Parks & Wildlife Features Beaver Brook Trail
In the April 11, 2012 Colorado Parks & Wildlife e-Newsletter, Nancy Matchett (Trails Program Coordinator) selected Clear Creek Canyon’s Beaver Brook Trail as the TRAIL OF THE MONTH. “This is better than ruby slippers,” she writes. “In only 20 minutes from Denver you can step out of your car, down the rabbit hole and into the wilderness…” In addition to some great anecdotes on the history of the Beaver Brook Trail, Nancy also includes helpful hiking hints and trailhead information. Click HERE to read to the complete article. Click HERE to download the complete article.
Oxbow Parcel Included in Clear Creek County’s Greenway Plan
The development of a greenway for Clear Creek County’s residents and visitors remains a priority of the Clear Creek County Open Space Program. Long range plans include enhanced amenities and an expansion of recreational opportunities while also ensuring that the history and natural beauty of the site remain intact. Click HERE for updates on the latest developments of this CCLC conservation property.
CCLC Expands Its Land Preservation Efforts
into Clear Creek County
In October, 2009, Clear Creek County, through its Open Space Commission, received a $725,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) to help fund purchase of the 76-acre Oxbow Parcel, which includes 3,000 feet of Clear Creek frontage. Clear Creek County provided the rest of the purchase price.
The property adjoins Jeffco Open Space land (Clear Creek Park) to the east and existing clear Creek County Open Space to the south. As part of the deal, CCLC took ownership of a conservation easement on the property, insuring its perpetual preservation. The Oxbow parcel is located just west of the Jeffco County line, half a mile upstream on U.S. Highway 119. Tracks for the Colorado Southern Railroad between Golden and Silver Plume, which followed Clear Creek around the Oxbow, were taken up in 1941. When U.S. Highway 6 was constructed in the 1950s, a tunnel was cut through the ridge, leaving the oxbow isolated and quiet—an important move toward protecting this unique bighorn sheep habitat.
Clear Creek County is incorporating this parcel into its Greenway Project and constructing a bike path along the old railroad grade, a link that will one day be part of a path extending all the way through Clear Creek Canyon from Golden to Idaho Springs and beyond. Oxbow’s rafting, Cat Slab rock climbing, fishing opportunities, and abundant wildflowers offer more ways to Enjoy The Canyon. We’re very excited about this latest accomplishment!
CMC Wilderness Trekking School Meets at Mount Vernon Country Club
Students gather for a map-reading session during Colorado Mountain Club's Wilderness Trekking School taught by Jack Reed and Joe Griffith in October, 2010.
