Fremont National Recreation Trail is focus for National Public Lands Day

John Desmarais works on the Fremont National Recreation Trail. (Submitted Photo)

John Desmarais works on the Fremont National Recreation Trail. (Submitted Photo)

LAKEVIEW, Ore. – Volunteers interested in participating in National Public Lands Day are invited to join the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lakeview District and the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) for a day of trail work.

The local National Public Lands Day event will start Saturday, September 28 at 8 a.m. at the Cox Pass Trailhead, located on the Fremont-Winema National Forest Lakeview Ranger District approximately 30 minutes north of Lakeview.

Volunteers will be working on the Fremont National Recreation Trail for approximately 3 hours Saturday morning.  No previous trail building experience is needed to participate.  Participants needing transportation will meet at the Lakeview Interagency Office located at 1301 South G St. south of Lakeview at 7 a.m. the morning of the event.

Participants should plan on dressing appropriately for the field, conditions and work.  This includes long pants and long sleeve shirt, thick socks and closed-toe shoes with good tread, like hiking boots.  Hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, sunglasses or eye protection are encouraged.

The event will take place rain or shine and volunteers should be prepared for changing conditions.  Jackets and layers are encouraged as high desert mornings and evenings can be cold.

Volunteers should also bring plenty of water, snacks and any other supplies they personally need.  Tools and equipment will be provided. BLM will be providing lunch. 

ONDA will be hosting optional event activities, including camping, dinner, hiking/biking/horseback riding on Sunday and a gear raffle for backpacks, camping stoves, water filter and tent.  Raffle donations benefit Lake County Search and Rescue.

Views from the Fremont National Recreation Trail. (Submitted Photo)

Volunteers interested in extending their day will have the opportunity to continue trail work during the afternoon, ending with dinner and camping.

For additional details and to register for the event, please visit http://bit.ly/FremontNPLD2019.

The Fremont National Recreation Trail is 135-miles long and traverses most of the length of the Fremont-Winema National Forest.  The trail is open to hikers, backpackers, mountain biking and horseback riding.  It is also part of the 750-mile Oregon Desert Trail.

ONDA crafted the Oregon Desert Trail route to introduce hikers, bikers and horseback riders to the stunning landscapes found in Oregon’s high desert.  The Oregon Desert Trail links existing trails, old road beds and cross-country travel together, overlapping with the Fremont National Recreation Trail for over 60 miles starting at the Chewaucan Crossing near Paisley and ending at Vee Lake near Lakeview.

For more information about this year’s local National Public Lands Day event, please contact Lakeview and Bly Ranger District Recreation Specialist Greg Campbell at 541-947-6359.

For more information on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/fremont-winema, follow the Forest on Twitter @FremontWinemaNF or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/R6FWNF.

Information on the BLM Lakeview District can be found at www.blm.gov/office/lakeview-district-office.

ONDA is a nonprofit organization that has protected, defended and restored Oregon’s high desert since 1987.  Learn more at www.onda.org.

Press release provided from the Fremont-Winema National Forest.

US Forest Service.png