In 2021, Trailkeepers of Oregon deployed three interns to assess and address wildfire damage at Shellburg Falls. They engaged in rapid response activities, including clearing debris and repairing slides. Since then, TKO volunteer leaders have been gradually restoring trails, nearing completion, and are set to open soon. Ongoing efforts include the installation of two 30-foot bridges, with the first one being installed earlier this month!
TKO also collaborated with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on the Umpqua River Trail, focusing on rebuilding structures damaged in the 2022 Archie Creek Fire. In a collaborative effort, TKO provided instructors while the materials were supplied by BLM. Community members, including a youth crew from Phoenix Charter School, worked over four (hot!) days in June to construct an 8-foot and a 21-foot bridge, marking a successful multi-day venture.
TKO has plans to do even more in the Umpqua and Willamette Valleys in 2024, but we need your help to get there. Donate today to help get more volunteers on more trails!
Our friends at Cotopaxi want you to donate!
Just in time for holiday shopping! Donate $50 or more this week (11/27 – 12/3) and you’ll get a 20% off code to use at Cotopaxi’s online store.
If you give $100 or more, you’ll get your discount code AND be entered to win a Cotopaxi backpack.
We have a limited quantity of codes, so get yours before they’re gone!
At the shining jewel of the Willamette Valley, Silver Falls State Park, TKO volunteers are keeping the beat of trail stewardship going strong with long-time Volunteer Crew Leader Art Mills at the helm. Beginning in 2019, TKO trail crews have worked with State Parks to construct the brand new North Rim Trail that opened in the summer of 2023. The trail offers a short, accessible path to a new overlook of North Falls. The years of effort have clearly paid off as the new trail and overlook have been an absolute hit with Silver Falls visitors!
TKO is committed to having a strong stewardship presence at Silver Falls, but our volunteers need your help to sustain the effort. Will you give back to trails today and support stewardship at Silver Falls?
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