The case, in plain language

Why we are applying

Pikes Peak Outdoors and mountain biking community members have looked at an IMBA Ride Center application and believe the region has a real chance to be awarded a designation. The program recognizes destinations with high-quality, varied trail experiences: 60 or more miles of quality trails and at least three of four badges — Frontcountry, Backcountry, Gravity, and Bike Park. The process itself is worth doing before any badge is decided.

• A roadmap A professional, third-party read on gaps and opportunities in the trail system.
• One table City, land managers, nonprofits, businesses, and riders around a shared, measurable goal.
• Visibility A clearer place on the map for mountain bike travelers who look for curated destinations.
• Better trails at home Criteria that favor sustainable design, skills progression, e-bike and adaptive access, and the amenities residents use all year.

Even before a designation is awarded, the self-assessment and the professional evaluation create an action plan that can guide grants, partnerships, and capital investments for years.

The odds

Promising, and not guaranteed. The region already has significant assets:

• Frontcountry is the strongest card: Palmer Park, Ute Valley Park, Red Rock Canyon Open Space, and other near-town systems with loops for families, after-work rides, and visitors.
• The inventory is still growing, including recent and planned expansions — on the order of 70 or more new miles in development across the region.
• The town is already a basecamp: urban amenities, a local stewardship culture, and outdoor recreation infrastructure that visitors can actually use.

Gaps remain, and this process is how we name them. High-quality mileage still has to be documented across the badge categories. Trail quality and connectivity have to hold up under a visitor’s eye. Gravity and Bike Park are the offerings most likely to need work. The assessment — our inventory, then a two- to three-day on-site review — is the honest evaluation and the concrete recommendation list. Applications are accepted year-round. The primary cost is about $15,000 plus expenses for the IMBA professional assessment, after a low-cost initial consultation.

We believe this is a high-return investment in planning and visibility: a realistic chance at the designation, and, if not this round, a clear roadmap that still leaves local leaders with something they can use.

What it can mean here

The effort also helps Pikes Peak Outdoors knit together roughly 30 regional outdoor projects, so momentum in one place can serve the others. Perspective, partnership, and general support are welcome as we finish the self-assessment and raise the funds for the professional review.