Make no mistake, TKO is growing. Short of 5 years since hiring our first staff person in 2017, TKO now has 8 staff with regional hubs in Portland, the Columbia Gorge, Mt. Hood, and both the northern (Manzanita) & southern (Coos Bay) Oregon Coast. Balancing a steady interest of strategic and opportunistic investments across different funding mechanisms and community support, our expansion is going where we see we can make a difference in support of hiking trails.
Smith Rock State Park is one of several reach projects and regions that we hope to grow into thoughtfully, making sure to complement what local groups have been doing for years with our value added, where needed. Communities that are eager for our introduction to advocacy and stewardship support can only occur by you speaking up and becoming active to bring to our attention the needs of the trail systems in your area of Oregon. Often times this starts with a community member reaching out to TKO to become a local legend to lead ambassador activities and trail parties, bridging our TKO leadership team to build relationships with local, state and federal land managers with our history of service elsewhere in the state.
The 7 Wonders of Oregon was a tourism campaign that highlighted a number of Oregon’s most special places and regions. Without knowing it, the campaign revealed an international audience that flocked to these places without the land managers being prepared for the sudden uptick in visitor use. Smith Rock had 2 year round staff at the time and a small seasonal maintenance budget. Oregon State Parks staff were forced to put their heads down and focus on the basics – restrooms and visitor compliance (rule enforcement, such as day use fees and parking). THe small park took a beating from all the intrigue of its beauty and the trails are getting wore out continuously.
We are looking to offer added trail maintenance and enhancements to ensure that this Wonder of Oregon can be around for all to enjoy. Donors like you believe that trails and the life changing experiences they provide should be accessible to everyone who wants them. Help Oregon’s trail legacy be one that future generations can enjoy by donating today!
Starting with community member interest or a call from local land managers, initial reach strategies come through Trailkeepers University and staffing/internship projects that are brought on through a grant or a corporate sponsorship. We then build more scalable and sustainable funding to support longer term staffing and project funds. Our goal is not just to build these new trails and run away, but to make sure that they stay open and accessible for many more years to come. You can help us keep the legacy of this and other trails in Oregon going strong by donating today.
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