Volunteer for World Trails Day in Bayfield

Tens of thousands of hikers, bikers, skiers, horseback riders, trails clubs, land trusts and others will come together to celebrate World Trails Day on Saturday, June 3. Creating an international day for trails aims to recognize how important trails are to health, wellbeing and local economies, and that trails require ongoing maintenance, preservation, and love. 

Cindi Taylor in 2022

Bayfield Trails Event

When:
Saturday June 3, 8:30 am – noon

Where:
Meet at the Sweeny Switchback trail entrance to the Big Ravine (gravel storage area) located at the west end of East Sweeny Avenue. To get there, go uphill on North Second Street and turn left on Sweeny Ave. 

What to Bring:
Bring a friend, and leaf rakes, 5-gallon buckets for transporting rocks & gravel, shovels and clippers. Make sure your tools have some identification marking. Also, be prepared with proper clothing and footwear for slippery conditions, water and snacks, bug/tick protection and sunscreen.  

​See more details below.

World Trails Day Bayfield event staging location.

To observe this day, Bayfield Area Trails will kick off the field season with a trails maintenance morning in the Big Ravine to repair and maintain trails impacted by the record-breaking snowfall and intense spring runoff.  Two dozen volunteers of all skill levels are being sought to help on one or more of six spots along this trail network. Tasks will range from raking leaves and clipping vegetation to hauling rocks and gravel from the creek bed to build crossings and stabilize the trails. Volunteers will:

1. Build a small footbridge at the bottom of the Sweeny Switchback Trail and add rock to armor a side channel that cuts across the trail;
2. Reconstruct the creek crossing along the main Gil Larsen Trail at the Sweeny Switchback intersection;
3. Rebuild two other creek crossings upstream from the Sweeny Switchback intersection;
4. Rebuild and stabilize a segment of the Pine Bluff Trail where spring runoff and seepage are eroding the trail;
5. Reestablish the upper Gil Larsen Trail extension by clearing vegetation and raking/leveling the tread;
6. Clean-up and rake selected side trails.

Lower Pine Bluff segment in need of repair.

All volunteers should review the “Top Tips for Safety” and sign the volunteer release form in advance and bring that with them.  The form can be found at this link on the Bayfield Area Trails website.

Questions?  Contact Kate Kitchell at [email protected] or 541-452-3079

Volunteers on Big Ravine project in 2022.

​Other upcoming projects in 2023: ​

Kris Wegerson checks out high water impacts.

• Gil Larsen Trail boardwalk upgrades: late June
• Hatchery to Ashwabay Trail, now called the Pileated Woodpecker Trail (Meme Miikana), : after the new bridge is installed, we will build boardwalk across the floodplain and start the new connection to the Ashwabay chalet: late July/early August
• Big Ravine Headwaters: build trails, boardwalk, and wetland viewing platform: 2nd half of August