Del Norte Mountain Bike Trails
Donation protected
We need more Mountain Bike Trails in Del Norte County to benefit our local residents and our recreation economy. Two years ago I wrote a grant to fund a trail study, completed last year, which describes five new multi-use trails. Now, with help from the Smith River Collaborative to the Forest Service, I have received initial approval to begin fundraising for planning and construction of one of these trails, the Craigs Creek Loop Trail.
This trail could be part one of a series of trails, as described in the trail study, that would be fun to ride, provide outstanding views, and put Del Norte on the map as a destination for mountain bike riding. It would utilize the existing Craigs Creek Trail, continue up Craigs Creek then switchback up the ridge and drop down to the old stage road along the Middle Fork Smith River, returning to the Forks Boat Launch parking area. A spur would connect it to French Hill Road one mile from the Gasquet Trail.
Funds are needed to pay for layout and flagging of the trail, environmental analysis(NEPA), and cultural analysis. None of this is cheap. At this point WE need to show the Forest Service that private funds can pay for the above work in order to be added to their "Program of Work", and that additional funds and volunteers are available for construction and maintenance.
Approximately 20% of funds raised will pay me an hourly wage to write grants, create fundraisers, make public presentations, and to create a local nonproffit to provide trail construction and maintenance. This non-proffit will engage in trail maintenance as needed for the Forest Service, State Parks, and National Parks. It is important to realize that no new trails will be considered if there is not a local organization of volunteers to help these agencies. I will also engage with local agencies to build a "pump track", primarily to benefit local youth, but open to anyone who wants to sharpen their riding skills.
Please donate what you can and spread the word to all of your friends. Let's make it happen! We can do this!
This trail could be part one of a series of trails, as described in the trail study, that would be fun to ride, provide outstanding views, and put Del Norte on the map as a destination for mountain bike riding. It would utilize the existing Craigs Creek Trail, continue up Craigs Creek then switchback up the ridge and drop down to the old stage road along the Middle Fork Smith River, returning to the Forks Boat Launch parking area. A spur would connect it to French Hill Road one mile from the Gasquet Trail.
Funds are needed to pay for layout and flagging of the trail, environmental analysis(NEPA), and cultural analysis. None of this is cheap. At this point WE need to show the Forest Service that private funds can pay for the above work in order to be added to their "Program of Work", and that additional funds and volunteers are available for construction and maintenance.
Approximately 20% of funds raised will pay me an hourly wage to write grants, create fundraisers, make public presentations, and to create a local nonproffit to provide trail construction and maintenance. This non-proffit will engage in trail maintenance as needed for the Forest Service, State Parks, and National Parks. It is important to realize that no new trails will be considered if there is not a local organization of volunteers to help these agencies. I will also engage with local agencies to build a "pump track", primarily to benefit local youth, but open to anyone who wants to sharpen their riding skills.
Please donate what you can and spread the word to all of your friends. Let's make it happen! We can do this!
Organizer
Joe Gillespie
Organizer
Crescent City, CA
