Fundraising is still about $2.8 million short of the $38 million goal

The last portion of the Eagle Valley Trail is taking longer than just about anyone expected.

Most of the 63-mile trail from the top of Vail Pass to the mouth of Glenwood Canyon is now complete. But the last stretch, the 7.5-mile segment linking Edwards with Horn Ranch in Red Canyon, has long been known as the most difficult. A combination of geography, access and funding has complicated finishing the trail.

The Eagle County Board of Commissioners recently signed off on a previously approved $7 million state grant for the work. That helps. Another $22 million has come from county-issued "certificates of participation," a form of debt that doesn't require voter approval. There's also a private fundraising campaign, still open at eaglevalleytrail.org.

Robin Thompson is running the fundraising campaign and said of the $38 million originally needed from public and private sources, only about $2.8 million is still needed to finish the project.

Thompson said there's enough funding to begin work from Horn Ranch to the east. But access remains a sticking point.

A portion of the trail is in right of way controlled by the Colorado Department of Transportation. Without that right of way, the trail is essentially stopped.

Even earlier this year, those stumbling blocks were expected to push the trail's completion into 2025.

In a recent telephone interview, Jill Klosterman, the county's chief financial officer said those approval issues remain sticking points with getting the final segments of the trail designed and built. In addition to the Colorado Department of Transportation, Denver Water and Cordillera have been involved in negotiating access for the trail. Some of those approval problems could add both time and millions in cost, to completing the trail.

"That's why there hasn't been dirt flying," Jill Klosterman said.

Klosterman said she and other county officials are pulling information together for the Eagle County Board of Commissioners.

"We're hoping to have a work session to talk about the path forward in the next couple of weeks," she said.

Klosterman said county officials feel like they may have some "traction" with the Colorado Department of Transportation. And, she added, "We're still optimistic we'll get this done."

Once that happens, Thompson said she expects a groundbreaking celebration near Horn Ranch.

Meanwhile, the fundraising continues. Thompson said in addition to standard donations, people can also donate by funding pet stations, benches and picnic tables, the first of those benches has been set up near Horn Ranch, and the first picnic table is now near the trail behind the Riverwalk center in Edwards.

"We want the rest (of the money) raised by December," Thompson said. "We have a lot of generous people in this valley."