Plattin Peaks Trails Celebrates Ribbon Cutting, Opening 650 Acres to Outdoor Adventure
Chris & Rene Creed
Free trail access, family recreation, and a vision years in the making highlight the opening, with more trails and amenities planned.
By The Jefferson Review
It was the kind of fall day Jefferson County knows and loves: overcast and slightly chilly, with the leaves finally beginning to show their autumn colors. The smell of campfires and homemade apple butter drifted through the air as families gathered for the ribbon cutting at Plattin Peaks Trails.
Against that fall backdrop, families on bicycles, children trying the trails, and hikers exploring the woods brought a vision years in the making to life. For founders Chris and Rene Creed, the celebration offered a chance to see their work become a place where neighbors could spend a day outdoors together.
Plattin Peaks Trails grew from the couple's shared vision of creating a free outdoor recreation destination for the community. Work on the project began in 2018. The project is part of Living Life on 2 Wheels, a nonprofit focused on cycling and family recreation.
In an interview during the opening, Chris said seeing people enjoy the property was the most meaningful part of the occasion.
“We didn't want to turn this into another subdivision. We wanted to turn it into something that families could enjoy,” Chris said.
The property encompasses 650 acres, according to Chris, with approximately six to seven miles of trails currently available. While the ribbon cutting marked a milestone, he emphasized that the work is far from finished.
Trails for Different Experience Levels
The current trail system includes two downhill flow trails reserved for mountain biking: a green beginner trail and a blue intermediate trail.
Chris described the green route as fast and smooth, without jumps. The blue trail had 12 jumps at the time of the interview, with additional jumps expected as construction continues.
Other routes include the Creekside Connector Trail, which Chris described as a flat, smooth, wide trail through the woods, along with perimeter access roads and trails through the property's glades.
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The long-term goal is to offer terrain for a broad range of riders, from those seeking challenging jumps and rocky features to older adults enjoying a ride on an e-bike.
That variety is central to the vision: creating a place where people with different interests and experience levels can find something to enjoy.
A Larger Vision for the Property
Future plans extend beyond the existing trails.
According to the Living Life on 2 Wheels project website, the organization secured a long-term trail easement on the property. A feasibility study by the International Mountain Bicycling Association identified potential for more than 40 miles of multi-use trails. That figure represents the site's potential, rather than the mileage currently available.
Chris described a proposed bike park in the valley with a children's obstacle area and a separate dirt jump area for more advanced riders. The children's features would give young riders a sense of adventure while keeping obstacles close to the ground.
The broader vision also includes an open field that could accommodate tent camping or events, an amphitheater, parking, and pavilions.
Those additions remain long-term plans. Chris said there is no firm timeline for completing the valley improvements.
Trail development is also expanding toward the property's North Ridge, where rocky, steep terrain offers opportunities for different riding experiences.
Restoring the Glades and Exploring Nature
As the trail project has developed, conservation has become another part of the property's story.
Chris said conservation partners are helping restore the glades by removing cedars and preparing for prescribed burning. He hopes that work will encourage wildflowers to emerge and make the natural landscape an even greater part of the visitor experience.
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The glades also support wildlife, including tarantulas, scorpions, snakes, and lizards, he said.
That natural setting has inspired ideas for future educational opportunities, including school visits and nature days. Chris also envisions activities that help people learn to ride and develop their biking skills.
The property has already hosted another outdoor pursuit: 3D archery. According to Chris, an archery operator has established a 20-lane course with life-size animal targets and held shoots, including state qualifying events, that brought visitors from beyond the immediate area.
A Place for Families to Enjoy
Despite the possibilities ahead, Chris kept returning to what was happening around him during the opening: families spending time outside together.
“Seeing the bike rack full of family bikes, different sizes, from the adults down to the kids,” he said. “That's what makes me super happy.”
For Plattin Peaks Trails, the ribbon cutting marked both an accomplishment and the beginning of more work. But the families already exploring the property offered Chris a clear sign that the original vision was taking shape.
“It means the world seeing everybody get out here and enjoy it,” he said.
For more information about the project and ways to get involved, visit Living Life on 2 Wheels’ Plattin Peaks Trails page.
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