WEEK 7: Restore the Heart of the Gorge

Donate $10+ gets you a free pint or crowler (to go) at Gorges Beer Co. in Portland or Cascade Locks

Donate $50+ gets you you entered into a raffle for a Gorges Beer Co. Cascade Locks gift package: gift certificate, tasting flights and Gorges gear

Donate $100 or more towards TKO’s Gorge recovery efforts and you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a top-of-the-line Arc’teryx Atom LT puffy coat

DONATE

Want to plunge into the New Year? Gorges Beer Co. Polar Plunge January 1st: including liquid courage, a thaw-inducing brunch & tasting flight. 20% of ticket sales come back to TKO!

Gorges Polar Plunge

Can’t give $? Participate in any TKO event this week (12/13-12/19), and you’ll be entered to win too!

Volunteer with TKO

Perseverance Pays Off

In 2017, the Eagle Creek fire changed the Columbia Gorge forever – running over 40+ thousand acres and closing over 122 miles of trails. This event changed the trajectory of our small nonprofit, propelling us into a role that we hustled to keep up with. It was only by way of a motivated community of volunteers that we were able to grow quickly and step in to help these trails. We knew then that we had a long journey ahead of us. 

Three years later the heart of the Gorge has revived to be a different but equally vibrant place with new success stories every week! But many trails remain closed. Thanks to our volunteers and supporters, TKO will continue to hoof it up the steep Gorge trails and get after the next place that we seek to recover. We’re not done yet! Help us continue the work we started in 2017. 

DONATE

BY THE NUMBERS:

COLUMBIA GORGE TRAILS

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Feet of Trails Improved

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ONEONTA GORGE

This spectacular mini-gorge within the Gorge leaves most visitors in silent awe, not just because figuring out how to say its name can be elusive. Pronounced “Oh-nee-ON-ta”, this deep channel and its accompanying waterfalls was a classic Gorge sight until the Eagle Creek Fire rendered it too dangerous to access. This beloved trail has been closed to public access since 2017 – but we have exciting updates!

With ongoing support from the Forest Service, TKO volunteers have been steadily working their way up the trail from below Triple Falls. They accomplished a huge amount of work to clear the trail to the Horsetail Junction and above onto the switchback portion. The trail was waiting on the construction of the a new bridge to replace one lost in the fire. Check it out in the photo here!

Thanks to the hard work of volunteers, partner groups, and the support of donors, we are excited to share that the Forest Service reopened the Oneonta Trail earlier this month!

Join the Legacy

KEEPING UP MOMENTUM

While we are celebrating this accomplishment, our Crew Leaders have already begun turning their attention towards the next trail. Nesmith Point, here we come! If you want to see a similar success story unfold next year for other beloved but closed trails in the Gorge, donate today!

Did you know that there is no experience required to join in any of TKO’s trail party events? If you want to join the amazing group of folks who have been bringing Gorge trails back to life one step at a time, you can! Check out our events calendar for upcoming trail parties and sign up today.

Join a Trail Party

Latest News

Trail Ambassadors are getting ready to launch!

By Loren Payne

Spring is quickly approaching! That means before we know it, Trailkeepers of Oregon will be kicking off another Trail Ambassador season. Through partnerships with the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon State Parks, the Mt. Hood – Columbia River Gorge Tourism Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, and Friends of the Columbia River Gorge, Trail Ambassadors will take to trails beginning April 22nd to engage with trail users across the state. We are always looking to grow our team – if you’ve been looking to give back to the trails you love, we want you on board!

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@ by Natalie Ferraro

Family Friendly Events are Back!

An adult holds a fern while a child uses lopper to cut it at the base.

Join TKO on the last Sunday of each month to learn all about trail stewardship!

By Natalie Ferraro

Trailkeepers is excited to once again be offering Family Friendly trail parties for 2023. These events are a chance for kids of all ages to learn some of the basics of trail stewardship, spend quality time with family and friends outdoors, and learn the value of taking care of a place they love. We think our Family Friendly trail parties are some of the best fun you can have on a Sunday, but you don’t have to take our world for it. We asked TKO volunteer Jon and his son Liam to share why they love volunteering with TKO. […]

@ by Natalie Ferraro

Safety, Fun, Service – becoming a TKO Crew Leader

A close up of two faces. One person wears a blue jacket and a yellow hat, the other wears a yellow jacket and an orange hat. They both have dirt on their faces and are smiling.

Being a Crew Leader with TKO is rewarding work and comes with a fun and supportive community that can’t wait to welcome you!

by Elaine Keavney and Loren Payne

So you’ve earned your green hat, and are getting “hooked” on trail stewardship.  As you get to know your crew leaders, do you find yourself wondering whether leading a crew would be something you would enjoy? Read on for some information about leading crews, and what you need to do if you would like to become a TKO crew leader!

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@ by Natalie Ferraro
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