The U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region is inviting the public to help identify trails that will be part of an effort with partners and volunteers to increase the pace of trail maintenance.

Nationwide, the Forest Service will select nine to 15 priority areas among its nine regions where a backlog in trail maintenance contributed to reduced access, potential harm to natural resources or trail users and/or has the potential for increased future deferred maintenance costs.

The Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region manages more than 24,000 miles of trails enjoyed by many users each year. In 2016, about 5,000 volunteers contributed more than 230,000 hours of service to trails work across Oregon and Washington. These volunteer contributions helped the Forest Service accomplish nearly half of the Region’s trail needs in 2016.

“Public input, volunteer contributions, and partnership support are cornerstones of our sustainable recreation strategy,” said Jim Peña, Regional Forester. “We have already begun hearing from Oregon and Washington trails groups with their ideas and look forward to working collaboratively with our partners and volunteers to achieve a more sustainable trails program.”

The Pacific Northwest Region will submit at least three regional proposals to National Headquarters by April 15, 2017. Those proposals will be weighed against proposals submitted by other Forest Service regions.

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Congress sent a bill to President Obama that would improve access to America’s National Forests through better trail maintenance and preservation.

The National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act would make better use of existing resources within the Forest Service to significantly increase the role of volunteers and partners in maintaining the usability and sustainability of the National Forest’s trail system.

The Forest Service currently maintains only one-quarter of the 158,000 miles of National Forest trails that offer hiking, horseback riding, hunting, mountain bicycling, motorized vehicles, and other outdoor activities. The act would expand the number of trails that could be maintained by requiring a national strategy to maximize the use of volunteers and partners while addressing liability concerns that restrict outside groups and individuals working on the trails.

The bill also directs a study on utilizing fire crews for maintenance work during off-seasons and a study on permits for outfitters and guides to offset some fees through work on trail maintenance.

From hikers to bikers, outdoor enthusiasts across the country utilize 158,000 miles of National Forest System trails every day for exercise, relaxation, and exploration. Though public use remains high, close to two-thirds of these trails don’t receive any maintenance whatsoever because our Forest Service simply lacks the resources to keep up.

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