ASPEN – The boardwalk portion of the East of Aspen Trail will be closed Sept. 14 and 15 while repair work begins on buckled sections of the structure.
The boardwalk carries the bike/pedestrian trail over wetland areas, southeast of Aspen. The East of Aspen Trail connects Aspen and Difficult Campground – a distance of about 5 miles – providing an alternative to travel on adjacent Highway 82. Users will be detoured onto the roadway, at both ends of the boardwalk, during the repair work. The remainder of the trail will be open.
Installed in 2004, the boardwalk is held up by metal piers. It crosses through about 900 feet of wetlands.
In other sections of the East of Aspen Trail, small, arched bridges that were a barrier to disabled trail users have been removed this summer. Culverts have replaced the bridges, allowing the trail to remain at a level grade as it crosses small streams. Except for the boardwalk segment, the East of Aspen Trail is primarily a gravel path.
Contact: Gary Tennenbaum
Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Assistant Director
gary.tennenbaum@pitkincounty.com or 970-920-5355