OHV Trail Icon and Pioneer - Trails Unlimited

Contour Trail at Carnegie SVRA

There are few, if any, trail-related national “enterprises” that have helped shape the concept of managed or sustainable OHV recreation more than the crew at Trails Unlimited.

Post Mill Fire Trail Repair of 4WD Route

QWR had the recent privilege to visit with Cam Lockwood, founder of Trails Unlimited, while working on a Forest Service trail research project in Northern California.  Before the US Department of Agriculture Reinvention Program authorized the Enterprising of a Trails Training Program through Trails Unlimited, Cam pioneered (circa 1980s) the concept of engineered contour trails with rolling dips while working for the BLM at the Cow Mountain OHV Area near Ukiah, California.

Over the last 26 years, Trails Unlimited has led the way in constructing and reconstructing motorized and non-motorized trails and related structures for local, state, and federal land agencies throughout the country.  The team has also trained many of the top trail dozer operators that work on numerous county, state park, National Forest, and Bureau of Land Management units.

The next time you are out on a contour trail and ride over a “rolling dip,” remember that modern trail structure is an integral part of sustainable OHV recreation that helps secure that use for future generations.

Trails Unlimited

http://www.fs.fed.us/trailsunlimited/

# # # 

Water Quality Management Key to OHV Future

Hillside Stabilization at Carnegie SVRA

 

The future of OHV recreation depends on our collective ability to successfully address motorized recreation-related water quality issues on state and federal lands.  Recently, QWR had the opportunity to tour and document various water quality/soil erosion mitigation measures that have been implemented at Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area.  This unit is managed by the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division at California State Parks and is located near Tracy, California.

Designated Routes/Signs are Key Management Tools

 

Sometimes these management prescriptions designed to keep riding areas open for future generations are overlooked and/or under appreciated by the casual rider.  QWR believes it is important for riders to appreciate the tremendous amount of work performed by land managers and volunteers to help ensure that OHV recreational opportunities remain viable on public lands.

 

Trail Delineators, Contour Trails, and Hillside Stabilization are all Water Quality Tools

 

Next time you go riding, keep your eyes on the lookout for the multitude of management tools (e.g. signs, catch basins, contour trails, hillside stabilization measures, etc.) that help keep our trails open.  Feel free when you get home to send the appropriate land manager and/or club that has been working on those projects a thank you.  They will appreciate it.

# # #

Comments welcome - send to: damador@quietwarriorracing.com