ATRA has put this Trails Plan on the web so you can make yourself familiar with the trail possibilities (bicycle, foot, and equestrian) currently existing in Humboldt County. While many people today are currently interested in this topic, most are unaware of this sub-element of the County General Plan, Recreation Element (adopted 1979). It is our hope that you will be driven to fulfill this Plan's dream. And, for that matter, to help to bring the Plan up-to-date. (Updates being required as part of the Plan.) While you are perusing the Plan, be aware that some of these trail opportunities (being based on data nearly 20 years old) are no longer possible. Along the same line, be aware that some trails, like the proposed Blue Lake Rails to Trails link are not included. Do drop us a note regarding these trails so we can expedite the update process.
This online edition is complete excepting several of the appendices which are rather out-of-date and are not directly related to the trails themselves. In addition, the trails map which is provided with the hard copy editions (see below) hasn't been digitized due to the extreme amount of time needed for that process. However, if a steady stream of people visit this site, our web-master might be persuaded otherwise.
Today, the Redwood Community Action Agency is the primary non-governmental organization working to establish trails in Humboldt County. One of their greatest successes has been the Hammond Trail in McKinnleyville (HCTP Trail #6).
Hard copies of the Plan are available from the County Planning Department ($$) or the Northcoast Environmental Center (membership).
A few pointers about using this online edition:
One can use the navigation links on the top of each page to flip through
the different sections. TOC, one of these links, stands for "Table
of Contents." Once within a certain section, that section's name and
then the subsection's name will apear under the Trails Plan logo. On each
side of the subsection's name are links which allow one to navigate to the
previous subsection (up arrow) and to the next subsection
(down arrow). A similar option exists on the bottom of each page.
Enjoy
The preparation of the County Trails Plan was made possible by a C.E.T.A. Grant to the Humboldt County Department of Public Works by the Board of Supervisors, May 31, 1977, The Board of Supervisors recognize that "trails" for bicyclists, equestrians, joggers, and hikers are desirable. They realize that funds should be allocated within the limits of the County's resources to meet user needs for the development of a Community oriented trails program. The grant called for the preparation of a Countywide plan to consist of route proposals, policies, and guidelines for the establishment of bicycle, horse, jogging, and hiking trails. Special consideration was to have been given to access conditions for walking and bicycling to County Schools. Trails for off-highway motor vehicles were not considered due to basic incompatibility between motorized and non-motorized trail use. Once the Trails Plan is adopted, it will become a sub-element to the Recreation Element of the county General Plan. It should also be considered and included as a portion of an official transportation-circulation element should such a document be prepared in the future. The Trails Plan will supersede any previously adopted trails related information contained in other County planning documents.
The degree of public interest and involvement in trails establishment will greatly determine the extent to which trails are developed. Given present financial limitations, public participation in all stages of trails establishment will become increasingly important. Although the physical, social, and environmental benefits of recreational and transportational trails use have been well documented, funding to provide for such facilities has been extremely limited. Available finances should be prudently used. Funding priority should be placed on those project features which cannot be provided through public volunteerism or donation. Actual trail users should be encouraged to participate and support the establishment of trails. In other Counties, where volunteers have assisted in site preparation and upkeep, public costs of trails development and maintenance have been substantially reduced.
Public input. and participation was actively sought in the preparation of this document. To provide a direct means for citizen involvement, the Humboldt County Trials Advisory Committee was established by the Board of Supervisors. Appointed Committee Members were to represent a diversity of viewpoints. The members of the Trails Advisory Committee including consultants and staff and their affiliation and/or areas of interest are listed on their own page.
When considering the implementation of routes and policies as outlined within this document, it is important to recognize that it is a long-range plan which encompasses a broad range of objectives and, as such, cannot be implemented "overnight". Before a project can be implemented, even where user needs are evident, it may take years before the political process, land-use agreements, engineering, environmental studies, and financing can successfully be completed. This document should be amended as circumstances and conditions warrant.
Onto the Table of Contents.
Any questions, comments, corrections? nvk2@axe.humboldt.edu
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[an error occurred while processing this directive] kind folks have taken a look at the Humboldt County Trails Plan since 4-June-1998.