When David Wiens thinks of “trail towns” in Colorado, he thinks of many more than just four. 

He thinks of many more than just the four that made the debut list of the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s designated Trail Towns. 

“People are reading this list and not so much seeing who’s on there, but they’re seeing who’s not on there,” said Wiens, IMBA’s Gunnison-based executive director. “They’re going, Wait a minute, what about …” 

He gets it. And he offers clarification: “We didn’t just award places out of the blue. Everyone that was awarded had applied.” 

Breckenridge, Leadville, Salida and New Castle were the towns in Colorado that applied, said Jillian Olson, who led the first-year initiative as IMBA’s community progress manager. They were four among 24 others nationwide that first completed an assessment before being invited to apply for the Trail Town designation. 

“The towns in Colorado that applied, we were happy to award them,” Olson said. 

Happy, too, are leaders and advocates in those towns. 

They echoed a social media post by Cloud City Wheelers, the nonprofit stewarding trails around Leadville: “This national designation recognizes communities that value trails and the people who ride them. Trails are an important part of what makes Leadville such a great place to live, work and play.”

Salida Mountain Trails Executive Director Jon Terbush said the designation “reflects years of collaboration” between his nonprofit, volunteers, the local government and various land managers — “all working toward a shared vision for trails.” 

For Breckenridge, the Trail Town designation “acknowledges our trail network as an essential asset that supports our local identity, economic vitality and overall quality of life,” said Alex Stach, with the town’s Open Space and Trails program. “We sought this designation because it validates the hard work of our community and seasonal trail technicians in maintaining a top-tier system.”

Validation was expressed as well by officials and enthusiasts in New Castle — “a sleeper for some,” Wiens said of the Western Slope town. “Not everybody knows about the amazing trails around New Castle.” 

Graham Riddile knows, having grown up in town and watched a trail revolution play out over the past 10 years. Across desert terrain surrounding New Castle, formerly “rogue” riders have worked alongside the Bureau of Land Management and private landowners to build and formalize trails. 

“It’s definitely enhanced the quality of life, that’s the best part,” said Riddile, who sits on the Town Council. “If people want to come and enjoy it, all the better. If they want to spend money here, great. But at the end of the day, it’s pretty cool I can go out of my garage and be on the trail in two minutes.” 

He could not have said that in his teenage days in New Castle. “We went from having something like 5 miles of trail to now we’re up to around 30,” he said. 

This satisfied one criteria of IMBA’s Trail Town award.

“A minimum of 25 miles of natural-surface trails within a 30-minute radius of town center” is listed on a webpage that also calls for “demonstrated trail funding sources,” “an active local trail organization” and “strong community engagement and consistent stewardship.” 

Also required: a qualifying score IMBA calculates from town representatives filling out a free, written assessment. With a high enough score, towns are then invited to pay $500 to apply for a more detailed, critical review by IMBA. 

While Olson said all four Colorado applicants were awarded, she declined to say how many filled out an assessment seeking a qualifying score. Speaking nationally, “The amount of assessments was exponentially higher than the people who actually applied for the designation,” Olson said. 

The designation lasts three years, at which point towns can reapply to remain on the list. IMBA will be taking applications and considering additions every year. 

“I feel very confident by next year, this list will grow,” Olson said.

That’s as she’s heard from several more interested towns — evidently seeing the value IMBA envisioned for the designation. 

It’s new and different from IMBA’s Ride Center designation, which the organization describes as “the gold standard for mountain bike destinations with epic variety, unmatched quality and progression that keeps every rider stoked.” The Roaring Fork Valley/Aspen Snowmass is Colorado’s sole gold level Ride Center, with Steamboat Springs and the Vail Valley holding silver distinctions. 

Along with “a welcoming and vibrant locale,” as IMBA explains on its webpage, the Trail Town distinction is meant to award “an ethos” and “commitment to fostering a diverse array of outdoor experiences within reach of every resident and visitor.” And by symbolizing buy-in, IMBA bills the award for helping with leverage and “attract trail funding, grants and other economic incentives.”

For long in Colorado, through the ’70s and ’80s that saw riders blazing trails themselves, they “felt like they were on an island,” Wiens said. “But what we’re really seeing more and more of is communities recognizing the economic benefits of trails and the health and wellness benefits of trails and really getting behind thoughtful trail development.” 

Wiens points to economic transformations in his own town of Gunnison and nearby Crested Butte — worthy Trail Towns in his mind, among others in the state. 

Still, at four towns on the initial list, Colorado represents more than any other state. “It’s a solid list,” Wiens said, “and we’re hearing lots of interesting discussions about it.”

He hopes it inspires more discussions: “It really can show folks and help make the case for trails. Not every community recognizes how important trails can be, and this can really put it out there for folks.”