LARAMIE – Conservation groups today applauded the Forest Service for it proposal to turn an old railroad bed in the Medicine Bow Mountains into a nonmotorized recreation trail. The trail would run from near Lake Owen over the divide to end at the Colorado border, and would be open to mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing. The railroad originally was built in the early 1900s, but has been abandoned, and the rails have been removed.

"Recreational demands on our national forests are on the rise, and this project shows how the Forest Service can use existing roads and trails to improve recreation opportunities without major impacts to landscapes and wildlife," said Erik Molvar of Biodiversity Conservation Alliance.

Two surveys conducted by independent contractors indicated that a majority of local citizens preferred non-motorized use for the historic railbed, rather than opening it up to motorized vehicles. In its official scoping notice, the Forest Service noted that in this case, motorized use would be unsafe and would damage the historic railbed.

"Motorized recreation has come to dominate the Medicine Bow in recent years, and it’s getting harder and harder for visitors to find a place where they can get away from the noise and pollution," said Patricia Dowd of the Sierra Club. "This rails to trails project provides a proactive solution that works for people and the environment."