Sisters area trail users to see upgrades

The Forest Service has completed improvements to a number of trails in the Sisters area, with more to come. Improved trails and those seeing upgrades in the near future are in popular, heavy-use, non-wilderness sections of the Sisters Ranger District.

Kirk Flannigan is the Forest Service's local team leader for Recreation, Heritage, Lands & Minerals. He is pleased with steps being taken to improve experiences for local trail users.

"We're already doing the planning for replacing or adding structures along the Metolius River," Flannigan said.

Some of the trail sections along the edge of the Metolius have suffered erosion and damage and are slated for repair soon. Rebuilt sections will be modified using both wood and rock reinforcement. The work involves trails on both the east and west sides of the river and includes improved signage.

"We are replacing small bridges and installing rock retaining walls along the Metolius," Flannigan said. "We'll also be replacing or adding puncheons - those are the raised wooden structures used to get across marshy areas. If the funding comes through, we will implement these improvements in 2012."

The popular Black Butte summit route is another trail targeted for improvement, and Flannigan expects to see that project underway this year. When snow conditions permit, a youth crew will begin working atop the landmark cinder cone to better define the trails and also direct some of the foot traffic away from the lookout area.

Flannigan said that a number of user trails have developed in the summit area, and it is hoped that the project will limit hiker impact on the native habitat by concentrating use to a single trail. Another welcome project will be the replacement of the portable toilet at the trailhead parking lot with a permanent toilet facility.

The Lake Creek Trail between Suttle Lake and Camp Sherman was completed last year and will see more work to mark and define that new trail. Elaborate marker signs have already been installed at each end of the trail.

The trail around Suttle Lake is in the final stages of a two-year project that will both enhance the hiking experience and reduce erosion near the lake's edge. Another area receiving recent trail upgrades and new signage is the Peterson Ridge trail complex south of town.

Flannigan wants to make sure that the Sisters community is aware of a new trail users group that has been started by the Sisters Ranger District.

"It's a diverse group of local citizens collaborating to work together on trail issues in the area," said Flannigan.

He said that virtually all user groups are represented, and he was pleased to have 19 persons show up for the first meeting. The meetings are held quarterly, and Flannigan invites all interested persons to contact him directly at 541-549-7730 or at [email protected]