Trails

Unauthorized Trails

Unfortunately, the co-leaders of the Trails Working Group have had to step down for pandemic-related reasons, so this program is currently on hiatus. If you would be interested in coordinating the evaluation of unauthorized trails, please contact us at info@friendsofthewildernesspark.org.

The Master Plan for the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park noted that illegal foot and bike traffic have created multiple unauthorized trails throughout the study area that emanate from the authorized trail system. Though many of these unauthorized trails are narrow, they represent a potentially serious threat to the CHWP’s natural environment by fragmenting habitat, causing erosion, and providing routes for spread of invasive species.

These informal trails can, however, add to the user experience by providing beautiful views, thrilling rides, closer contact with nature, and short cuts between major trails. The Master Plan charged the Friends with evaluating these trails, determining which were deemed allowable to remain from an environmental perspective, developing a set of criteria for which trails should be integrated and which should be closed, and making recommendations to the City of Claremont.

During the pandemic, the Park has seen many new users, use of the informal trails has increased, and new unauthorized trails have been created, increasing the urgency of acting on this situation. If you would be interested in helping evaluate these trails, please contact us at info@friendsofthewildernesspark.org to let us know.