OURAY – Each year in June the Ouray Trails Group, in collaboration with the United States Forest Service, celebrates National Trails Day. National Trails Day this year is Saturday, June 27 and the group will meet near the Gazebo in the Ouray Hot Springs Park at 8 a.m.

This year, the trails group is inviting the public to join with us to help clean up and repair the Chief Ouray Mine Trail that begins in the Amphitheater and climbs about 1,600 feet to the mine. One of the Chief Ouray Mine buildings is visible from Main street in Ouray, if one looks up above the Cascade falls on the north east side of the Amphitheater. Just before one reaches the Mine on the trail, hikers cross the stream and can see Upper Cascade Falls above and below. This is a lovely trail with spectacular views of Ouray, Twin Peaks and up the Camp Bird Road valley. This trail is often called the Upper Cascade Falls trail.

The Ouray Trails Group invites the public to join in and work this trail to remove rocks, widen the trail and repair drainage in the upper portions of the trail. All ages are welcome and those who just want to hike are also welcome. Those who attend will be divided into work groups and will be assigned areas of the trail to work. Those participating should bring a lunch, water, gloves, hat, and wear sunscreen. Depending on the weather, a rain jacket or warm weather jacket maybe needed. We will provide tools and leaders for the work crews. U.S. Forest Service personnel will also be working with the group.

The celebration of National Trails Day is a Ouray Trail Group Tradition and over the years it has had as many as 70 or more people show to help work on trails. Last year it took a break from work and introduced people to the Perimeter Trail and over 50 hardy souls enjoyed seeing Ouray from the various views available from the Perimeter Trail. Last year the trails group also had over 40 volunteers to work on the Blue Lakes Trail to do some major repairs and to hike to the lower Blue Lake. In the past, the trails group, has worked in the Ironton area, on the Hayden Trail and on the Gray Hills Trail on National Trails Day.

For further information on the Ouray Trail Group visit www.ouraytrails.org.

For further information on the Saturday, June 27 hike on the Chief Ouray Mine Trail call Henry Hooper at 626-5310 or by email at h2o@ouraynet.com.