North Fruita Desert Trails Master Plan

Landscape Architecture > Parks, Trails and Greenways > North Fruita Desert Trails Master Plan

Fruita, Colorado

Client: City of Fruita

THK completed a Master Plan for the North Fruita Desert Trails. The area consists of approximately 6,000 acres north of the City of Fruita, marked by an extensive trail system cutting across the desert around 18 Road. Most of these trails are “rogue trails”, unplanned and un-programmed that have been created by visitors that “love” the space in the wrong way.

These social trails became a burden on the City and the BLM for maintenance and on the environment with erosion issues and other negative impacts of sensitive ecosystems that occur from improperly planned and constructed trails. THK worked with the City, BLM and the local community to help create a more sustainable trail system that protected the natural environment while offering first-class mountain biking.

The main objective of the Master Plan was to address existing and future trail issues through sustainable design, plan for a full range of users, protect the natural resources in the space and educate visitors on how to properly use and respect the open space.