Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission Finalizes 2026 Recreational Trails Plan

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission approved the final 2026 Oregon Recreational Trails Plan during its February meeting. The 10-year plan establishes priorities for grant funding and outlines actions to improve non-motorized, motorized and water trails on public land across the state.

The plan addresses emerging trends and issues facing the state's trail systems. According to department data, more than 80% of Oregonians use trails annually, which generates over $890 million in spending at local businesses and supports the state's overall economy.

The plan provides guidance for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department as well as federal, state and local agencies. Private sector partners also use the document to coordinate trail management. It covers non-motorized trails for hiking, biking and equestrian use, alongside motorized ATV trails and snowmobile trails. The document further includes non-motorized boating and water trails.

Information for the 10-year strategy was collected from multiple sources, including statewide surveys of recreation providers and trail users conducted in October 2024 and April 2025. Planners also incorporated feedback from focus groups and workshops held during the 2024 and 2025 Oregon Outdoor Recreation Summits. Additional data came from the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, which is published every five years.

To support the implementation of the new plan, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department launched a technical resources website for recreation and trail planning. Jessica Horning, the statewide trails planner for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, highlighted the collaborative nature of the development process.

"We appreciate the time and energy trail users and partners have put into helping us develop the next trails plan, which will guide investments to make our trails even better in the future," Horning said.

Oregon State Parks staff will now update the Recreational Trails Program and ATV grant criteria to align with the 2026 plan. These updated criteria will be applied to the next solicitation period for both grant programs in fall 2026.