Hikers will pay to use Sisters trails

Hikers using wilderness trails in the Sisters Ranger District this summer will pay for the pleasure by purchasing a new Trail-Park permit.

The regional Trail-Park permit system is a three-year experiment that the agency hopes will help finance both trail maintenance and facility and site restoration. The experiment is in response to greater usage and declining recreation budgets.

According to Paul Engstrom of the Sisters Ranger District, "In the neighborhood of 20 trails in the Sisters Ranger District -- including almost all of the wilderness trails -- will be part of the program."

Hikers will probably need a permit to use the Black Crater, Pole Creek and Squaw Creek Falls trails.

The popular Black Butte and Head of Jack Creek trails -- although not in wilderness areas -- also may be included in the program.

Trails connected to campgrounds will probably not be included, because people using the campground are already paying to use the facilities.

The Trail-Park program is similar to the Sno-Park program currently in place. The May 1 through November 14 season is the opposite of the Sno-Park season. Permits will cost $25 per season or $3 per day.

Those who cannot afford the season permit may have the option of volunteering for the trail maintenance department of the Forest Service in return for a season pass.

Hildie Oliver, a former Sisters resident who still hikes in the area every summer, believes the permits are too expensive.

"The cost should be comparable to the Sno-Park permit. And you should be able to combine the two permits or buy one annual permit," she said.

Sno-Park permits cost $9 per year or $1.50 per day.

However, Oliver is aware of the Forest Service's budget shortfalls.

"But this is definitely something they need," she added.

Forest Service offices will sell the permits. Engstrom believes outdoor stores in Sisters also will have the permits available.

"We are trying to have outlets that are handy for people and hours that are convenient," he said.

As a rule, cars parked within one-half mile of a designated Trail-Park area which do not have a permit displayed on the windshield, and that are not parked for other reasons (like woodcutting), can be ticketed. The amount of the fine will probably be $40.

However, Engstrom noted, "The purpose of the first season is primarily to educate people about the new Trail-Park system. We hope not to give too many tickets during the first year, except to repeat offenders."

Eighty percent of the revenue generated by the Trail-Park program will be returned to the forest that collects the money. The Forest Service will gather data to indicate which areas were most heavily used.

The remaining 20 percent of the revenue will go to the agency's regional office and will be distributed to districts demonstrating a special need for additional funds. For example, when trails are washed out by flooding, that area could apply for the funds.

Don Hundt, owner of Sisters Mountain Supply, thinks the permits are necessary.

"Good idea," Hundt said. "A lot of the trails around here are loved too much and need extra maintenance that will be funded by the trail permits. I think its nice that the money is earmarked for trail maintenance."

Mountain Supply employee Eric Metzger agreed.

"It's a budget issue," Metzger said. "Recreation, wilderness areas and trails need more money, and this is the best way to do it."