Click HERE for Colorado Trails Explorer app. This is the official, most up to date map of Red Rock Canyon trails and all other trails in Colorado.
Click here for the TOPS working committee recommendation to the city’s proposed e-bike policy. NOTE: The TOPS Working Committee recommendation to the Parks Advisory Board was over ridden by the board. See Nov/Dec News update.
The Board of Directors of the Friends of Red Rock Canyon Open Space has considered the City’s initiative to permit use of e-bikes in Red Rock Canyon and other TOPS open space properties. While there are board members who favor the use of e-bikes in open spaces and others who are against it, the Board’s official position is that the unambiguous language in the TOPS ordinance, the Conservation Easements and the Red Rock Canyon Master Plan must be respected and followed and that a change to the TOPS ordinance permitting e-bikes requires a vote of the citizens.
The language of the TOPS ordinance clearly and unequivocally states that trails are thoroughfares within open space lands “for nonmotorized use” and “no motorized vehicles” shall be permitted. See City Code 4.6.101 (N) and (O). This ordinance, with the nonmotorized use provisions, was voted on and approved by the City voters in 1997 and 2003. Most recently in 2023, the TOPS ordinance was extended with this identical “nonmotorized use” language. The TOPS ordinance was passed by a vote of the people and can only be changed by a vote of the people. The letter and spirit of the law requires nothing less.
The Board of Directors’ position that the language unequivocally prohibits use of motorized bicycles is bolstered by the language of the Master Plan and the Conservation Easements.
The Red Rock Canyon Open Space Master and Management Plan from January 2013 under the Trail System section at Page IV.7 states:
“The primary recreational feature of the Red Rock Canyon Open Space is the non-motorized multi-use trail system. It is the defining and organizing element of the open space.”
The Master Plan states that it is a cooperative agreement between the community and the City of Colorado Springs and that it is a community-created plan. (page A.a) The Master Plan was developed as a result of several well-attended community meetings. It was endorsed by the Palmer Land Trust Stewardship Committee and recommended for approval by the TOPS Working Committee and the Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. The non-motorized trail feature of the Master Plan should not be changed without a Master Plan type public process.
Also, there are two Conservation Easements for Red Rock Canyon that require a non-motorized trail system. There is the original Deed of Conservation Easement, Red Rock Canyon Open Space – El Paso County from May 2006 and the Deed of Conservation Easement, Manitou Section 16 Open Space – El Paso County from December 2010. Both Conservation Easements prohibit the use of motor vehicles and specifically only allow “non-motorized passive recreational uses such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding….” See 2006 and 2010 Conservation Easements, section 3(k) and 3(q)
The Board of Directors understands that e-bikes were not common when these documents were developed and approved. The Board also recognizes the current popularity of e-bikes. The Board has also considered the arguments that e-bikes are not motorized vehicles in the traditional sense. Regardless, the Board concludes that the unambiguous reference to a non-motorized trail system in the TOPS ordinance, the Conservation Easements and the Master Plans were developed through a public process and should not be changed or modified without a similar public process that includes a City-wide vote on modifying the TOPS ordinance.
Friends of Red Rock Canyon Open Space Board of Directors sadly announces the passing of two dear friends and board members. Recently, David Schell, our President and Stewart Green, our rock climbing advocate, passed away within just a few days of each other. Both David and Stewart were long time board members and passionate stewards of our open space. Words cannot express how much we will miss them. You can see David’s obituary HERE and an article in the Gazette about Stewart HERE.
Click on the “News” tab at the top of the page to see the Summer 2023 edition of our newsletter as well as older archived editions.
On May 1 the Friends of Red Rock Canyon partnered with the school and the City of Colorado Springs to host a full day field trip for the entire student body of Ute Pass Elementary, consisting of 175 students, teachers and parents. The school was able to secure a grant to purchase native flora for the students to plant in the area of the old reclaimed catch pond and the newly redesigned Roundup Trail. Ranger Wes provided safety instruction and was joined by about six other rangers and David, Glenn, Shanti, Sean, Dave and Dan from the board. Everyone had a great time and a rewarding experience.
Last fall, the Friends received a gracious letter from an instructor at Ute Pass Elementary school thanking us for helping them achieve a Leave No Trace Youth Program Accreditation. This is the first school in the nation to do this. Read details HERE. On April 22, 2022, FoRRC teamed up with teachers, parents and students from the school for an educational field day in Red Rock Canyon Open Space for this(see below).
Below is a link to a KKTV newscast at RRCOS about the importance of staying on designated trails and the damage caused by rogue trails. https://www.kktv.com/2021/08/24/destructive-avoidable-park-rangers-reminding-hikers-not-go-off-trails-or-take-short-cuts/
These photos were sent to FoRRC by Scott Schow, great, great grandson of the original founder of the Greenlee Quarry. The Second photo is of Juanita Schow and Bud Greenlee, grandchildren of the original owner of the quarry.
If you have an idea of how to improve our open space please share it with us. Your friends’ group Board of Directors is looking for suggestions and we will consider all reasonable ideas. Please contact us here .
Here is a link to an interesting article about on rock cairns at National parks: Rock Cairns
LEAVE NO TRACE