Fourteen volunteers headed out to Tillamook State Forest for a focused day of trail reconstruction on Gales Creek. This section of the trail sits just below a clear-cut from early 2024, and it has needed careful tuning to bring it back to the standard riders expect.
Most of the day centered on refining about a mile of trail. Volunteers adjusted corners, cleaned and improved drainage, and tackled a stubborn stump with an axe that refused to go quietly. A few trees on Step Creek were also cleared the old-fashioned way with hand saws. It was physical work.
This project was critical because sightlines and drainage are the first things to suffer after a clear-cut. Without regular upkeep, erosion takes over. Corners get blown out. Water finds the wrong path. By tuning these sections now, the crew protected the tread, improved the flow, and set the trail up for a cleaner, more sustainable riding season ahead.
A big thank you to Cyclepath PDX for supporting the day with people and beverages.
If this kind of hands-on trail care sounds like something you want to be part of, we have more dig days coming up. Check out the events calendar and join us next time.