Dirt-road cycling brings tourism boost to Las Animas County

More than 700 cyclists descended on Las Animas County at the end of September for gravel rides that highlighted the county’s network of unpaved roads and the scenery around the Spanish Peaks. Riders completed 110-, 70- and 40-mile loops in an event that organizers say has grown over the last three years and is drawing national and international visitors.

The influx underscores a potential economic pivot for a county long shaped by metallurgical coal mining, farming and ranching. Event organizers and local officials see gravel cycling and other outdoor recreation as an opportunity to supplement existing industries and drive visitor spending in Trinidad and surrounding communities. Family members attending the event traveled from as far away as Austria, South Africa and Switzerland, adding to local hotel and restaurant demand.

“It is spectacular, both the gravel itself and just the vistas,” said Tamira Jenlink, event director for the last two years of the Rad Dirt Fest. “We can ride courses that are almost entirely off‑pavement — that’s what our cyclists want. And 90% of that gravel is some of the best gravel in the state. Just how it’s maintained… the county does an amazing job.” Jenlink also highlighted the terrain’s appeal: “It’s fantastic climbing. You pair it with the scenery and it’s such a stunning combination. You find yourself in some kind of an environment that brings out that pioneering part of you and it’s challenging you to see what’s around that corner. It engages you with how beautiful it is.”

County leaders point to established rural models for growth. The Leadville Race Series in Lake County grew from a mine closure into a motors of tourism that a 2017 study estimated generates about $15 million annually for its community. More broadly, outdoor recreation accounted for 3.1 percent of Colorado’s gross domestic product in 2019, placing the state among the top quintile nationally for recreation’s share of economic output. Research by Headwaters Economics finds that recreation can support short-term tourism spending and longer-term population and earnings growth by attracting entrepreneurs and workers.

Local officials see the Rad Dirt Fest as a way to showcase county road maintenance and other assets. “It’s an opportunity to gain exposure and then showcase the magnificent work that our county employees do on the county roads,” said Felix Lopez, chairman of the county commission. Commissioners and organizers emphasize the need to manage growth carefully — ensuring adequate lodging, road access and other infrastructure while respecting ranching operations and residents’ quality of life.

Event planners have already been working with ranchers, the county road department and tourism partners to reduce conflicts and coordinate road closures and signage. If outdoor events continue to expand, they could support new small businesses such as concessions, guiding services and light manufacturing that supplies the recreation economy.

For Las Animas County residents, the rising profile of gravel cycling means more visitors and potential revenue, but also a need for deliberate local planning. County leaders and organizers will need to balance promotion with infrastructure investments and community partnerships to turn short-term event spending into a stable, long-term economic complement to mining, farming and ranching.