Cougar Ridge Trail has long been a cornerstone of the Vail Valley's cycling and hiking scene, drawing both locals and visitors seeking to explore the area’s rugged beauty. What was once a challenging, steep and unsustainable trail that connected the top of Vail Ski Resort to the town of Minturn, Colorado, is now a vastly improved and more sustainable experience for trail users.
With the hard work and collaboration with McGill Trail Fabrication (MTF), the U.S. Forest Service and Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance (VVMTA), Cougar Ridge Trail, in Vail, Colorado has received a much-needed facelift, ensuring it remains a beloved trail for years to come.
The original Cougar Ridge Trail, while offering stunning vistas and spectacular views, was notorious for its steep and unsustainable segments. These sections suffered heavy wear from both foot traffic and bike use, as well as from stormwater and snowmelt erosion. The trail’s alignment was tough on both users and the environment, and frequent maintenance was required to keep it safe and functional.
MTF was enlisted by the U.S. Forest Service and VVMTA to address these challenges and redesign the trail to better suit the needs of both hikers and bikers. Their solution? Reroute the steep, eroded sections and give the trail a fresh, sustainable design that would reduce long-term maintenance needs while preserving the views that made Cougar Ridge so iconic.
The new alignment eliminates the long steep straightaways that were prone to erosion, and instead features smoother, more gradual grades that are easier on both users and the trail itself. The trail was re-graded and resurfaced in key areas to improve water drainage and prevent further damage from stormwater runoff. This redesign not only enhances the user experience but also ensures the long-term sustainability of the trail, with reduced maintenance needs moving forward.
A LOGISTICAL FEAT IN THE BACKCOUNTRY
Cougar Ridge located deep in the Vail backcountry, presented unique challenges for the MTF team. This project actually became one of the most ambitious in MTF’s history, requiring a creative approach to logistics and a commitment to getting the job done in an unforgiving environment.
To reach the work site, MTF’s team had to “bike pack” into each zone every week, carrying all the necessary gear—including food, camping supplies, and even fuel for the machinery—miles into the forest. Along with the standard camping equipment, the team had to haul in excavator fuel, chainsaws, and other heavy tools needed for the work. This meant spending entire workweeks in the backcountry, with the crew camping on the trail for the duration of their work, regardless of weather conditions.
Despite these logistical hurdles, MTF’s determination and hard work paid off. The team was able to reroute and rebuild the trail to meet both environmental and user needs, and the project became a shining example of what can be accomplished with grit, innovation, and collaboration.
One of the most difficult aspects of this project was designing a trail that would be enjoyable for both hikers and mountain bikers—two user groups with very different needs and preferences. Balancing these interests while preserving the rugged beauty of the landscape was no small task, but the feedback MTF received from the U.S. Forest Service, VVMTA, and the local community suggested that the project was a resounding success.
Today, Cougar Ridge is once again a trail that welcomes all types of outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're hiking to enjoy the panoramic views or riding to tackle its challenging terrain, the trail offers a safe, sustainable, and enjoyable experience for everyone. The redesign not only improves the overall experience for users but also reduces the long-term maintenance demands, ensuring that future generations will be able to enjoy the trail as much as we do today.
In the end, it’s the collaborative spirit and tireless work of the MTF team, the U.S. Forest Service, and the VVMTA that made this project a success. The feedback from locals and visitors alike has been overwhelmingly positive, and it’s clear that Cougar Ridge is now better than ever—proving that with dedication and vision, a trail can evolve while still preserving its essence and charm.