(Carbondale, Colo.) April 22, 2024 —  The five tourism organizations of the Roaring Fork Valley– Aspen Chamber Resort Association, Snowmass Tourism, Basalt Chamber of Commerce, Carbondale Tourism, and Visit Glenwood Springs– known collectively as the Roaring Fork Valley Destination Alliance (RFVDA) have partnered with the Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) to create voluntourism projects for visitors and residents in each of the five communities of the Roaring Fork Valley throughout the 2024 season. Regenerative Roaring Fork gives visitors a chance to become stewards of the destinations they love by participating in conservation work at five iconic attractions located between Aspen and Glenwood Springs.

Travelers have become more conscious of their impact on the natural environment and destinations they travel to, including community members they interact with. Regenerative tourism is a paradigm shift that sees humans and nature as part of an interconnected living system, where tourism acts in service of the destination and the well-being of communities and the environment is emphasized above profit and growth.

The five Regenerative Roaring Fork tourism projects take place throughout the spring, summer, and fall travel season, starting in May 2024. RFOV offers additional projects throughout the season. Visitors and residents may register for one, multiple or even all events, which are free. The projects are at different levels of physical ease, some are family-friendly and offer activities for children. The projects offer a great way to engage in conservation while meeting local members of the community and giving back to the land. Tasks may include working on trail segments or rebuilding amenities. Tools and other equipment are provided to volunteers, along with refreshments and a post-project meal.

The RFVDA launched in 2022 to create a valley-wide regional tourism alliance, the first of its kind in Colorado, to establish a unified voice for the local tourism industry with the goals of developing solutions to industry barriers and advancing destination stewardship opportunities. The RFVDA formalizes and elevates existing relationships between the five established organizations to focus on activities and programs that promote responsible visitation, champion the Roaring Fork Valley as a wonderful place to live, work and play; and integrate tourism organizations into valley-wide crisis communications strategies.

RFOV is a local stewardship organization that works in partnership with public land managers to identify needs for restoration and maintenance work at popular sites including hiking and biking trails and other natural land attractions such as environmental education sites and ranches. Each tourism partner worked to choose a popular tourist destination, some with cultural or historical significance, within its community where visitors can register to spend several hours of time supporting restoration work.

“Regenerative Roaring Fork tourism projects offer visitors a new way to experience our communities and give back to the five destinations of Aspen, Snowmass, Basalt, Carbondale, and Glenwood Springs,” said Andrea Stewart, President & CEO of Carbondale Tourism. “We have selected five of our favorite and well-loved destinations that often need regular maintenance work. These projects support not just the environment but a prolonged visitor experience for years to come.”

“RFOV is thrilled to partner with the Roaring Fork Valley Destination Alliance. Our region relies on the outdoor recreation economy and visitors are often unaware of all the work needed to keep our trails and open spaces healthy and resilient. By engaging tourists in volunteer trail and restoration projects, we hope to better educate them about the importance of public land stewardship while also providing a more enriching and meaningful visitor experience ,” said Becca Schild, RFOV Executive Director.

Regenerative Roaring Fork– Tourism Projects

Linwood Cemetery/Doc Holliday Cemetery: May 7, 14, 21 | 4 pm – 8 pm | Glenwood Springs

Home to settlers, pioneers, war heroes, and iconic Wild-West characters, such as Doc Holliday, this easily accessible cemetery offers residents and visitors a taste of history among beautiful vistas along the trail. RFOV volunteers will continue the tradition of stewarding this historical landmark through the removal of old fencing, closing off social trails, formalizing existing trails, and stabilizing degrading slopes.

Register at: May 7 – Doc Holliday Trail / May 14 – Doc Holliday Trail /  May 21 – Doc Holliday Trail

Rock Bottom Ranch: June 1 | 9 am – 3 pm | Little Explorers Available | Basalt

Originally settled and worked by the Glassier family in the early 1900’s, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) purchased Rock Bottom Ranch in 1999. RFOV will be working along a segment of their 113-acre property to improve two different public trails that connect to the Rio Grande Trail/Bike Path.

Register at: June 1 – Rock Bottom Ranch

Hunter-Smuggler Valley: June 8 | 8:30 am – 3:30 pm | Aspen

This beautiful, historic, and well-trafficked area right outside of downtown Aspen has numerous trails that are beloved by hikers and mountain bikers alike. This trail system is in-need of regular seasonal maintenance work and RFOV is returning to these trails to help prepare them for a busy summer season. Which of these trails is your favorite? Come work on it with RFOV!

Register at: June 8 – Hunter Smuggler

Nature Trail Reroute: August 6, August 13 | 4 pm – 8 pm | Snowmass Village

In 2023, a small sinkhole progressed into a large landslide and cut a swath across the popular Nature Trail in Snowmass Village. The town has since built a bridge to span the damaged area of the trail, but needs your help to rebuild the trail tread in and around the bridge and improve the sustainability of this trail along its length. Come join us for one or both evenings.

Register at: Aug 6 – Nature Trail / Aug 13 – Nature Trail

Coffman Ranch: October 6 | 9 am – 3 pm | Little Explorers Available | Carbondale

Coffman Ranch features 141 acres of productive ranch land, native wildlife habitat, and more than a century of deep agricultural roots. Join us to help create a welcoming place for our community and build deep connections with land, wildlife, and water.

*Little Explorers is open to students ages 4-8 while their parents volunteer. This free program occurs on-site during select Community Projects! Little Explorers includes a scavenger hunt, art with natural materials, and structured nature play for your kids while you take part in the project.

Register at: Oct 6 – Coffman Ranch

(Note to editors: project images are available here.)

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About the Roaring Fork Valley Destination Alliance (RFVDA)

Located in the Rockies Playground region of western Colorado, the Roaring Fork Valley stretches 40 miles alongside the Roaring Fork River and the historic Rio Grande railway line. The valley represents a diverse set of tourism communities and visitor attractions, from the world-renowned ski mountains of Aspen and Snowmass Village to Colorado’s first-ever historic resort town of Glenwood Springs to the more rural destinations that sit on the Gold Medal waters of the Roaring Fork and Crystal Rivers, Basalt and Carbondale. The recently established Roaring Fork Valley Destination Alliance (RFVDA) brings together the destination organizations that manage tourism for Aspen, Snowmass Village, Basalt, Carbondale, and Glenwood Springs to collectively establish a unified voice for the tourism industry within the Roaring Fork Valley and to advance valley-wide solutions for tourism industry barriers and opportunities. 

About Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV)

Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers aims to foster a diverse and engaged community of outdoor stewards working collectively for the benefit of our public lands. Each year, they engage over a thousand unique volunteers and educate hundreds of students through hands on trail and restoration projects.

Media Contract: Sarah-Jane Johnson/ Carbondale Tourism: sarahjane@roadmapconsult.com

Note to Editors

About Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA)

Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Aspen’s business community and enhancing the visitor experience. ACRA is a unique blend of a traditional chamber of commerce and a visitors’ and convention bureau made up of approximately 750+ local businesses, a strong, diverse board of directors, and a dedicated staff. ACRA’s four departments which support the Aspen business community are Destination Marketing and Group Sales, Membership, Special Events, and Visitor Services. www.aspenchamber.org

About Snowmass Tourism

Snowmass Tourism is a department of the Town of Snowmass Village. The mission of Snowmass Tourism is to support the town’s economy through activities, events and programs that attract visitors and the associated spending. Snowmass wishes to be seen as welcoming, dynamic, convenient and successful and will always be responsible stewards of the environment, economy and society. Snowmass Tourism is funded by dedicated sales and lodging taxes. www.gosnowmass.com

About Basalt Chamber of Commerce

In addition to advocating for and empowering the small businesses in the community, the Basalt Chamber of Commerce manages the promotion and marketing of Basalt and mid-Roaring Fork Valley area. Marketing and tourism efforts are funded through a portion of the local lodging tax.  www.basaltchamber.org

About Carbondale Tourism

An entity of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, Carbondale Tourism follows the mission to create a strong tourism economy by promoting the Town by managing, developing and marketing tourism. Carbondale Tourism focuses on the core values of sustainable tourism: promote smart growth and support local businesses; take pride in the unparalleled outdoor recreation and natural assets; celebrate and preserve the small-town character and culture. Carbondale Tourism is funded by a 2% lodging tax. www.carbondale.com

About Visit Glenwood Springs

Visit Glenwood Springs is the tourism department of the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association. Also known as The Land of Water, Glenwood Springs is where world-famous hot springs meet year-round outdoor adventures. Glenwood Springs is located at the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers, 160 miles (257 kilometers) west of Denver on I-70. www.visitglenwood.com

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