Black Canyon, Arizona: IMBA Assistance Agreement Helps BLM Build Trails
Thanks to IMBA's Assistance Agreement with the BLM, more trails are being built across the country by IMBA's expert trailbuilders.
The historic Black Canyon Trail (BCT) provides a critical link to the past and future of Arizona. Use of the canyon has altered from a livestock driveway to a recreational mecca, providing a backcountry experience that is accessible to the growing populations of Phoenix, Prescott and communities along the I-17 corridor. The BLM contracted with Trail Solutions to assess the current trail layout and make recommendations for its improvement.
When designated by Congress as a trail in 1969, the BCT was, and remains today, a series of lightly used dirt roads, which provides the potential for long distance travel. However, vandalism, erosion, and lack of access have hindered the trail's success.
IMBA Trail Solutions and the BLM began talks with area mountain bike, equestrian, hiking and off-highway vehicle groups to determine what they wanted from the trail system. Using this information, Trail Solutions designed more than 40 miles of additional trail along the southern half of the BCT that will incorporate new, easily accessible trailheads and stacked-loop trails that originate near the communities along the Black Canyon. The design concentrates on trail sustainability and connectivity to the surrounding communities via I-17. The design goal is to maximize the trail users experience for each group.
When the project is complete, it may include more than 200 miles of interconnected trails between Phoenix and Prescott, making it one of the premier trail systems in the country.
"Not only will this be a huge trail system, but it will serve as a model for public-private partnerships," said IMBA trail solutions coordinator Scott Linnenburger. "The enthusiastic cooperative attitude between the BLM and the different user groups is sure to guarantee an outrageous success."
Contact IMBA for more information how the BLM Assistance Agreement can help you. Click here for more info on IMBA Trail Solutions.
Key Lessons:
- Agreements on paper can lead to new trails
- Work with other user groups
- IMBA Trail Solutions or other professional trail services can help
