New Bay to Bay Trail at Horsetooth Reservoir Wins Golden McLeod Award for Construction Innovation
A challenging 1.8-mile trail connecting South Bay and Inlet Bay areas at Horsetooth Reservoir has earned the Golden McLeod Award at the Colorado Trails Symposium, recognizing the project's innovative construction techniques across some of the most difficult terrain in Larimer County.
The Bay to Bay Trail, which opened in May, required extensive hand construction across steep rocky ridgelines, old rock quarries, 8-foot cliff bands, and solid sedimentary rock with no level ground for building. The Golden McLeod Award recognizes trail projects that showcase ingenuity in construction and maintenance throughout Colorado.
More than 130 Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado participated in a single weekend trail-building event in May, with additional volunteers contributing throughout the project's completion. The trail opens previously inaccessible peninsula terrain to hikers and mountain bikers while protecting sensitive environmental areas.
Hand Construction Overcame Extreme Terrain Challenges
Construction crews from Larimer County, supported by the Larimer County Conservation Corps and volunteers, built the entire trail by hand to navigate the complex landscape. Workers faced multiple drainage crossings, thick vegetation including wild plums and cedars, and 100% cross-slope terrain that prevented use of machinery.
"It was tough, but it offered the opportunity to use creative trail-building techniques and the abundant natural rock to build something that lasts," according to Joel Schwab, Trails and Project Supervisor for Larimer County Natural Resources.
The trail design prioritized environmental protection, avoiding sensitive plants like mountain mahogany shrubs and bell's twinpod while minimizing visual impact along the hogback ridgeline. Construction techniques incorporated existing rock formations to create durable trail segments that blend with the natural landscape.
The project demonstrates how volunteer coordination and creative engineering can overcome terrain that would typically require expensive machinery or alternative routing through less challenging areas.
Expands Access to Popular Recreation Area
The Bay to Bay Trail strengthens the broader Horsetooth trail network, which includes over 1,000 miles of natural surface trails across Larimer County. The new moderate-level trail provides sweeping reservoir views and creates an entirely new way to experience the landscape for the more than one million annual visitors to Horsetooth.
The trail connects to existing access points at the Blue Sky Trail trailhead and South Bay parking area, integrating with 29 miles of natural surface trails at nearby Horsetooth Mountain Open Space. This connection enhances the continuous shoreline path while avoiding fragmentation of wildlife habitats in the area.
Horsetooth Mountain Open Space serves as a key component of Northern Colorado's interconnected trail system, providing opportunities for hiking, biking, and equestrian activities that complement the new Bay to Bay Trail experience.
Funding Partnership Enabled Project Completion
Great Outdoors Colorado and the Bureau of Reclamation provided essential funding support for the trail construction. GOCO manages Colorado Lottery proceeds to support outdoor projects including trails, parks, and open spaces throughout the state.
GOCO's funding process typically requires detailed project proposals outlining goals, budgets, timelines, and community engagement strategies. The agency often matches or complements local funding sources to maximize project impact across Colorado communities.
The Bureau of Reclamation's partnership reflects the trail's location within the Horsetooth Reservoir area, where federal oversight coordinates with local management to balance recreation access with water resource protection.
"This project was also made possible by funding support from Great Outdoors Colorado and the Bureau of Reclamation, we're grateful for their investment in expanding access to the outdoors for Larimer County residents," Schwab noted.
The successful funding collaboration demonstrates how federal, state, and local partnerships can support complex outdoor recreation infrastructure projects that serve growing populations throughout Northern Colorado.