The Rio Grande Trail is one of three national rail-trail locations nominated for induction into the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s national Hall of Fame. Last year, the Rio Grande Trail came in second to the Hudson Valley Trail Network in an online vote.
This time, the Rio Grande Trail will compete against Nevada’s Historic Railroad Trail and Louisiana’s Tammany Trace to be the next Rail-Trail Hall of Fame inductee. The winner will be announced July 19 after a public voting period from July 12-16. The Rio was selected by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy as a Hall of Fame nominee based on merits such as scenic value, high use, trail and trailside amenities, historical significance, excellence in management and maintenance, and community connections.
“All three of the trails were nominated because they are the cream of the crop when it comes to trail options across the country,” said Keith Laughlin, RTC president. “It’s up to the users to show their support and pride for the trails and to help make their favorite the 31st rail-trail in the Hall of Fame.”
Go to https://rtc.li/Vote-2017-RailTrailHOF to cast a vote.
The 42-mile Rio Grande connects the Roaring Fork Valley between Aspen and Glenwood Springs. The trail corridor was once a rail line - the Aspen Branch of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Train operations in the corridor ceased in phases, between the 1960s and the mid-1990s. The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority now manages and maintains the trail corridor, in conjunction with Pitkin County Open Space and Trails and City of Aspen, in their respective jurisdictions.