Idaho trail work funded

North Idaho’s Forest Service trail network will get a $5.3 million spruce-up from federal stimulus funds.

Some of the work will start this year, but the bulk of the projects will take place during the 2010 field season, said Kent Wellner, recreational program manager for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

Each of the Idaho Panhandle’s five counties will receive a share of $1.3 million in trail maintenance projects. The work includes transforming an old logging road into the Laverne ATV Trail on the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District near Fernan Saddle. Forest officials worked closely with off-road groups to design the trail, which will link to other ATV routes.

Wellner is also planning general maintenance on the forests’ 1,700 miles of dirt trails, which stretch from the Canadian border to the St. Joe River. The Route of the Hiawatha, a rails-to-trails project, will get a new shelter.

A little further south, the Clearwater National Forest will receive $4 million for trail projects. About 1,000 miles of forest trails are targeted for extensive maintenance work, including spraying for noxious weeds.

In addition, the Nez Perce National Historic Landmark will receive $250,000 for 100 miles of trail repair and bridge work. The Salmon-Challis National Forest is getting $800,000, which will include trail work in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.

The projects include a strong emphasis on youth crews, to provide summer jobs for teens and young adults in rural counties, Wellner said.

Nationally, $274 million has been allocated to address a backlog of trail maintenance on national forest lands. In Washington, repairs will be made to trails in the Blue Mountains and to the popular Pacific Crest Trail.

“When the American public gets to a trail and decides to hike, we want them to find it appealing,” Richard Sowa, the Forest Service’s acting associate chief, said during a Thursday conference call.