Through out TKO’s history, we’ve found that one of the most symbiotic relationships we can develop is through helping land conservation partners with their trails management. Whether it be The Nature Conservancy, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, North Coast Land Conservancy or Lower Nehalem Community Trust – we can help one another in protecting our public access lands through partnering and doing what we each do best.
Mt Ulka sits above the Discovery Center, provides terrific views down the Columbia River towards Rowena Plateau, and is otherwise closed to the public. TKO is supporting the Friends’ efforts to protect land and advance trail connections between Mosier and The Dalles for Friends’ Gorge Towns to Trails initiative. In the spring of 2021, TKO first visited the site with Friends’ staff to think through how to build a trail from the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center to the top of Mt. Ulka. Over the course of this year, we’ve assisted the Friends in developing a viable route, proposing a grading plan and we now await our approvals to break ground in 2022!
And here lies a recipe for success: TKO can be a useful trail design, development and maintenance partner for land conservancies. They focus on what they do best, relying on our collective interest in protecting and enhancing the Oregon hiking experience.
Places like Mosier and Rowena are only available to the public thanks to the tireless work of the Friends of the Columbia Gorge, and The Nature Conservancy. Their role as land trusts ensures that these precious habitats will remain protected for every generation in the future. TKO’s role as trail steward ensures that the trails you use to hike these wonderful areas are sustainable, low impact and consistently maintained. You can support these partnerships and continued access to protected lands by donating today!
Mosier Plateau and Rowen Crest are two of the gems of the eastern Gorge. Right on the edge of the Cascade’s rain-shadow, these classic scrub oak hikes host spectacular wildflowers in the spring and offer a chance at sunshine when all else is covered in clouds during the winter. With breathtaking views along every part of the trail, these special places see heavier traffic every year. We are committed to ensuring that the trails every visitor leaves their boot prints on are maintained and sustained in a way that can support their use. This will ensure that even as these treasures are discovered, the habitat around them remains protected.
Urban trails are a cornerstone to nature access for urban and suburban residents, offering countless physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health benefits. TKO has been busy throughout the Portland Metro Area and beyond in 2023 ensuring that these trails can continue to safely connect communities with the outdoors!
Throughout 2023 TKO has been lucky to participate in some outstanding trail projects in the Willamette and Umpqua River Valleys. These projects, critical to maintaining and reopening trails, allowed volunteers to grow their trail construction skills in some of Oregon’s most beautiful natural areas!
Have you caught the “saw bug” yet? Join TKO on a logout and you just might! This draw to saw work, the itch to feel the saw interact with wood as you cut, captivates many a trail crew member after just one day pulling saw. Saw work is a critical aspect of trail stewardship, and it’s this feeling that TKO has worked to inspire in emerging sawyers across Oregon.
Trailkeepers of Oregon
P.O. Box 14814
Portland, OR 97293
(971) 206-4351