Willow Trails Committee
Mission Statement: To provide safe and enjoyable recreational trails for Willow residents and visitors.
Goals:
- Identify historic and currently used trails.
- Obtain public use easements for recreational trails and trailheads.
- Maintain trails for safe and enjoyable use while protecting the natural resources.
- Provide information to the public on trail safety and etiquette.
- Provide a forum for trail related issues.
Trail News
The Willow Trail Committee and the Willow Health Organization have partnered together for the Willow Community Summer Trails Project. This project will develop safe and accessible trails for walking, running, biking, horse and ATV riding, connecting neighborhoods and businesses, public and medical facilities, senior centers, parks and greenbelt areas. The first step is to develop a master plan. The project has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation and assistance from the NPS, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program.
At the recent January 20 trail meeting, a summer trails sub committee dedicated to planning and constructing the trails was approved. In coming months, the committee will be reaching out to the community and stakeholders for their opinions and will hire a land design/engineering firm to complete the summer trails master plan.
If you are interested in being part of this project, please contact Nina at 495-1112 or Steve, 495-6368.
Also at the January meeting, the committee decided to recognize trail volunteers by awarding a gift certificate. We will be taking nominations for this award at the February trail meeting. One criteria for the award is that the volunteer have no obligations related to their trail work. Another criteria one might want to consider is that the volunteer have no direct use of the trails such as a local snowmachiner or dog musher has for their use of the trails.
Other items of note: The WTC has applied for Land Use Permits from Alaska DNR. The first is for kiosks and signage on the West Gateway Trail System. There is a public comment period for this application that ends January 28th. The second application is for past construction on the Corral Hill Trail. The last is for easement realignment on the Corral Hill Trail. Public comment periods for these two will be available in the coming months.
As long as your at it, there are other public notices concerning land use, trails and recreation. The MSB has a comment period on Borough land units, Willow, Rodgers and Deception Creek. The these management plans are available in the Willow Library. Its a thick white binder by the magazines.
This spring, look for notices regarding the draft revision of the Nancy Lake SRA Management Plan and a draft of the new Denali State Park Trails Plan.
If you would like to be placed on the WTC email list or have questions, call 495–6368. The Willow Trail Committee meets the third Wednesday of each month, 7pm at the Willow Community Center.
Winter Trail Conditions
Willow Dog Mushers collect our reports, and those of others, and publish a summary of trail conditions.
Willow Area Trail Plan
The June 2006 edition is available both as a downloadable PDF and as
text indexed by section.
Hatcher Pass Management Plan Revision
Our response (Aug 2009) to the above with respect to the Willow side of the Pass
can be found here.
Trail History
We hope to document early uses of our various trails, both for their historical
value and to preserve precedence.
Trail Links
A nice Frontiersman article can be found here for those who may have missed it (Sep 12, 2006) (reprinted in the News-Minor and the Juneau Empire).
Matanuska-Susitna Borough Recreational Trails Project Facts can be found here.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough Trail Guide and Trail Conditions page can be found here.
Alaska recreational trails, state grants and trail resources can be found here.
Big Lake Trails, Inc’s web site has information about activities and projects, rides and events. Additionally, members can download trail data (GPS, Maps, GoogleEarth trip planning etc).
Mid Valley Trail Club (Susitna Landing) have maps (for download) of Trapper Lake
area trails on their web site http://www.mvtrailclub.org
Willow Trails Committee
Steve Charles, Chair
Phone: 6368 Email: trails@waco-ak.org
Meets: 3rd Wednesday/Month, WCC, 7PM
