Cottonwood Canyon Trail Master Plan

Lovell is a small town in rural north central Wyoming nestled at the base of the Bighorn Mountains and along the route to Yellowstone National Park. While there are endless acres of public land surrounding the town, there is little opportunity for trail-based recreation. The Town has partnered with Pointe Strategies to develop a Trails Plan for the Cottonwood Canyon Area; managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), this area is easily accessible and less than fifteen minutes from town. 

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Pointe Strategies initiated the project with a thorough terrain analysis, utilizing mapping tools to identify positive and negative control points and understand the topography of the planning area. Using trail sustainability and visitor experience standards, conceptual trail alignments were identified. Throughout the project we collaborated closely with the BLM to ensure the trail design integrated seamlessly with existing grazing allotments and minimized disruption to local ranchers. 

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The final plan includes 26 miles of trails with varying difficulty levels, a sign plan, and a new trailhead location. Once implemented, this trail network will enhance recreational opportunities for the local community and visitors, boosting local tourism and generating economic benefits for the community.