By Shannon Lukens. File photos.

 

Projects in Northwest Colorado have been awarded $10,574,056 from Great Outdoors Colorado. They’ll support major land conservation, outdoor recreation, and collaborative efforts across the region.  

Highlights include:

• $7.5 million to Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) to protect 18,000 acres of working ranchland within the Colorado River watershed.
• $55,200 to the Town of Oak Creek for the construction of a new bike trail at Oak Creek Mountain Park. It’s the Go With the Flow Bike Trail, in partnership with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps.
• $2.5 million to CCALT, $388,856 to Routt Recreation & Conservation Roundtable, and $130,000 to Northwest Colorado Outdoors to support collaborative efforts advancing regional conservation and recreation goals.

The grants are part of more than $25.5 million in GOCO funding awarded statewide for conservation and recreation efforts.

 

Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) awarded $10,574,056

Press Release from Great Outdoors Colorado; Dec. 15, 2025.

GOCO Awards Over $10M for Land Conservation, Trail Projects, and Outdoor Stewardship in Northwest Colorado

DENVER— The Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) board awarded $10,574,056 in grants to projects in Northwest Colorado, including funding for a major land conservation project set to protect 18,000 acres and for a new bike trail, as well as two collaborative efforts to advance conservation and recreation goals across the region. 

The grants are part of more than $25.5 million in GOCO funding announced for conservation and recreation efforts across Colorado. 

Routt County

Conservation Project in Progress, $7,500,000 Land Acquisition grant to Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust 

Funding will support a rare, high-impact land conservation opportunity that could protect nearly 18,000 acres of intact working mountain ranchland in the Colorado River watershed. The property includes significant wildlife habitat, important water rights, and high climate resilience value. The transaction is anticipated to close in June 2026, with more details to follow.

Go With The Flow Bike Trail, $55,200 Conservation Service Corps grant to the Town of Oak Creek
The Town of Oak Creek will partner with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps to build the “Go With The Flow” bike trail at Oak Creek Mountain Park. The trail will have two miles of bike flow—a smooth, rolling style of trail designed for all skill levels—to diversify recreation opportunities in the community. It will be designed to help water drain properly, prevent the trail from washing out, and protect sensitive areas while creating a safe and engaging route that separates downhill riders from other users, reducing conflicts. The project will provide a much-needed recreational resource for local youth, families, and visitors in a rural community with limited outdoor infrastructure.

Regional Partnerships 

$2,500,000 Regional Partnerships Initiative grant to Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust
See the first project description above.

$388,856 Regional Partnerships Initiative grant to Routt Recreation & Conservation Roundtable (RRCR)

RRCR spent two years developing a comprehensive Conservation and Recreation Strategy, working with a wide range of members and partners across the county to identify and prioritize projects. Funding will support continued facilitation of the Roundtable, collaboration across sectors and interest areas, and a summer stewardship crew. The crew will carry out on-the-ground trail and resource stewardship across the broader Hahns Peak–Bears Ears Ranger District, focusing on high-use recreation areas and dispersed camping corridors.

$130,000 Regional Partnerships Initiative grant to Northwest Colorado Outdoors (NWCO)

NWCO works to strengthen regional collaboration, finalize a shared vision for outdoor planning, and increase capacity and visibility in Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties. Funding will support facilitation, outreach, and technical experts to create a regional plan that benefits communities, honors local cultural heritage, and promotes sustainable wildlife and recreation management. The grant will also support the development of an Outdoor Asset Map. This public GIS-based tool will combine ecological, recreation, and working lands data to guide transparent decisions about planning and project selection.

About Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)

GOCO invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to preserve and enhance the state’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers, and open spaces. Created by Colorado voters in 1992, GOCO has since invested $1.4 billion in 5,800 projects across all 64 counties. Learn more at GOCO.org.