National Trails Symposium Rolls Into Little Rock Nov. 15-18
November 6, 2008
LITTLE ROCK – The 2008 National Trails Symposium will be rolling into Little Rock later this month. The symposium provides an opportunity for the worldwide trails community to come together for an inspirational and educational conference.
The Symposium agendaaddresses both non-motorized and motorized issues as well as vision for trails and greenways around the country. Dozens of speakers and keynote presenters will be covering the top topics in the trails community with presentations from across America. Mobile workshops will give participants the opportunity to walk, ride, hike or paddle some of the great local trails around Arkansas.
Besides the educational opportunities found at this biennial symposium, networking with a wide variety of knowledgeable people working on trails today, including advocates, agencies, land managers, designers, planners, technicians, vendors, builders, developers, and enthusiasts, is one of the best benefits of attending this conference. See the Symposium schedule for details.
The Symposium also provides sponsors and exhibitors from across America a place to showcase their products and services.Another highlight of the symposium is the National Trails Awards, which recognizes the people, agencies and organizations that are creating trails for all Americans.
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Mid-Morning Hike at Goodwin Forest Conservation Center, Hampton
September 15, 2008
Join Conservation Educator Judy Rondeau on Saturday, September 20 at 10 a.m. for a hike through Goodwin Forest to Governors Island, a small hill that became an island back in 1933 when Cedar Swamp Brook was dammed to make Pine Acres Pond. The hike will be under the cool shade of mixed wood forest over easy to moderate terraine.
This FREE program will last between two and three hours. It will include a hike over easy to moderate terrain. Bring bug spray and water. You may also want to bring a snack or bagged lunch.
For more information, or to register, please call the Center at 860-455-9534. The Goodwin Conservation Center, located at 23 Potter Road, off Route 6, in Hampton, CT, is a partnership of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, the CT Forest & Park Association, and the University of Connecticut Department of Extension.
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5K Run/Walk at McCormick’s Creek, Sept. 6
August 19, 2008
Rev up your running shoes for a 5K Run and Walk at McCormick’s Creek State Park, Sept. 6.
The 5K fun run begins from the Nature Center at 8 a.m. The walk starts at 8:15 a.m. Advance registration is $20 and covers the park entry fee and race-logo shirt.
Race- day registration, starting at 7 a.m. at the Nature Center, is $25 and does not include the park entry fee ($5/in-statevehicle, $7/ out-of-state vehicle). Race shirts are not guaranteed to be available for race-day registrants. Day-of-race registrations require check or cash payment.
This event is co-sponsored by Friends of McCormick’s Creek State Park and the Owen County Family YMCA. Proceeds from the race benefit the park and the local community. For advance registration, call the Owen County Family YMCA, (812) 829-9622. For more information about activities at McCormick’s Creek State Park, call (812) 829-4344.
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Tennessee’s Morrison Meadow and May Prairie State Natural Areas Walking Tour Scheduled For August 23
August 19, 2008
Nashville, Tenn. - The Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Natural Areas will host a guided walking tour at Morrison Meadow and May Prairie State Natural Areas on Aug. 23. Participants should meet at 8 a.m. in the Target parking lot off Bell Road near Hickory Hollow in Nashville, or participants with reservations may arrange with trip leaders to meet near one of the sites.
Natural Areas Program Botanist Todd Crabtree will lead the easy to moderate hike. Morrison Meadow is renowned for its summer and fall flora, and makes for outstanding wildflower viewing. Natural areas staff will also be stopping at May Prairie State Natural Area in Coffee County, which features impressive open grassland and is one of Tennessee’s most floristically diverse natural areas.
Participants should bring water and lunch, and they should wear hats and appropriate footwear and bring rain gear. They also should bring sunscreen and insect repellant. Reservations for the guided hike are required and can be made by emailing Todd Crabtree at Todd [dot] Crabtree [at] state [dot] tn [dot] us
or by calling (615) 532-0431.
The hike at Morrison Meadow and May Prairie is part of a series of monthly, guided field trips to Tennessee State Natural Areas offered by the department’s Division of Natural Areas. Tennessee has 79 designated State Natural Areas throughout the state, covering approximately 110,000 acres of ecologically significant lands. More information about Tennessee’s natural areas program, including a complete list of all natural areas and scheduled field trips, can be found at http://www.tn.gov/environment/na/.
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Hiking, Backpacking Seminars Set for 5 Rivers In Alabama
August 8, 2008
Author and renowned outdoors enthusiast Joe Cuhaj of the Alabama Hiking Trail Society will conduct a series of hiking and backpacking seminars at 5 Rivers – Alabama’s Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort.
Daphne’s Cuhaj, who penned “Hiking Alabama” and co-authored “Paddling Alabama,” will offer advice and discuss hiking opportunities in Alabama for beginners and enthusiasts alike.
The series begins on August 23 at scenic 5 Rivers. Admission is free and registration is not required. The workshops, which begin at 1 p.m., are one-hour long with the exception of Backpacking 101, which will last two hours.
The seminar schedule is:
August 23 - Hiking in Alabama: Spectacular Destinations
September 13 - Essentials of Day Hiking
October 11 - Backpacking 101
November 15 - Backpack Cooking
January 10, 2009 - Hiking with Children (and the Dog)
February 7, 2009 - Trail Safety
The Alabama Hiking Trail Society will hold its annual convention March 6-7, 2009 at 5 Rivers. Visit www.Alabama5Rivers.com for more information on scenic 5 Rivers.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Parks, State Lands, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR visit www.outdooralabama.com.
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Hawaii DLNR Na Ala Hele Trails Program Announces Winners of 2008 Community Service Awards
July 22, 2008
KAHULUI — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Program and the Maui Na Ala Hele Advisory Council presented their 2008 community service awards at a ceremony yesterday at the Maui Forestry baseyard in Kahului, Maui.
Two awards were presented for outstanding community service — by an individual, and by a group — whose efforts contributed to the re-opening of the Kula Forest Reserve, after 2,300 acres burned in a January 2007 wildfire, and damage was suffered from a severe storm in December 2007.
The award for outstanding individual was presented to Bert Swink, owner of Maui Masonry and Concrete, who donated over $6,300 worth of materials, crew labor and expertise for the reconstruction of the roadside barrier at the concrete spillway along Waipoli Road near the reserve’s entrance. Repairs at this site were critical to allow reopening of the access into the forest.
The second award for an outstanding group was presented to the Kahikinui Game and Land Management Ohana, (KGLMO) for service in the trails and access area. This group donated approximately 100 person-hours of labor to reconstruct several headwalls and culverts along Waipoli Road, the access road to the Kula Forest Reserve.
“We want to recognize and applaud the generous contribution of their time, labor and materials that helped ensure a faster reopening of the Kula Forest reserve to the public, and which allowed our forestry staff to then concentrate on other recovery projects,” said Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson.
“DLNR encourages all wildland recreational users to help protect the Kula State Forest Reserve as it recovers, by obeying all rules and regulations. This will help to ensure that future generations will also have the opportunity to enjoy this very special forest,” said Thielen. For information on how to partner with the DLNR in a community service project, please contact Torrie L Nohara at (808) 873-3508.
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Marylands’ Historic Octoraro Creek Trail Reopens To The Public
July 7, 2008
CONOWINGO — The newest addition to the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway, Octoraro Creek Trail, is now open to the public. The trail, a half-mile walking path through wooded land that begins at the Octoraro Creek Bridge on Route 222 and ends at the Susquehanna River, provides greater opportunities for kayaking, canoeing and hiking, and opens previously inaccessible fishing locations along the Susquehanna.
The trail was built on land owned by Exelon Corp., owner of the nearby Conowingo Dam. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Exelon have been working together since 2004 to enhance recreational opportunities in the area. The trail is the first of many projects that will grow out of that partnership.
“The reopening of Octoraro Creek is a huge accomplishment, and could not have been possible without Exelon’s generosity and receptiveness,” said Tom O’Connell, assistant director of DNR’s Fisheries Service. “This new recreational opportunity grew out of an open process that included Exelon, DNR and input from local anglers and outdoor enthusiasts.”
“Exelon feels it has a responsibility to open recreational opportunities for people to enjoy the Susquehanna River. The trail provides access to great fishing spots and endless opportunities for the public to appreciate our natural world,” said Vicky Will, Exelon Vice President of Regulatory, Environmental and Safety.
“The Octoraro Creek Trail is a great idea, and an exceptional opportunity for those who love fishing and boating, or who just love the outdoors,” said Leon Senft, representative for the Susquehanna Shad Club. “Exelon was very cooperative and should be commended for their efforts. There are some very happy anglers along the Susquehanna.”
Local anglers are encouraged to participate in DNR’s 2008 Maryland Fishing Challenge. Designed to promote recreational fishing in Maryland, recognize angler efforts and inspire environmental stewardship, the 2008 Maryland Fishing Challenge began April 12 and will run through Labor Day, Sept. 1. Any angler who catches a citation-qualifying fish and enters the challenge may win one of the official grand prizes. To date, more than 1,000 anglers have qualified to win one of the grand prizes, including a 2008 Toyota Tundra 4×4 pickup truck from Central Atlantic Toyota, a boat and trailer package from Bass Pro Shops and $5,000 in fishing gear from Bill’s Outdoor Center.
For the full rules, list of qualifying fish, qualified entrants thus far, and other 2008 Maryland Fishing Challenge information visit www.dnr.maryland.gov/fishingchallenge.
For more information about Octoraro Creek and the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway, visit http://www.hitourtrails.com/.
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Vesta Cedar Glade Hike Slated For June 14
June 10, 2008
Nashville, Tenn. – The Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Natural Areas will host a guided hike at Vesta Cedar Glade State Natural Area in Wilson County near Lebanon on June 14. Participants should meet at 10 a.m. at the Cedars of Lebanon State Park office near Lebanon.
Andrea Shea Bishop will take hikers on an easy two-mile loop through the flat terrain of Vesta Cedar Glade in Cedars of Lebanon State Forest. This area is one of the state’s premier sites for the endangered Tennessee coneflower. Many other rare plants grow in this unique cedar glade and grassy barrens ecosystem. Other cedar glade plants include Tennessee milk-vetch, southern prairie dock, purple prairie clover, Gattingers prairie clover, prairie tea, glade privet, fragrant sumac and native grasses.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the beauty of one of Tennessee’s most biologically diverse state natural areas,” Bishop said.
Participants should bring water and lunch, and they should wear appropriate footwear and dress in layers. Sunscreen and insect repellent are also recommended. Reservations are required for the guided hike and can be made by contacting Andrea Shea Bishop by phone at (615) 532-0431 or by e-mail at andrea [dot] bishop [at] state [dot] tn [dot] us by June 12.
Vesta Cedar Glade is a 150-acre natural area in the southwestern corner of Cedars of Lebanon State Forest. Its flat landscape and exposed limestone outcroppings and sink holes are characteristic of the karst topography of the Middle Tennessee’s Central Basin. Many wildflower varieties thrive in the shallow soils of the cedar glade, while the deeper soils of the barrens support perennial bunch grasses like little bluestem.
The hike at Vesta Cedar Glade is part of a series of monthly, guided field trips to Tennessee State Natural Areas offered by the department’s Division of Natural Areas. Tennessee has 79 designated State Natural Areas throughout the state, covering approximately 110,000 acres of ecologically significant lands. More information about Tennessee’s natural areas program, including a complete list of all natural areas and scheduled field trips, can be found at http://tn.gov/environment/na/.
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DEC to Announce 140-Acre Addition to Shawangunk Ridge as Part of National Trails Day Event
June 6, 2008
Activities to Include Cleanup and Tours of Mamakating Rails-to-Trails Initiative
To celebrate National Trails Day on Saturday, June 7, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) staff and partners will be participating in a cleanup of 140 acres to be acquired by the state. The property is a “Rails-to-Trails” initiative that includes old rail beds that cross a variety of natural resources and will be a highlight of the Shawangunk Ridge trail system in Sullivan, Orange and Ulster counties.
“The expansion of a key regional trail is being made possible with the assistance of many community partners coming together to volunteer their time and effort to help restore this parcel after years of industrial use,” said DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis. “This is a great project that will connect New York residents and visitors to nature and history with the use of the old railbeds.”
The property once included railbeds of the New York, Ontario, and Western Railway, and of the Port Jervis, Monticello, and Summitville Railroad. The property ties into the Delaware and Hudson Canal towpath to the north and west and provides a level, 8-foot-wide path over a stone culvert above wetlands and streams. The railroad right-of-way runs more than a mile into the existing DEC Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest. The parcel will form a western branch of the 36-mile Shawangunk Ridge Trail, which follows the ridge from High Point State Park in New Jersey to the Mohonk Preserve in Ulster County.
DEC will be acquiring the property using the Environmental Protection Fund, with a price to be determined following the completion of the appraisal process. Trail Conference volunteers will be responsible for building and maintaining the trails once they have been designed with DEC approval, and upon completion of the acquisition, the land will be added to the Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest.
“We are delighted to celebrate the preservation of another key link in the Shawangunk Ridge Corridor which brings the goal of connecting the Catskill Forest Preserve and the Delaware National Recreation Area that much closer,” New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Executive Director Edward Goodell said. “The Trail Conference looks forward to handing this parcel off to DEC so that they can continue the process of restoring the landscape and invite the public in to enjoy this piece of local history.”
“The Land Trust Alliance (LTA) is thrilled to be a partner on this important public access project,” Ethan Winter, New York Conservation Manager with LTA said. “Through the New York State Conservation Partnership Program, the Alliance and DEC are helping to finance public access improvements along the Shawangunk Ridge Trail and other protected natural areas across the state. This project serves as a model for how conservation organizations can work with local and state partners to transform degraded sites into community assets, ultimately enhancing the public’s enjoyment of New York’s rich natural heritage.”
The National Trails Day event will be a day-long celebration of the state’s commitment to purchase the parcel. DEC staff, members of the Trail Conference, and other volunteers will participate in a final cleanup of the property from 9 a.m. to noon, followed by lunch for volunteers and guests. At 1 p.m., a press conference will be held, and from 2 - 4 p.m., hikes and tours of the property will be given.
The public is welcome to attend the day’s activities. Those interested in attending can contact the Trail Conference at (201) 512-9348 or the DEC Region 3 office at (845) 256-3000. Participants will be meeting at Ferguson Rd in the hamlet of Summitville, Town of Mamakating, Sullivan County.
More information about this and other Trails Day events around the state can be found on the Trail Conference’s website at www.nynjtc.org .
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Na Ala Hele Trails Program Marks National Trails Day With Boardwalk Installation at Manoa Cliff Trail
June 5, 2008
HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Program will mark National Trails Day, on Saturday, June 7, with a project to install a board walk in the first half-mile section of the Manoa Cliff hiking trail.
“National Trails Day is a nationwide celebration and recognizes the value and significance of outdoor recreational trails to our community and wellbeing,” adds Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson. “I encourage the public to take advantage of the summer weather to ‘take a hike’ on DLNR’s diverse selection of trails across the state.”
Starting at 9 a.m. Na Ala Hele program staff, assisted by community volunteers and members of the Hawaiian Ultra Running Team will install a board walk made of recycled plastic lumber mounted on steel posts along several hundred feet of erosion prone trail. Work will finish by about 5 p.m.
“This project supports our trail program’s restoration goals and will really improve a seasonally muddy and poorly draining section of one of the most popular forest hiking trails on O‘ahu,” said Curt Cottrell, Na Ala Hele program manager. “Hikers are usually forced to walk through the mud or widen the trail by trying to walking around the mud puddles. Thanks to our volunteers, we will make a nice board walk to keep everybody above and out of the mud,” he said.
“Even though we are working on the start of the trail, it will remain open and hikers will be able to get past,” Cottrell said.
Trail crew and volunteers will carry in the materials, help pound in anchor posts, attach all sections of boardwalk, bolt stringers and screw down decking, and apply a slip proof metal surface on top.
The Manoa Cliff Trail, part of the Honolulu Mauka trails system, is 2.3 miles long, and at an elevation of 500 feet, traverses the Ko‘olau mountains through thick, partly native forest.
For information about this trail, and other state-maintained forest trails under the Na Ala Hele trails system, and important safety guidelines, go to www.hawaiitrails.org.
DLNR reminds hikers that statewide weather forecasts predict a dry summer and vegetation may be dry. Hikers, campers and hunters should exercise caution to prevent wildfires on trails and in camping or hunting areas.
