Hikers, bikers, equestrians, dirt bikers and disability community find common ground in Gifford Pinchot National Forest
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest recently released its sustainable trails systems strategic plan to guide the agency and partner organizations as we face the challenges of decreased funding for National Forests. The plan will help guide how the forest identifies new trails and maintains existing ones. Washington Trails Association has been a longtime, close partner with the U.S. Forest Service and helped gather public input for this plan to ensure local hikers were heard.
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest recently released its sustainable trails systems strategic plan to guide the agency and partner organizations as we face the challenges of decreased funding for National Forests across the state. The plan will help guide how the forest identifies new trails and maintains existing ones. Washington Trails Association has been a longtime, close partner with the U.S. Forest Service and helped gather public input for this plan to ensure local hikers were heard.
Washington Trails Assocation has been working the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and other trail users to help create the forest's sustainable trails plan. Photo by Todd Folsom Picasa.
The strategic trails plan offers guidance on how to make it easier for people to access public lands. It also encourages collaboration with communities, partners and members of the public. The forest also hopes to use this plan to better connect the forest trails systems with local communities. They recognize that a sustainable and connected trail system supports the mental and physical health of communities, as well as supporting local businesses and the economy in rural areas.
To realize these goals, the strategic plan has four focus areas which align with the Forest Service’s 2017 National Strategy for a Sustainable Trail System:
- modernizing the trail system
- sharing in trail development and maintenance (“stewardship”)
- identifying and developing outdoor recreation opportunities
- incorporating economic considerations in trail development and management.
“We’ve worked closely on trail maintenance projects for decades, but this is the first time trail user groups got a front seat at the table with the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to discuss how to collaborate on the larger issues and opportunities. It was really helpful to be in the room with people who hike, ride horses, mountain bike and dirt bikes and find our common ground,” said Ryan Ojerio, WTA’s Southwest region manager, who worked with the forest on the plan.
Strong partnerships with other outdoor user groups was also key to the work to create the plan.
“The Gifford Pinchot is a big place. Stronger collaboration and shared vision between user groups and the agency is necessary to keep trails running well and facilities into the future. I think we found a lot of that in this process,” said Tyler Forman, the Cowlitz-Naches chapter president and state VP for Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance.
“Being able to take part in the planning process advocating for the disability community and other marginalized communities, allowed for input that could not only benefit these communities, but can improve access for people of all abilities,” said Georgena Moran, owner of Access for All. “This especially applied in the realm of improvements to information sharing, providing the right information on the conditions of the trail, and how to get there, so people can know before they go if the trails meet their needs and desired experience.”
WTA is excited to continue working with the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and other partners. To learn more about our work on trails in Southwest Washington, check out this map and story.