Oregon State Parks’ Recreational Trails Program has invested more than $300,000 in Southwest Oregon’s trail network through three nonprofit trail organizations: Siskiyo Uplands Trail Association, Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association and Siskiyo Mountain Club.
SUTA plans to complete five miles of new trail with its Jack Ash Trail project. The funds will also cover the cost of signage, including interpretive plaques with information about local Native American culture. This multi-phase project will eventually connect the Ashland Watershed Trail System to Jacksonville’s Forest Park. The group was awarded $78,769 in 2023 RTP funding.
The Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association is using the RTP grant to convert a mile of dilapidated road into a bifurcated trail. One side of the trail will be a downhill bike-only trail suitable for all skill levels. The other side can be used for uphill biking, hiking or running.
“This project has been eight years in the making and we can’t wait to transform one of the worst mile in the Ashland watershed into one of the best,” said association president Ryan Hawk. The RVMBA will receive $117,212 for the project.
The Siskiyo Mountain Club will focus on expanding a 50-mile trail network that is currently disappearing from a remote part of Curry County. The club received $109,242 in RTP funds, marking the organization’s fifth project with the program since 2014. “These partnerships have been developing for over a decade,” says Gabriel Howe, the club’s executive director. “We are preparing to make investments that will restore opportunity for our community and put our area on the map.”
Each organization must donate a qualifying matching contribution during the refund period to cover the project costs. For more information on each project, please visit each organization’s website.
The Recreational Trails Program is a competitive grants program funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation through a fuel tax and administered by Oregon State Parks. “We are pleased to support new trail projects in Southern Oregon and other parts of the state and recognize the important partnerships being established to build and repair trail systems,” said Grants Coordinator Jodi Bellefeuille.
