Two Trails Reopened After Fire

Sun., Sept. 29, 1996

Associated Press

After being closed for more than a month after the 15,000-acre Eighth Street fire, two trails inside the burned area of the Boise Foothills will be reopened today to bikers, hikers and other nonmotorized use.

The Bureau of Land Management said Saturday the trails are Shane’s Loop, off Rocky Canyon Road, and a loop that includes Crestline Ridge and Sidewinder trails off the Military Reserve Park. BLM employees and volunteers have completed safety repairs and marked the trails for use by the public.

“We’ve been working hard to get these trails back in a good, safe condition for the public and to keep our word in getting some lower trails open as soon as possible,” said Bill Hagdorn, outdoor recreation planner for the Lower Snake River District BLM. “We’ll be looking at adding some other areas on a trail-by-trail basis as rehabilitation work and safety conditions allow.”

BLM officials cautioned the public to stay out of blackened areas and only travel on trails clearly marked as open. If people venture off the main trails onto closed trails or into damaged areas, the area could be closed again.

Intermittent closures also may be needed for rehabilitation work to proceed.

“We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding while we’ve had to keep some trails closed,” Hagdorn said.

The Eighth Street fire started Aug. 26 and affected 37 of the 55 miles of trails in the Ridge To Rivers Trail System.

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