After years of hard work, this new Aspen trail looks great.

Amid chilly conditions created by an ongoing storm, the city of Aspen held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday for the new Maroon Creek Multi-Use Trail near the Aspen Recreation Center campus.

The event, which was open to all community members, provided a recap of the work involved in opening the trail, which is an integral part of Aspen’s already vast trail system.

“We are excited to open the Maroon Creek Multi-Purpose Trail and provide our community with a space that promotes well-being and connectivity,” said John Spiess, the city’s senior manager of open space and natural resources.

Participants were encouraged to explore the trail after the ceremony. Many braved the cold temperatures to walk along the trail and enjoy the newest addition to Aspen’s trail infrastructure.

“Construction originally started in April this year and has now ended. It’s been four years in the making,” said Aspen communications major Emily Ford. “We are excited to return this improved facility to the public for year-round use.”

Spiess agreed with Ford.

“We started at the end of 2020 by hiring a design firm. I worked on planning for two years before launching Gould Construction,” said Spiess. “We started the field in April and finished ahead of schedule.”

The Maroon Creek Trail provides a safe, year-round connection between the Highway 82 roundabout and the Aspen Recreation Center (ARC), according to city officials. The newly paved trail follows Maroon Creek Road, providing a preferred route for cyclists and pedestrians.

Before the project, the connection between the roundabout and the ARC was a combination of footpath, pavement and carriageway. This setup, while functional, lacked consistency and did not provide reliable year-round accessibility – especially in the winter months when snow and ice posed challenges.

A collaborative team, including experts from Otak, Connect One Design, and several City of Aspen departments—Engineering, Open Space and Trails, and Parks and Recreation—came together to design and execute the project.

Their goal was to ensure a reliable, paved connection that would remain accessible throughout the year. The project came in slightly over budget, but everyone in attendance said the price was well worth it.

“We ended up going over budget because of unforeseen underground conditions,” Spiess said. “The project team was great in solving these problems and because of it, we saved a lot of additional expenses overall.”

The finished trail has a 10-foot-wide paved surface that accommodates a variety of users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, and people with mobility issues. Built to meet ADA accessibility guidelines, the trail maintains a maximum 5% grade where practical and minimizes crossings with access points to enhance safety.

The design also includes a separation from Maroon Creek Road where possible, creating a safer and more enjoyable experience for all users, according to city officials.

“The original intent was to provide a safe way to travel in the Maroon Creek Valley,” Spiess said. “The route offers a whole new experience in this part of the valley that we didn’t have before because the area used to be car-centric. Now, we have a pedestrian and bicycle experience that we didn’t have before.”

With the completion of the Maroon Creek Trail, the community now has a consistent, safe and accessible route between the roundabout and major destinations like ARC and Aspen Highlands, according to the city.

Mayor Aspen Torre commented on the large turnout of community members who came out to celebrate the Maroon Creek ribbon cutting.

“I am excited about this new connection to our trail system that connects our schools and recreation facilities to the city,” he said. “It is a wonderful day with a great gathering of people.”

More details can be found on the city’s website, http://www.aspen.gov/Maroon-Creek-Trail-Project.