Public comments sought on paved trail west of Bend
The Deschutes National Forest Bend-Ft. Rock Ranger District released Thursday the Welcome Station Trail Connections Environmental Assessment for a 30-day public comment period.
The Forest Service said the project will provide non-motorized paved trail connectivity between the city of Bend and the new Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway Welcome Station; develop trailhead parking along the Cascade Lakes Highway near Bend and create mountain bike trail connections between the Welcome Station and the Wanoga, Deschutes River and Phil’s trail systems.
The project proposes to construct a 3.4-mile non-motorized paved path to connect the Bend Parks and Recreation District’s Haul Road trail to the Welcome Station on the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway and develop a new trailhead in coordination with the city of Bend.
In addition, mountain bike trails will be constructed, re-routed or rehabilitated between Tyler’s Traverse (4.9 miles), Phil’s Trail system (6.3 miles), and the COD mountain bike trail (0.4 miles) to make trail connections with the Cascade Lakes Highway bicycle and pedestrian undercrossing near the new Welcome Station and improve opportunities for people to connect between trails and the city of Bend.
The 30-day public comment period will begin with the legal notice expected to be published on Friday.
Those interested in commenting or learning more about the project can find the document and directions for commenting at
http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=41207 or people may come to the Bend-Fort Rock District Office, 63095 Deschutes Market Road, Bend, OR 97701.
For more information please contact Amy Tinderholt at (541) 383- 4708 or atinderholt@fs.fed.us.
