OUR GOALS
Develop a system of trails to connect the village, the school, public lands, and other destinations throughout the island.
Provide stewardship to ensure the permanence of Lopez Island’s trails.
Collaborate with public and private agencies, organizations, landowners and the community at large to expand and support our island trails.
Educate the community about available trails on island and their responsible use.
Get people out on trails.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF LCTN
Twenty-nine Lopez residents gathered in late 2009 to discuss the feasibility of improving and increasing hiking, biking, and horseback riding opportunities on Lopez Island. This effort blossomed into the Lopez Community Trails Network (LCTN), with a membership numbering 600+. Our activities are coordinated through the County Council, Land Bank, State and County Parks, San Juan Preservation Trust, BLM and Lopez Village Planning Committee.
San Juan County’s 6-Year Review of the Use of Public Lands (2010 and 2016) provided basis for our enthusiasm for improved trails, showing that San Juan County residents, especially Lopezians, most valued “an interconnected system of trails and open space for all users.”
LCTN members/volunteers meet monthly. Our goal is to build, maintain, and connect trails that will eventually connect accessible corridors in our island, including improving the “walkability” of Lopez Village.
We focus on:
Identifying existing public and private trails
Locating potential trail segments
Partnering with governmental and non-governmental organizations
Planning work sessions to implement our goals .
We have sponsored hands-on trail building workshops, work parties, and partnered with such groups as the BLM and AmeriCorps volunteers to build or improve trail segments. LCTN owns no land, therefore future trail opportunities arise through cooperation with various island agencies and island landowners.
LCTN received an assistantship from the U.S. National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservancy Assistance Program, providing a professional NPS consultant to help build an effective organization, connect with supportive agencies, and raise a positive public profile. We have also benefited substantially from the advice and cooperative efforts of trails enthusiasts on San Juan and Orcas Islands.