Park Plan to be Presented

Here’s a message from Mike Vouri, Chief of Interpretation & Historian at San Juan Island National Historical Park:

San Juan Islanders will have an opportunity learn about and comment on the park’s plan for expanded horseback riding in San Juan Island National Historical Park at public meeting scheduled at 7:15 p.m., Wednesday February 13 in the conference room of the San Juan Island Library.

Expanded equestrian use of trails a possibility – NPS photo by Dave Harsh

In response to requests for increased access for horses, the park staff conducted a thorough analysis of park trail networks at English and American camps. The result was that some new areas will be added to those already viewed as considered appropriate for riding, according park Superintendent Lee Taylor.

Corridor clearance, maximum grade, switchback radius and drainage were key factors in the decision-making.  Impacts on areas with significant historic or cultural resources also weighed heavily in the process, Taylor said. The park’s 2008 General Management Plan classifies the park landscape into different zones, and indicates that equestrian uses are not appropriate in the cultural zone.

“I believe there are trails in the park that are well suited to horse use, and that we can allow horses on those trails without causing damage to park resources or degrading the park experience for other visitors,” Taylor said.

Taylor will present detailed information of the park’s analysis and findings on the following trails:

• Back Side of Young Hill
• English Camp Service Road
• Sandwith Orchard to Mitchell Hill Connector Trail
• Frazer Homestead Trail from American Camp to park boundary
• Mount Finlayson Trail
• Connector Trail from Mount Finlayson Trail to Jakles Lagoon Trail
• Jakles Lagoon Trail

Existing horse use in the Mitchell Hill area of the park will continue.  Anyone riding a horse in the park, including Mitchell Hill, will be required to have a permit.  Horse use permits are free of charge, valid for one calendar year, and will be available at the meeting.

And this just in from the Trails Committee:

Park superintendent Lee Taylor discussed this possibility with the Trails Committee’s steering committee after being approached by committee member Theresa Simendinger. The steering committee discussed it at length and then voted to support this expanded use of park trails and to fund the building of 4 hitching posts for these trails, and then presented the information to the Island Rec board, which voted unanimously to support it and to fund the hitching posts. It is generally the Trails Committee’s policy to support non-motorized multi-use of trails wherever feasible.

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