Tres Valles West Trails and Common Area Access

Tres Valles West Trails and Common Area Access

1. 
   Existing ORV Trails (ORV Includes ATVs, UTVs, and dirt bikes)
   

1. 
   Lost Lake Trail –
   

1. 
   Trail gives access to Lost Lake as an end point.
   
2. 
   In the future, look at a way to have an alternate way around the steepest portions.
   
3. 
   Also a maintenance road for the water line from Spring 1 to Water Plant
   
4. 
   Consider safety – the route has very steep portion
   

2. 
   West Side Cut-off Trail
   
   1. 
      Branches off of West Ranch road (Valley View) to Spring 1 then to the alternate west gate Ranch entrance
      

1. 
   Fun trail for beginners.
   
2. 
   Access for weed abatement on SW side of Ranch
   

3. 
   LP Trail
   
   1. 
      Goes south off El Centro road to the pond by Lehman’s
      
   2. 
      No dirt bikes
      
   3. 
      Daylight use only
      
   4. 
      Designated as a SLOW trail
      
   5. 
      Provides access to the pond for fishing, picnicking
      

4. 
   Hammond Cut-off Trail
   
   1. 
      Old ranch road – goes northeast from East Valley road (where road to Tom Hammond’s ranch crosses the East Valley Road) and reconnects to the East Valley road between two fence posts opposite the blue water tank
      
   1. 
      Access to this area for weed abatement
      

2. 
   New ORV Trails – All these trails provide a destination point – an interesting place to explore, a wonderful area to picnic, beautiful scenery, and a branching off point for hiking.
   

1. 
   Windy Point Trail
   
   1. 
      Gives access to Windy Point – high point on the southern tip of Camel Ridge.
      
   2. 
      Heads west off of East Valley Road, skirting the scrub oak to a meadow, then a short hike to Windy Point.
      
   3. 
      Also gives access to hike to Lone Pine Point which is further north up Camel Ridge
      
   4. 
      Comments from Lonnie Brown: this is a reasonable trail which does not interfere with the elk escape route, does not interfere with any nesting birds in the dyke and provides incredible scenic beauty.
      
   5. 
      Plan this for 2011
      

2. 
   Williamson Ridge South Trail
   
   1. 
      From Blue water tank, follow road east to property line and fence. Follow fence line due north to scrub oak. Skirt scrub oak short distance to gulley, meet up with old road on east side of gully. Beautiful meadow to park vehicle and hike Williamson Ridge or picnic. Trail continues on old road until veering west, skirting scrub oak, then back to East Valley road.
      
   2. 
      No visibility from the East Valley road.
      
   3. 
      Comments from Lonnie Brown: should be no concern for disturbing wildlife.
      
   4. 
      Not before 2012.
      

3. 
   Saddle Rock Trail
   
   1. 
      From the far north end of the East Valley road go due east along the fence line to the scrub oak at the bottom of Williamson Ridge. Work through the scrub oak going south, then veer east toward the low saddle. Vehicles would be parked in open area. Climb to the top of the saddle and view or hike the other side of Williamson Ridge. This is TVW property that is currently not accessible.
      
   2. 
      Only visibility would be along the fence line.
      
   3. 
      Comments from Lonnie Brown: should be no concern for disturbing wildlife.
      
   4. 
      Not before 2012
      

3. 
   New Purpose-Specific Trails – Short trails to provide particular access points
   

1. 
   Shooting Range Trail
   
   1. 
      Branches off of Lost Lake Trail going due west, prior to the first steep climb.
      
   2. 
      A short trail that dead ends at potential shooting range.
      
   3. 
      Shooting Range would be developed keeping safety in mind
      
   4. 
      ORV access to get to the Range
      
   5. 
      Plan for 2011.
      
   6. 
      Need to document safety/legal/insurance measures that will need to be taken to have a shooting range.
      
2. 
   Dead Wood Trail
   
   1. 
      Branches off the main road where the road forks to go to our Water Tank, northwest of the water plant.
      
   2. 
      A safety factor as a fire in this area would be a disaster
      
   3. 
      First construction would be about 100 ft. Then open it to residents to collect fire wood. Once the first area reasonably clean, construct another 100 feet, and so on.
      
   4. 
      Not before 2012.
      

3. 
   New Non-ORV Trails (Hiking, mountain bike riding, horseback riding)
   

1. 
   Old Mine Trail
   
   1. 
      Head south from the southwest corner of the Dumpster area down the slope to a large meadow. Still heading south, wind a short distance through scrub oak until the TVW south fence line is visible. Keep the fence line in sight and head west. This then intersects the old road from the coal mines. Head north up the old road to the mines, the large rock formations, etc. for hiking and exploring.
      
   2. 
      This trail will require a small amount of trimming in the scrub oak areas in order to provide a clear path.
      
   3. 
      Not before 2012
      

2. 
   Lost Lake Circuit
   
   1. 
      Trail around Lost Lake
      
   2. 
      Park vehicles at the south east open and flat area by the lake
      
   3. 
      Will require volunteers to clear out the dead timber and dispose of it.
      
   4. 
      Purpose is to enjoy the incredible serenity and beauty of this spot
      
   5. 
      Not before 2013.
      

3. 
   Existing Maintenance Road
   

1. 
   East Valley Road
   
   1. 
      Any access allowed, but discouraged for vehicles which are not off road capable
      
   2. 
      Maintenance road for Crawford water and access to East Valley for Ranch management
      

3. 
   Off-Road Parking Areas
   

1. 
   By Fox Pond (the main pond) for fishing
   
2. 
   At north end of Camel Ridge for access to the ridge for hiking
   
3. 
   Plan for 2011
   

7. 
   Other ORV Access Trails Considered But Rejected
   

1. 
   Trail along the Hiway 160 fence line – starting at road to gas well (just north of the main gate entrance), going east, and winding through the south east area of the ranch. Ending with a connection to the East Valley Road. Consideration for a fire break – but would have taken bulldozer effort, and might have impacted the scenic route along 160.
   

2. 
   Trail south from blue water tank. Large area of leafy spurge which needs tending, however creating a trail was considered not in our best interest due to impact on the land in this area.
   

4. 
   Trail from the West ranch gate over two ridges and into the Coal Mine valley area with the large rock formations. Not considered feasible at this time, and likely too disturbing of the land to cut a trail over the two ridges. Instead, a non-ORV trail is proposed into this area. See Old Mine Trail, D.1., above. Camel Ridge Trail
   

5. 
   Camel Ridge Trail - Loop off East Valley road. Northern entrance heads south through scrub oak, across a gulley, zig-zags through the scrub oak, to the Windy Point Trail intersection, then heads east back to the East Valley road. Trail stays fairly low on Camel Ridge. Northern part essentially parallels East Valley road, but is completely out of sight except at the north and south entrances. Provides access to Windy Point Trail. This trail has been deleted due to the potential impact on the elk.
   

8. 
   Other Comments and Proposed Actions
   

1. 
   The historical name for the middle ridge in TRES VALLES WEST is Camel Ridge and for the east ridge, Williamson Ridge. (Information from Bud Kreutzer and Lonnie Brown)
   
2. 
   This ‘Tres Valles West Trails and Common Area Access’ document is the Master Plan for common area access for the next few years. No other trails will be constructed without POA approval – except for true emergency situations (fire fighting actions, rancher access, etc.) and will be considered a one-time or short term use.
   
3. 
   Plans are to give each trail a relative rating (green, blue, black) and post these ratings on the trail designation sign
   
4. 
   A large Tres Valles West map will be posted at the gate kiosk with the ‘OPEN’ trails indicated.
   
5. 
   A ‘Welcome to Tres Valles West’ sign will also be posted at the gate kiosk.
   
6. 
   The TVW map, the ‘Tres Valles West Trails and Common Area Access’ document, and the Tres Valles West Common Area Rules and Regulations’ document will be posted on the TVW website.