With over 5,700 miles of trail across deserts, mesas, mountains and canyons, the West Slope offers ample opportunity for a variety of recreation. As recreation participation increases, education is necessary to ensure everyone can have a great experience and prevent harm to habitat.
The West Slope offers exceptional recreation opportunities.
Engaging Youth
In 2026, West Slope Outdoors Alliance will debut a youth video competition encouraging youth across Mesa, Montrose, Delta and Ouray counties to share how they recreate responsibly. By creating 90-second or less videos on local public lands, students will demonstrate one of the 7 “Do Colorado Right” Principles:
Know Before You Go
Stick to Trails
Trash the Trash
Leave It As You Find It
Be Careful with Fire
Keep Wildlife Wild
Share Our Trails and Parks
Connecting community
In addition to educating users on how to partake in an activity safely and responsibly, local organizations are critical for trail maintenance, habitat protection and more. In 2025, West Slope Outdoors Alliance partnered with Grand Valley Outdoor Recreation Coalition in Grand Junction and Colorado Outdoors in Montrose to kick-off events with the purpose of connecting community members to their local user groups and nonprofits.
Multi-Use Signs
Partnering with Western Slope Conservation Center and Women’s Surface Creek Saddle Club, West Slope Outdoors Alliance is supporting education on trail courtesy. With funding from Great Outdoors Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, West Slope Outdoors Alliance members will install trail courtesy signs at trailheads in 2026.
