The Empire - Middle Park Wagon Road
Construction of the wagon road was started in 1860 and completed in 1875 as the
route over Berthoud Pass into Middle Park (now Winter Park). "The Corridor" Partners are working to restore the wagon road
into a multi-use, non-motorized trail that will incorporate the new Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Accessibility
Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas. These guidelines are now the Proposed Rule for new accessible trails found on federal
lands.
The wagon road will be an outdoor classroom where on-going tests will be conducted
on surface materials, cross-slopes and running grades for trails using universal design. The tests will be conducted
with help from the general public and the results will be shared by the Partners with all who are interested in universal
design for outdoor recreation.
Students from the Colorado School of Mines (EPICS Department) have taken the 1893 survey
notes of Frank Maxwell and mapped 2.5 miles of his notes on the east side (Clear Creek County) of the Pass.
As a result of their work, several new historical sites were discovered on the east side of the Pass. During 2004 and 2005,
the students also mapped the west side (Grand County) of the wagon road. Their work provided much new information on the location
of the wagon road, along with historical sites not previously recorded.
