Working toward improvements: A volunteer scans Highway 72 for debris and trash. [/caption]

On Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 8 a.m., Coal Creek Canyon residents gathered at the Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association (CCCIA) Hall to sign in and grab orange trash bags. Volunteers were greeted by Tom Mulvany and other Coal Creek Canyon Clean-Up Day organizers to receive instructions and locations.

Roughly 25 volunteers signed up to help beautify the canyon. Due to insurance, no one under 16 is allowed to participate in canyon cleanup. The clean-up took place between mile markers 13 and 22.

Cleaners consisted of new and returning volunteers, with some cleaning the same area year after year. The Coal Creek Canyon Clean-Up is the longest stretch of highway cleaned in the state.

The last canyon clean-up was on September 23, 2023, after the original August date was rescheduled due to weather conditions. The 52 bags of debris collected in September included parts from car and motorcycle accidents, road signs, fallen fence posts, and general trash thrown from vehicles. This year, the same was expected.

A husband-and-wife team up to clear Highway 72 near Carl’s Corner garage.[/caption]

Last September volunteers braved the cold and wind, but June offered favorable conditions for cleaning the canyon. The sun was shining and everyone was excited to partake in this important event.

Though volunteers are provided with bright yellow vests, drivers are asked to be attentive while driving through the canyon. It is vitally important during clean-up day, when volunteers are near the road, and on curves and hills.

Floaters drove up and down the canyon, ensuring everyone remained safe and plenty of trash bags were at hand. All trash bags were left in designated areas for later pick-up. Any questionable objects found were to be marked by tying a bright orange trash bag around it and left alone for CDOT to handle.

By 10 a.m., the event wrapped up and Coal Creek Canyon greeted residents and visitors with a fresh look. John Baich, who recently moved, had organized the clean-up for many years. The new organizer of the event is Kyle West.

At the request of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the canyon was asked to up its game to three clean sweeps of the canyon in 2024, and this Saturday’s was one of them. The CCCIA will post announcements as other dates are selected.

Thank you, volunteers and organizers, for caring about Coal Creek Canyon!

The Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association is located at 31528 Highway 72. You can find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CoalCreek CanyonImprovementAssociation/.