The Montezuma County commission will hold a neighborhood meeting on a plan to expand parking for the Sand Canyon trail on Nov. 6 at 1:45 p.m.
The meeting will be held at the site of a new BLM proposed parking lot on County Road G, about 13 miles west of the intersection of U.S. 491, and a mile east of the Sand Canyon trailhead. Look for vehicles parked on the north side of the road.
The BLM is proposing an additional parking lot at the location with room for nine additional passenger vehicles and three trucks with horse trailers. A spur trail will be built to connect to the main Sand Canyon Trail.
The county wants to augment the proposed BLM parking lot by designating an additional parking area along the roadway within the county easement.
Officials will explain their plan, and will take public comment.
“We feel like our large road right of way. There is an opportunity for additional parking, and want to hear from residents on the idea,” said county federal lands planner James Dietrich.
County and BLM officials have been working on a solution to ease parking pressure at the current Sand Canyon trailhead. Sand Canyon is the most popular trail within Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, with over 18,000 visitors each year.
