USFS seeks public comment on new scenic trail

The U.S. Forest Service is seeking public comment regarding a planned route for a 1,200-mile scenic route.

The planned route for the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail starts at the Great Divide in Glacier National Park and crosses through seven national forests and three national parks before finally arriving at Cape Alava, Wash.

At this stage, Forest Service officials said the agency is just seeking public input in the ongoing development of the trail’s comprehensive plan. After which, the USFS will begin consultation with affected tribes, before finally presenting the final draft by next summer.

The trail will pass through the Flathead, Kootenai, Idaho Panhandle, Colville, Okanogan-Wenatchee, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie, and Olympic national forests.

That final presentation is also open to discussion, though any comment sent next summer will not influence the drafting of the trail’s comp plan, only its potential approval by the USFS.

The trail had been discussed since the 70s, but became legalized for the final planning stages in 2009. The USFS plans to sign the final draft of the comprehensive plan for the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail by the end of 2023.

The USFS is asking the public to read the documents and comment on the proposal by going to the project’s homepage at bit.ly/PNWTrailPlan and selecting “comment/object” in the right hand tab that says “get connected.” The comment period closes Oct. 28.

For more information, or to receive a paper copy of the scoping document for the project, contact Becky Blanchard, Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Administrator, at becky.blanchard@usda.gov or call at 503-808-2449.