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.
In 2023, TKO volunteers…
These events are making a tangible difference in the daily lives of urban communities. The accessibility of these places make them extremely valuable resources, and TKO is excited to continue to steward them side-by-side with the communities who love them. However, we need your help to secure the funding! If you believe in the power of trails to change lives, consider supporting TKO’s work with a donation today!
REI Co-op has some pretty sweet offers for those who support trail stewardship this week!
Give $30 (or more!) and you’ll be entered to win a Day Hiking Starter Pack, which includes an REI Trail 25 daypack + a Nalgene waterbottle + an REI beanie!
There’s more than one way to give! Anyone who donates their time at a TKO trail party this week (12/4-12/10) will also be entered to win!
Provided over 800 volunteers a chance to give back to their local trails.
Built stairs, gabions, check dams and other structures to keeps urban trails safe and open.
Celebrated opening two new trails for Clackamas Co. Parks
Established new partnerships with local trails managers
One of TKO’s guiding principles is that “trails are for everyone.” Throughout 2023, our work at Tryon Creek has focused on low-barrier and inclusive trail events. Family-friendly events each month have offered the opportunity to participate in half-day events with a short hike and simple lopping tasks to enable youth as young as *2* years old to contribute. Our monthly women’s events on first Wednesdays are also half of a day long and are welcoming to women and gender expansive individuals who find themselves at home in women’s spaces. This allows women who may have had negative experiences with toxic masculinity on trails to have a chance to try out trail stewardship in a space free of that. The women’s trail parties have focused on maintenance of the North Creek Trail, one of the more remote trails in the park.
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