Turnpike Project at LL Stub Stewart State Park

The NW Chapter and LL Stub Stewart State Park partnered on a project to create 10 turnpikes aimed at improving trail conditions during the wet months here in Oregon. We all know what it is like to trail ride in the mud, defiantly not as pleasant as riding in summer time. The plan was to start on the more popular equestrian trails in the park and place turnpikes along the trail to help stabilize sections of the trail that are known to be too muddy to ride on during the Spring and Winter.  The goal of the project was to make the trail accessible to equestrians and hikers year round.

During the first two months of 2014 NW Chapter members spent their free time volunteering at the maintenance shop at LL Stub Stewart State Park.  Working with park management, OET’s Northwest Chapter built turnpikes from trees to improve winter trail riding on one of the more popular trails, Boomscooter Trail, located off the Clay Hill Day Use area, at LL Stub Stewart State Park .  This trail is a main trail that equestrians use to access the Banks Vernonia Linear Trail.  Several of the parks trails need these, but Boomscooter is the one that gets done first!

All of the trees were harvested from the surrounding forest.  They were brought to the maintenance shed where NW Chapter members skinned and notched the logs.  Each turnpike was numbered and marked, creating a complete “set” for the turnpike.  Then, the park moved them out onto the trail and installed them.  The turnpikes are lined with barrier material and filled with gravel.  This creates a more stable trail bed, allows water to filter thru, and keeps the current trail more accessible during the Spring and Winter months for equestrian use.

The next time you go riding at LL Stub Stewart State Park, please give a special thanks to the Northwest Chapter OET members for making your winter and spring time trail ride more enjoyable.