May 31, 2021 – Mosca, CO – Great Sand Dunes will close portions of Montville Nature Trail to complete maintenance and repairs on the upper bridge from June 2 to June 8, 2021. Visitors will still have access to the remainder of Montville Nature Trail, Wellington Ditch Trail, and Mosca Pass Trail by accessing the Montville Nature Trail from the lower bridge.

Montville Trail features aspen and conifer forests along a small creek.
Photo credit: Patrick Myers – NPS

The upper bridge will be replaced because significant deterioration was discovered during a recent inspection. This deterioration has caused damage to the supports that span Mosca Creek. Because of this deterioration, the bridge lacks support to maintain continued use and poses a health and safety risk to visitors and staff. The closure is necessary to allow crews to safely remove the supports and replace them the new infrastructure will provide hikers and horseback riders a safe route to cross Mosca Creek when accessing the scenic Montville Nature, Wellington Ditch, and Mosca Pass trails.

The trail improvements are being completed by Great Sand Dunes seasonal maintenance staff, Conservation Legacy Conservation Interns, and Conservation Legacy (Southwest Conservation Corps) Leaders of Color trail crew. Two Conservation interns are completing 24-week terms throughout the summer and fall with the Branch of Facility Management to work on facility and infrastructure projects that will significantly impact the visitor experience. These interns are part of a cohort of seven interns the park hired as an initiative to train a local workforce to inspire the next generation of public land managers.

The trail project is also being supported by the Conservation Legacy (Southwest Conservation Corps) Leaders of Color crew. Conservation Legacy, a national organization dedicated to supporting locally based conservation service programs, received a National Park Foundation Service Corps grant to promote racial equity in the natural resources management field and will implement the grant in three southwest park units – Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Mesa Verde National Park, and Aztec Ruins National Monument. The Leaders of Color trail crew will work alongside park staff and interns to complete the infrastructure project while also learning trade skills and a deeper understanding of the natural and cultural resources they are providing access to. The Leaders of Color trail crew consists of 6 crew members and 2 crew leaders, all of whom self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or Person of Color. This crew provides a supportive space where members gain trainings and technical skills. Great Sand Dunes will provide updates on the park website and social media platforms as the project progresses. For more information about the Montville Nature Trail closure, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/grsa or contact Kathy Faz, Public Information Officer, at (719) 378-6341.

Source: NPS Release