An envisioned “world-class” mountain biking trail system is taking shape in southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains.

Nonprofit Silverton Singletrack Society had planned an event in the fall to celebrate the first build-out of the trail system called Baker’s Park.

“And then of course we had a snowstorm roll in right on time,” said Klem Branner, president of the group in the remote town near 9,300 feet. “So instead we’re looking to do an opening celebration in the spring, probably around May 1.”

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That’s when a seasonal wildlife closure lifts over Baker’s Park. The vision is 30 miles of trail purpose-built for bikes but open also to runners and hikers — trails in easy reach of town, skirting Boulder Mountain in view.

A 7-mile loop will give visitors a taste of what’s to come, Branner said.

Over the summer, specialists with International Mountain Bicycling Association and helping hands with Southwest Conservation Corps finished the loop rising up into aspen and evergreen woods before winding down over banked turns and bike-centric features.

“We had to cancel (the opening celebration), but people still got to ride it a little bit before we officially opened,” Branner said. “And man, people were definitely stoked and impressed.”

People on foot were as well, he said.

“The views from the climb are amazing,” Branner said. “It’s a nice, smooth trail and it’s a nice grade, where everything else around here is super steep and rocky.”

Baker’s Park is meant “to fill a gap,” he explained. Around Silverton, the popular experience has involved old roads or old trails shooting down “gnarly stuff,” Branner said.

“But if you’re intermediate, there isn’t really much. That was the point, to fill that middle gap, but also have more purpose-built advanced stuff and purpose-built beginner stuff that isn’t a road. So something for everybody.”

The idea dates back to when Silverton Singletrack Society formed about 10 years ago. The idea became a possibility through Bureau of Land Management planning, followed by major funding from a Colorado Parks and Wildlife grant in 2022.

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More funding was recently announced from Great Outdoors Colorado — $66,285. That will be for more Southwest Conservation Corps work this summer, Branner said.

Other work will focus on “flagging the entire remaining 20 miles of the system, so the whole thing will be shovel-ready,” Branner said.

Construction would depend on funding, he said. “It’s taken us 10 years to get to this point, so we’re just gonna continue pushing on it.”