The Snowmass Creek Trailhead Improvements project will begin construction Aug. 17, effectively reducing parking capacity from upwards of 80 vehicles to 26 vehicles during the work.

The Maroon Snowmass Trail #1975, West Snowmass Creek #2187 and East Snowmass Creek #1977 will remain open to the public during construction, but parking will be much more limited than usual. Parking along the roadway frequently used to access the trailhead will be closed.

The road will be heavily monitored by officials and violators will likely be ticketed and towed if parked in closed areas. Even just one car parked illegally on the road could block construction vehicles and delay the project.

The scope of the project ultimately entails both improved access and increased parking capacity – including a new parking lot with an emergency vehicle turnaround, increased parking capacity relocated from U.S. Forest Land to the Snowmass Falls Ranch property with 74 parking spaces to accommodate overnight and day use visitors in addition to three ADA spaces and six additional spaces at the East Snowmass Trailhead, five trailer parking spaces for equestrian users, a new trailhead kiosk with separate portals for hikers and equestrians, two standard vault toilets housed in one building and landscape restoration.

While the project is expected to be completed within the August to November timeframe, a few small construction items will likely occur next spring, but trail users can expect that the new trailhead and parking area will be open and fully functional by spring 2027.

For more information about the project, visit the Pitkin County website here.