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SCOMBA proposes machine-built "Bobsled" downhill trail at Tenderfoot Meadows; council pauses for site review
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Summary
SCOMBA asked the Summit County Open Space Advisory Council to approve a machine-built downhill "Bobsled" trail as phase 1 of a larger "Tenderfoot Ride Center." Council members said the trail and the broader ride-center concept must be evaluated separately and requested a pinned site visit, Management Plan review, and input from Dillon and Keystone before deciding.
SCOMBA, a regional mountain-biking advocacy group, brought a proposal to the Summit County Open Space Advisory Council on July 2 to build a machine-built, directional "Bobsled" downhill trail at Tenderfoot Meadows as phase 1 of a proposed "Tenderfoot Ride Center." Jordan Mead of county staff displayed a map of the Tenderfoot Open Space showing the proposed alignment, and staff reminded the council that any decision must align with the 2023 Open Space Management Plan for the property.
The proposal described Bobsled as a "blue flow" trail with moderate table tops and banked turns intended for downhill riders; proponents said the trail would be directional-recommended and largely routed to reduce habitat fragmentation by locating much of the alignment adjacent to the existing Sage Trail. SCOMBA representatives said the ride-center concept would include additional machine-built trails of varying difficulty and that some portions would be on U.S. Forest Service lands; they said SCOMBA would accept long-term maintenance responsibility and aim to minimize trail breakage to reduce maintenance needs.
Council members raised several substantive concerns and conditions before approving any construction. Members flagged wildlife impacts — the Tenderfoot area is heavily used by deer and elk — and asked that trail construction and seasonal wildlife closures follow existing County closure timelines. Some members said a single downhill trail adjacent to Sage could be minimally impactful if managed carefully, while others warned that a full "ride center" would shift the parcel's character from conservation-focused open space toward a recreation-first use.
Members also requested further environmental review, noting wetlands near portions of the proposed corridor, and urged coordination with nearby jurisdictions and partners. Katherine King of Open Space and Trails (OST) clarified that the adjacent SCRAP landfill parcel is County-owned and managed for revenue, while the Tenderfoot parcel is managed by OST; some council members expressed concern about industrial uses on SCRAP being incompatible with a ride-center.
Rather than take a vote, OSAC agreed to defer a decision. The council asked staff to: 1) review relevant sections of the 2023 Open Space Management Plan against the proposed alignment; 2) convene a site visit with council members once the proposed alignment is pinned; and 3) obtain input from the Towns of Dillon and Keystone about "feeder" trails and trailhead improvements. SCOMBA said it would like a proposal in time for the county's fall grant cycle and hoped to construct the trail in spring 2026 if approved and permitted.
The council's actions at the meeting were procedural: no motion to adopt or reject the Bobsled alignment was made. The council's next formal step on this item is the requested site visit and additional staff analysis consistent with the Management Plan.