The Dishman Hills Natural Area is known for its extensive trail system, and many have had the experience of getting a bit confused (or lost!). They wonder which way is which after too many trail junctions. Well, the Dishman Hills Conservancy is currently reconsidering our trail plan to see what can be improved. This was initiated by DNR (Department of Natural Resources) announcing that they are prepared to spend $60K to do a comprehensive update to our trail signs for the Natural Area. This amount should cover a new set of signs with a few interpretive installations thrown in for environmental education. The “ball is now in our court”, and we want to present to DNR an improved trail plan. No one is sure where all the trails came from. One would assume that years of human use created the paths we see today and there is only a few trail segments that were actually designed and built. Here are some of our trail considerations:

•1)      No trail should terminate at a private property boundary

•2)      There should be trail loops where possible to circulate hikers through and within the Natural Area. Exceptions would be trails to important ecological sites or viewpoints.

•3)      Eliminate redundant trails that are shortcuts, duplicates, or Dead-ends.

•4)      Limit trails in areas of sensitive ecology.

We must remember that our goal here is first to protect the natural and native ecology. Secondly, we want to provide public access to experience what we are conserving. We do not want to design a recreational or sports area which would slowly consume the very thing that draws people here in the first place, a fine piece of northwest forest in our backyard. The conservancy has felt for some time now that supporting a trail that leads onto private property is not right. We realize that a hiker trekking down a trail might pay little attention to where the path goes from public to private. Part of this project will be to design and build new trail segments that complete loops in the existing trail system, so hikers will not face the dilemma or having to stop and turn around at a private property boundary. Another important goal will be to decommission trail segments with a program of trail and environmental restoration. Sounds like a lot of work? It is, but we can break it down into several smaller campaigns of work t get the job done. Sometime in the next year you will find new signs, new trails, and restored trail paths. Please respect trail closure signs, so the forest can heal itself and the paths can disappear, naturally.