Yampa River Restoration prompts Core Trail closure

October 14, 2021 Shannon Lukens

Photo courtesy City of Steamboat Springs.

Part of the Core Trail is closed Friday behind the Flour Mill. It will be open for the weekend, but then closed on Monday all week. Work crews are doing a restoration and access project on the Yampa River and there will be a lot of heavy equipment. The project will improve access to the river, help the aquatic habitat, stabilize the bank, and provide more recreational opportunities. If you’re on the Core Trail, the detour is at Trafalger Drive. You’ll cross highway 40 and use the sidewalk down to 3^rd Street.

Here is the press release from the City of Steamboat Springs.

Yampa River Restoration Prompts Core Trail Closure — Detour Runs Primarily From October 18-22

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-October 14, 2021- As work ramps up on the Yampa River Restoration Project, crews from Diggin It’ Riverworks will be closing a section of the Yampa River Core Trail.

The section of core trail behind the Flour Mill will be closed on Friday, October 15 from 7 AM to 7 PM, but will reopen for the weekend. The trail will close again on Monday, October 18 and remain closed through Friday, October 22. Because the work area is not easily accessible, the closure is necessary to allow contractors to safely move in additional supplies and heavy equipment.

Trail users will be detoured along Trafalger Drive to the intersection of US40. After crossing US40, the detour will utilize the sidewalk and continue past Old Town Hot Springs and cross back over US40 via the light at 3^rd Street. From here users can reconnect with the core trail and continue west across Snake Island. Users may also continue along the sidewalk and cross at 5^th Street. Please use caution and follow all detour signage.

In an effort to help protect the community’s number one natural resource, Parks & Recreation has initiated a restoration and access project on the Yampa River. The ten-week project, located behind the Flour Mill, will improve river access, aquatic habitat, bank stabilization and recreational opportunities.

Basalt-based Diggin It’ Riverworks is a small company specializing in white water park constructions, river restoration, excavation and fish habitats. The company has worked on projects throughout the state including Avon, Basalt, Durango, Glenwood Springs, Vail, and the Roaring Fork Valley.