PORT ANGELES — A local horseback club is teaming up with Clallam County to build a new trailhead for the Adventure Route of the Olympic Discovery Trail west of Port Angeles.
County commissioners Tuesday approved a memorandum of understanding with the Peninsula Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of Washington to build the facility on a county-leased Department of Natural Resources easement under the Bonneville Power Administration power lines off Dan Kelly Road, about a third of a mile from the trail.
20 miles of wilderness
The Adventure Route is a 20-mile wilderness variation to the paved Olympic Discovery Trail that traverses the undulating hills between the Elwha River valley and the Lake Crescent basin.
It is popular with hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders.
Clallam County Transportation Program Manager Rich James said the county has worked with Back Country Horsemen in the past.
A ‘major maintainer’
“They’re one of the major maintainers of the Adventure Route,” James said.
Back Country Horsemen has adopted several segments of the Adventure Route for regular maintenance, he said.
The trail was constructed over several years by Clallam County Chain Gangs, the inmate work crews led by Jon Beltrami and other Corrections officers, and teams of volunteers.’
Gate at trailhead
The county will use a portion of its nonmotorized road funds to build and install a gate at the trailhead. The county will also install a fence and deliver gravel to the site.
James said the total cost to the county will be less than $10,000.
Back Country Horsemen will clear and level the site, spread and compact the gravel and install hitching racks and a kiosk.
The group has offered skilled volunteer labor for the project.
Volunteers will be selected based on their experience in similar construction work.
James will coordinate the project.
The work will be completed within 160 days, according to the memorandum.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.