Trail Rangers
The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) Trail Ranger Program, funded by the $12 Idaho registration fee for off-highway motorcycles and ATVs. In the summer of 2010, the Trail Rangers, Trail Cat Operators and Mini-Excavator Operators together maintained or constructed almost 2,000 miles on 26 Ranger Districts in eight National Forests located throughout Idaho. The crews removed 4,514 downed trees, cleaned or installed 4,137 water drainage structures, and reestablished tread on miles of trail.
The program is organized into three two-man crews. Each worker carries a chainsaw, pulaski, and shovel along with tank bags that carry gas, oil, and tools for the saws mounted on a trail bike.
Idaho has one of the largest systems of single-track trail in the United States. Keeping those seemingly endless miles of trails accessible to users is a coordinated task.
"Our program is only one part of the overall maintenance effort," said IDPR Trails Program Coordinator. "Many of Idaho's trails are managed by the United States Forest Service. Unfortunately, the Forest Service in Idaho has rarely had enough funding to adequately maintain these trails, so we set up a maintenance program to help."
Every spring, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation invites land management agencies around the state to participate in the program. There is no cost to the agencies that participate. The only thing that the department requires is that the participating agency provides temporary housing, as close as possible to the trail system. Housing is usually rustic—a Forest Service Guard Station; but includes a sheltered sleeping area, cooking facilities, a clean drinkable source of water, showers, and refrigeration for food.
Maintenance partnerships are a necessity because in Idaho when trails go without maintenance, downed trees can block the trail, making it impassable for motorcyclists, equestrians, mountain bikers, and hikers. In addition, small sections of trail wash out, water bars fill with sediment, and brush blocks the trail.
The number one goal of the IDPR Trail Ranger Program is to open the most miles of trail in a season while at the same time improving the trail system, so all users can enjoy Idaho's trails.
Trail clearing priorities are determined when the trails are free of snow, how much use an area receives, and the availability of housing. The trail ranger program makes more miles of trail useable earlier in the year by removing downfall, turning out water and removing other debris from the trail. By making more miles of trail available to trail users, users are dispersed, environmental impacts are minimized and user conflict is reduced.
The IDPR Trail Ranger Program is funded entirely by user fees.
To learn more, contact the Trails Specialist in your area:
Southwest Idaho
Todd Wernex
twernex@idpr.idaho.gov or call (208)514-2413
North Idaho
Marc Hildesheim
mhildesheim@idpr.idaho.gov or call (208) 769-1511
East Idaho
Michael Robinson
mrobinson@idpr.idaho.gov or call (208) 525-7121