Breck Etiquette
Trail Etiquette, Education and Overcrowding by Courtney Kenady On most summer weekends, just as the sun begins to shine on the valley floor, a steady parade of cars descend on trailhead parking lots in Breckenridge. It used to be only during peak season, but 2020 saw a significant increase in visitors yearround. The visitors likely come from around the country, but most are classic Coloradans with spendy Kuat bike racks on shiny Audis, Teslas, large SUVs, pickup trucks, and the occasional “my bike is worth more than my car” folks. They are here for a forced-family-fun hike with the kids and dog, a multihour bike ride, or just a relaxed trail run with their favorite partner. They are in Breckenridge to enjoy the fresh air, open space, and incredible trail network that within a few heart-pounding minutes transports you to the wide-open spaces of the backcountry. French Gulch in Breckenridge is one the most popular recreational destinations because of its easy access to trails and proximity to downtown Breckenridge. In September 2020, the parking at the B&B Trailhead was overflowing into French Gulch Road, even with the newly extended parking lot. Local officials report that the B&B trailhead saw a 30-40% increase for June – August, and August – October. A little history Not long ago, the B&B trail was known as “The Bomber” trail. Rumor has it that one of the more radical residents of the small collection of B&B mining cabins set up a booby-trap to blow up authorities after he was given notice to move out. Before the Town of Breckenridge acquired the property in the early 2000s, French Gulch was populated with eyebrowraising, basic, rustic, primitive mining cabins with nonconformist personalities and also local personalities in their younger years looking for cheap housing and a 28
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quiet, private setting away from the hustle and bustle of town. Another popular draw is Isak Heartstone, the famous and much loved 15-foot tall troll constructed of recycled wood and pallets by artist Thomas Dambo. Isak had to be moved from his original location to the present location near the Stephen C. West Ice Arena because “Its popularity was beyond all expectation,” said Breckenridge town manager Rick Holman in 2019. Flash forward two years and a pandemic, and Isak is still drawing 3000 people a day during the summer and fall. The biggest challenge is keeping visitors on the trail. And visitor numbers may only increase as the pandemic eases its grip and city dwellers are free to flee urban settings. They will be seeking escapes in small isolated mountain towns with cooler temperatures, outdoor activities, wildlife sightings, and endless national forest opportunities. We are not alone Recreational areas across Colorado including county and state open space and national forest lands reported a 200 percent increase in recreational visits in the spring and early summer, says Kyle Patterson, Rocky Mountain National Park’s public affairs officer.* This leads to mile-long entrance station lines, overflowing parking lots, trailheads, and toilets. During the busiest hours, visitors experienced bottlenecking on trails and waiting in line at popular viewing points for Instagramers to get selfies. In response, some land managers for popular national parks such as Rocky Mountain, Zion, and Yosemite have introduced a timed-entry permit system: Wouldbe visitors during the park’s busiest hours had to secure a permit online (available starting a month in advance), with the park allowing only 60 percent of the previous year’s tourist. Vail Resorts used a similar reservation system for
