The Gifford Pinchot National Forest and contributing partners are seeking public input to inform the development of a “sustainable trail system plan” to help build a shared approach to the future management of recreational trails on the forest, stated a news release sent out on Wednesday.
The plan covers the entire 1.3 million acres of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, which include a variety of landscapes, wildlife habitat, watersheds and mountains. The plan, once created, will be a guide to future trail creation and maintenance, the release stated.
The U.S. Forest Service, according to the news release, decided the plan was a priority due to increasing numbers of visitors to the forests and “the growing role outdoor recreation plays in our communities and economy,” according to the news release.
The Gifford Pinchot aims to build the plan with partners, volunteers and local community engagement with system planning, the release stated, keeping in mind the “limited resources across the landscape.”
Partners involved in the planning include Washington Trails Association, Trans-Cascadia, Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, Northwest Motorcycle Association, Access for All and Volunteers of Lewis Trails.
Four broad focus areas have been identified, the news release stated. Those are a modern trail system, stewardship, outdoor opportunities and economic impacts.
Each focus area, per the release, should address social, economic and ecological dimensions. With input, the focus area will be further specified.
To learn more about the Gifford Pinchot National Forest’s sustainable trail system plan and provide input on trails, visit: fs.usda.gov/goto/gp/trailstrate gy. Public input is being accepted now through Sept. 30, 2023.
