Sisters turns out to celebrate trails

About 45 people gathered at Village Green Park in Sisters on Saturday morning to celebrate National Trails Day and to learn about and explore the Sisters Community Trails system.

The celebration was sponsored by the Sisters Trails Committee, a group of local volunteers who have been working since 2000 to develop a system of non-motorized commuter and recreational trails within the greater Sisters area.

To date, the group - with significant donations from area businesses and volunteers - has signed and constructed more than 80 miles of easily accessible trails close to Sisters that provide opportunities for a variety of non-motorized activities and safe routes to schools.

The event kicked off with refreshments and short presentations about the Sisters trails system by committee president John Rahm and vice-president Jeff Sims. Participants then joined guided tours of nearby trails including a road bike tour of the Sisters area, mountain bike and horse rides, and a trail run on Peterson Ridge, as well as a hike along Whychus Creek.

The National Trails Day event in Sisters was made possible by donations from local citizens and businesses. Sisters Trails Committee members and Sisters Mayor Brad Boyd led the excursions, Sisters Market donated coffee, Ray's Food Place supplied doughnuts, Cycle Oregon provided energy drinks and trail snacks and XPress Printing donated paper and printing at cost for the Trails Day posters.

For more information about the Sisters Community Trails or to become involved, contact Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation at (541) 549-2029 or visit http://www.sisterstrails.com.