Long-term county trails plan in the works

SANDPOINT - Bonner County is akin to paradise for many outdoors lovers, and many of them are working feverishly to keep it that way by developing a long-term plan for the area's many trails.

After adopting a set of new land codes, the Bonner County Commission last month paved the way for the implementation of a sanctioned trails committee. The committee, which is separated into six distinct geographic areas, was tasked with creating a master plan for all trails in Bonner County.

The first goal, according to Bonner County Planner Claire Marley, is for committee members to find existing trails, decide how each trail should look and decide who will maintain them.

After uncovering and mapping the vast number of trails currently in use, the next hurdle is to make them legal by convincing landowners to sign off on the idea of making part of their property open to the public.

Committee member Jon Sayler said bringing private landowners on board will be difficult, but he's hopeful most will see the benefit of having trails.

"In some cases it will probably be impossible, and then we'd have to either shut it down in that area or change the trail or whatever we have to do, but we hope that in many cases people will allow that access and it will be designated as a right of way for the public to use," Sayler said.

In some ways the committee is taking baby steps toward its goal, but that doesn't mean members don't have big plans for the future of Bonner County trails.

Committee member Mark Savarise can envision a time of complete trail connectivity in Bonner County.

"Our ideal situation would be to have a total network throughout the county that incorporates all the different users and types of trails and landowners into one big connected network that's independent of roads and allows people to travel without having to be in their vehicle on the road," Savarise said.

He calls the goal "pie in the sky," but Savarise said with enough effort and commitment, the project will eventually come to fruition.

"This probably isn't something that's going to turn into a network of trails for any of us," Savarise said of his contemporaries on the committee. "It's probably going to be something that really doesn't reach its full maturity for a full generation. It will be our kids that get to see the end result of a successful trails plan."

The committee is looking for new members from all parts of the county and all trail interests - whether for walking, horseback riding, bicycling or all terrain vehicles.

For information about how to get involved, call Marley at 265-1458.