Sometimes starting right at the edge of your block, trails connect us to the “nature-hoods” of our cities and towns. Our local, county and regional parks are full of accessible beauty and wonder, all of which have significant gaps in protecting and enhancing trails. TKO has been connecting enthusiastic community members with stewardship opportunities very close to home. From Portland to Bend to Tillamook, we continue to make an impact in our urban parks – one trail at a time.
Oxbow Regional Park is a gem within the Metro Parks & Nature system in Portland. Meanwhile, Chehalem Ridge Nature Park is bound to be another crown jewel. As the population of the Portland region expands, more close to home outdoor recreation is critical. We’ve put tools-to-trail at Oxbow over the last few years, and Chehalem Ridge will be another place for us to tend to!
Three years ago we approached Metro Parks & Nature program staff to tackle projects at Oxbow, mainly to demonstrate that we can help bridge gaps in trail maintenance and propel enhancement projects forward when capacity, expertise and resources are spread thin. From running youth crews to hosting family-friendly days, we’ve done a lot for this park.
Chehalem Ridge Nature Park is in its final planning stages – roads, utilities, facilities and trails are all on their way. TKO is taking a part in the early stages of the work. We are calling it Christensen Creek Trail and it is a nature trail being designed by TKO staff and volunteer leaders to be an all-ages, all-abilities experience. Being able to design and build a new trail is a special thing, all the greater when it is within a newly forming park. Metro Parks & Nature has many new parks across the region and we are at the table discussing where to go next!
At Oxbow, we’ve resolved a backlog of maintenance along miles of trails for tread and corridor width, built small drainage crossings through the system to solve water pooling and/or running down trails. TKO helped break ground on the path and play stations for a new nature play area that was constructed in 2019 and improved viewing stations for the annual Salmon Festival while rerouting lost sections of trail that were consumed by the ever-changing path of the Sandy River. Our reputation with Metro staff has allowed us to expand to other parks across the region. While we’ve had great success, there is still more to be done – Oxbow will continue to be a place we put tools-to-trail.
Every spring, Trailkeepers of Oregon Trail Ambassadors head out onto some of Oregon’s most well-loved trails to welcome visitors and share important information about the trail, hiking safety, Leave No Trace, local flora and fauna, and more. We’ve added more locations to our repertoire for this season and we need your help to meet the growing demand on our trails!
Happy Holidays Trailkeepers,
The TKO Legacy Builders end-of-year campaign is coming to a close on December 31st. We are so proud that this campaign is fueled by a grassroots donor base that builds a kick start of support for a new year. Our approach continues to be that everyone in their own way is a Trailkeeper – giving time, giving passion, or giving dollars. Each of these contributions amount to more protection and enhancement of Oregon’s hiking trails.
From Latourell Falls to Mosier Plateau, TKO volunteers put in 6,171 hours (257 days!) in the Columbia River Gorge throughout 2023 ensuring your favorite trails remain ready to welcome you on your adventures. Read on for fun insight on the wide variety of trails and projects that you, our community, helped us to pursue!
Trailkeepers of Oregon
P.O. Box 14814
Portland, OR 97293
(971) 206-4351