by hoot ramsey
The county is home to more than 31,000 acres of forestland, managed by the Hood River County Forestry Department primarily for timber production. The vast majority of this land doubles as an intricate web of multi-use trails crisscrossing timberlands, bordering communities and providing some breathtaking views.
This heretofore unorganized system of recreational trails has been in use by motorized and non-motorized vehicles and equestrians for decades. Over the years, trails have been user-created without proper design features for safety, sustainability, stream habitat protection or erosion control. People have come from far and near for recreation, independently developing parking and staging areas, ramps, jumps and other man-made technical features.
As a result of efforts on the part of these determined and dedicated individual users, a valuable resource has been created. Despite its imperfections, the trail system, being located in such close proximity to the Portland metropolitan area, has gained much recognition. Use by locals and tourists alike has increased steadily in recent years.
As stewards of the acreage, the Hood River County Forestry Department (HRCFD) was mandated by an ordinance in 2003 to establish a Forest Recreation Trails Committee to map and organize the maze of trails and roads, focusing on ensuring environmental sustainability and safety. The committee is comprised of a cross-section of community citizens and members from each of the various user groups that utilize the trail system.
One of the committee’s first projects was to oversee global positioning system (GPS) mapping of the most expansive and widely used section, a 10,000-acre parcel known as the Northwest Area. Using the GPS coordinates, the committee has published a comprehensive map of the 74 miles of trails in this area with rules for rider safety and trail etiquette, as well as the operating requirements for all venues…
