A new campground near Larch Corrections Center and 78 miles of additional trails are proposed in a draft 10-year recreation plan unveiled for the western portion of the Yacolt Burn State Forest.
More than three years in preparation, the 70-page plan is a joint effort of the state Department of Natural Resources and an 11-member citizen advisory group. It covers roughly 40,000 acres of DNR-managed state forest in eastern Clark County south of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
Money to implement the proposals would come from grants available through the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office and from capital projects funded by the state Legislature.
“We’ve got a plan, but the second key is finding the funding,’’ said Brian Poehlein, recreation and natural areas district manager for DNR’s Pacific Cascade region.
“We think we can get the trails done in the first two to four years of the plan,’’ he said. “The trails are the least expensive, and we have lot of volunteers who will donate time and equipment. The biggest expense are the bridges. The campgrounds are the last priority and will take several phases of capital and grant funding.’’
The plan concentrates motorized use in the southern end of the forest and non-motorized use in the north.
An estimated 50,000 visitors use the trails and camps in the western Yacolt Burn for off-road-vehicle riding, horse riding, hiking, mountain bike riding, hunting, and other recreation.
DNR officials estimate there are 170 miles of undesignated trails in the area.
Many of those trails are in poor locations, causing erosion and posing safety concerns.
“Some of those trails, where they are located in good, sustainable locations and fit with our long-term trail system plan, will be utilized,’’ Poehlein said. “The majority will be decommissioned though.’’
The forest currently has two campgrounds, Rock Creek and Cold Creek. There are 35 miles of non-motorized trails in the Tarbell and Bells Mountain routes and 14 miles of motorized trails at Jones Creek.
While hikers, mountain bike riders and equestrians have the Tarbell and Bells Mountain trails, and motorcyclists and quad riders have the Jones Creek trail system, there are no designated routes for four-wheel-drive users.
Poehlein said DNR will review comments from the public regarding the plan, then prepare a final version for approval by Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark.
Initial work on new trails could begin as early as late June.
Highlights of the draft plan include:
New campground — Proposed is a new campground and trailhead near Four Corners, south of Larch Corrections Center. Four Corners is the junction of DNR roads 1000 and 1500.
“It will be an off-road-vehicle-oriented trailhead and campground combined, with the new trailhead first, and then a campground in three stages later,’’ Poehlein said. “The campground is the last priority in the plan and will be expensive. It’s possible this won’t be done during the plan’s initial 10-year timeline, depending on funding.’’
The plan envisions at 25-site facility. Adjacent to the new campground would be day-use parking for 60 vehicles.
The Four Corners location is located centrally to the proposed off-road-vehicle trails in the plan. Four Corners campground would be at about 1,900 feet elevation, thus having a relatively long use season.
Poehlein said on weekends, there already is substantial parking and use at Four Corners.
Expanded campgrounds — Rock Creek campground will cater to equestrian use. It would get four additional camping sites, bringing the total to 21. The existing camp sites would be improved to provide larger parking spots.
An adjacent trailhead would have 32 parking spots, with room to add another 32 in a later phase.
Equestrians access Tarbell trail from Rock Creek campground.
Cold Creek campground would cater to quiet family and tent camping. Ten new sites are proposed to bring the total to 18.
New trails — The plan proposes 58.5 miles of new motorized trails, three miles of new mountain bike-only trail and 17 miles of new non-motorized trail.
Specific trail mileage by motorized vehicle includes 30.5 miles of new trail for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and four-wheel-drives; 18 new miles of double-track trails for all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles, and 10 miles of new single-track trails for motorcycles only.
The highest priority for motorized trails is in the area east of Jones Creek trailhead and south of Grouse Creek Vista.
The highest priority for non-motorized trails is the three-mile mountain bike-only route slightly north and west of the summit of Larch Mountain.
Most of the new non-motorized trails would be east of Rock Creek campground, creating loop opportunities by connecting with the Tarbell trail south of Squaw Butte and near Coyote Creek.
