Courtesy photos San Luis Valley Great Outdoors recently announced that the Monte Vista Wetland’s Trail will be named the Ray and Collette Skeff Nature Trail.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, March 31

MONTE VISTA — San Luis Valley Great Outdoors recently announced that the Monte Vista Wetland’s Trail will be named the Ray and Collette Skeff Nature Trail.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the trail will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 31. The event is being hosted by San Luis Valley Great Outdoors.

"The new Ray and Colette Skeff Nature Trail is a fabulous new in-town outdoor recreation opportunity for Monte Vista," said Patrick Ortiz, Operations Director for San Luis Valley Great Outdoors. "Our dedicated SLV Great Outdoors Action Team (GOATs), the Southwest Conservation Corps — Rio Grande County Youth Corps, and City of Monte Vista Public Works staff all worked hard and did their part to make a sustainable trail and trailhead for people to enjoy for many years to come. We hope this further inspires folks in Monte Vista and throughout the San Luis Valley to spend more time outdoors as means to improve health and wellness. We are thrilled that the community decided to dedicate the trail after Ray and Colette Skeff, whose love and devotion to the Monte Vista community is inspiring and greatly appreciated by all."

The mile-long Monte Vista Wetlands Trail loops through a grassy, formerly-grazed pasture off U.S. 160 through town. The trail for walking and bicycling is located off Chico Camino, in the area behind Big R, and SLV Federal Bank.

The trail began with a few people in the community showing interest, including John Camponeshi, Monte Vista City Recreation Director Jaime Hurtado, and former City Manager Forrest Neuerburg. The trail proposal was presented to the Monte Vista City Council on March 4, 2021, by Ortiz.

“This is going to be a great trail for the community," Ortiz said to Council. “The nice thing about this trail is it's away from traffic, and it also has an easy access point.” 

Many locations for a trail were considered before settling on the area off Chico Camino.

Ortiz was excited about the trail because it would be non-motorized and would accommodate people walking by themselves, or with their dogs, for running or hiking purposes, and people who just want to take photographs, and enjoy the views of the wildlife and surrounding areas. Ortiz also stated that the trail was put with children in mind, providing them a place where they could be outdoors. 

The trail project was completed in October of 2021.

For more information on the trail, visit the San Luis Valley Great Outdoors Facebook Page.