My buddy Nick and I rode our bikes from Connected Lakes to Corn Lake along the Colorado Riverfront Trail recently. The Riverfront Trail is a wonderful way to experience and enjoy the coolness of the mighty Colorado River in the middle of the summer.

While we rode 9.2 miles one way, the trail will eventually connect five different sections of the Colorado River State Park, renamed James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park in 2005 to honor a visionary.

Jim Robb was instrumental in creating a “string of pearls,” five distinct sections that have become this unique park that includes both Connected Lakes and Corn Lake. He was a Grand Junction civic leader, former State Parks board member and chair, an elected representative and champion of state parks.

Robb also helped create the Colorado Riverfront Foundation which, along with Colorado State Parks and local communities, are involved in building a 35-mile river corridor trail system from Island Acres in the middle of DeBeque Canyon, to the Fruita Section of the state park.

You know what? We're almost there.

In order to keep Jim Robb's vision alive, the Riverfront Foundation continues to write grants, promote events and politic with anyone and everyone who has an interest in our river. But the best way to continue the vision is to walk or ride the trail.

Robb's vision was to provide open, continuous access to the Colorado River corridor through the Grand Valley. He envisioned numerous small park picnic and fishing areas, as well as a handicap accessible walkway open to bicycles, walkers, horseback riders (where appropriate), moms with baby strollers, kids on roller blades, bird watchers with binoculars... in other words, all of us.

From Fruita on the west end, to Island Acres on the east end and three stops between, this is one park split into five sections. The sections, or “pearls” listed from east to west, each offer something different:

1. Island Acres Section, known for swimming, camping, picnicking and hiking, is at the eastern end of the park;

2. Corn Lake Section, known mainly for fishing, but also as a launch site for boaters and rafters into the Colorado River, now features the riverfront trail traveling from the Park Headquarters on 32 Road, all the way to 29 Road and through the next park section, the wildlife area;

3. Colorado River Wildlife Area Section, obviously known for wildlife viewing, and the riverfront trail;

4. Connected Lakes Section, known for pond fishing, river fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing;

5. Fruita Section, featuring a visitor center, camping, fishing, swimming and a launch site onto the river.

Someday, the trail will connect all five. Until then, you can still ride from Connected Lakes to Corn Lake, like Nick and I did. There are numerous jumping-on points to the trail, but my favorite is at 7th Street and the Riverside Parkway in south downtown Grand Junction. That's where the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens lie. You can park there, visit the gardens, one of the best-kept secrets in Grand Junction, then take a ride in either direction along the mighty Colorado River. It's a cool place to be in the hot summer.