One of the many beneficial characteristics of public lands is the trails within their boundaries. Many of these trails take outdoor enthusiasts to areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. They unlock beauty. They grant access to plant and wildlife habitat. Provide us with a history lesson. Slow us down. Take us away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Help keep us active, sane, or both. The list goes on. . . . Each impacts a user’s experience in different ways. At their core, trails provide a blank canvas to formulate our own adventures.
For these reasons and many more, maintaining, improving, and strategically expanding trail is important work. One way to assist in the effort is through trail stewardship. It is a noble cause, and builds on the work of those of the past to ensure sustainability and positive growth for future generations. There are many government entities, private organizations, and programs furthering that cause. One that I (JB) would like to highlight in this post is the Forbes State Forest Trail Steward Program (“Program”).
For those unfamiliar, the Forbes State Forest is in the Laurel Highlands region of southwestern Pennsylvania. It is about an hour’s drive east of Pittsburgh. It has some of the best trails and landscape in the Commonwealth. Check out our Laurel Highlands Gravel Routes Collection article for more about the area and for ways to explore the forest.
The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources volunteer-based Program is an “opportunity for individuals who want to assess, monitor, and implement trail improvements on specific trail(s) [throughout] Forbes State Forest.” It gives individuals a chance to adopt a trail(s) to monitor a few times a year and provide reports to forest staff and management outlining any issues that need addressed to make the trail more accessible and sustainable. Some of those issues include downed trees, overgrowth, missing signage, drainage issues, and the like. The individual is the “eyes and ears of the forest [and] help[s] [the forest staff and management] improve recreation opportunities for all!”
As a PA DCNR Conservation Volunteer, you will have the ability to make a difference. The ability to help further the cause of improving the trails at Forbes State Forest for generations to come. I steward the Mt. Streams Trail. How about it? Consider joining in on the cause and signing up to be a member of the Forbes State Forest Trail Steward Program, here.
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