The Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative (RPI) advances regionally driven collaboratives working to ensure that Colorado’s land, water, and wildlife thrive while also providing equitable and safe access to quality outdoor recreation experiences. Moving forward, we will share monthly success stories from Regional Partnerships and explore how they are advancing Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy on the ground.

Cyclists Image, Courtesy of Abe Medina

Shrikes and Bikes Mural, Credit Joni Mitchek

Cyclist at Homestead Farms Entrance, Credit Dan Skeeters

Union Pacific Roundhouse, Credit Jay Cooney

Bikes at Barn, Credit Jay Cooney

Native Grasses Display at Homestead Farms, Credit Jay Cooney

August’s Success Story of the Month: Shrikes and Bikes

On June 6, Colorado’s inaugural Prairie Day, the Eastern Colorado Grasslands Coalition (ECGC) held a scenic gravel cycling experience through Lincoln County’s shortgrass prairie and the working lands it sustains.

This event, called Shrikes and Bikes, brought together 75 cyclists who connected with community members, observed prairie wildlife, learned from local agricultural producers, and experienced historic preservation sites along the way. One aid station was held at the fourth generation, family-run Homestead Farms, where riders had the unique opportunity to speak with the owners about the unique considerations of dryland farming in this semi-arid region.

Shrikes and Bikes reflected the strong partnerships formed by the ECGC and demonstrated how stewardship is championed by the communities who call the prairie home. As part of the Regional Partnerships Initiative, the ECGC helps advance Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy and its vision for a future where our outdoors, people, community character and ways of life endure for generations to come.

The next Shrikes and Bikes event is scheduled for June 4-5, 2027.

July Story: Rec. Ranger Crew

July’s RPI highlight is the Routt Recreation & Conservation Roundtable (RRCR), which is organizing a Recreation Ranger crew to address critical recreation management needs in Routt County.

A bull elk sheltered in an aspen grove at Steamboat Lake State Park. Photo from CPW PhotoShelter (Vic Schendel).

Three Rec. Rangers will begin trail and resource stewardship work this June, focusing on high-use recreation areas and dispersed camping corridors from the Flat Tops to the Wyoming border. The focus of summer efforts will include collecting visitor use data on Buffalo Pass, removing illegal fire pits, updating wildlife and recreation signage, and educating visitors about resource protection and responsible recreation.

This crew reflects long-term collaboration between the RRCR, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, the U.S. Forest Service Hahn’s Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District, and other partners. Matt Mulica, Senior Director of Keystone Policy Center, shared: “This project is a great example of what can be accomplished through strong partnerships. We’re grateful for CPW's and GOCO's support, which will help us expand on-the-ground stewardship efforts and protect the wildlife and natural resources that make Routt County special.”

To learn more about RRCR’s work, visit their website here.