This page will attempt to provide the most up-to-date information and recommendations related to the Oregon Timber Trail (OTT) and the outbreak of COVID-19. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) currently recommends all Americans avoid discretionary travel. If access to the Oregon Timber Trail is available in your community or within close proximity, it continues to be a great place to get outside, enjoy your public lands, and find mental and physical relief from the conditions created by the pandemic. However, if travel is required to reach the OTT, we recommend instead that you explore your local trails and open spaces to reduce risk of spreading the disease.
If you plan to spend any time hiking, running or riding on the Oregon Timber Trail, please follow proper sanitation practices and STAY HOME if you are exhibiting symptoms or may have been exposed to COVID-19.
Please note that the Oregon Timber Trail has no jurisdiction dictating how people use public lands; we don’t make or enforce any rules. By design, the Oregon Timber Trail provides plenty of social distance but trailheads are very busy, bathrooms come in contact with dozens of people between cleanings, and you’ll likely have to stop in vulnerable rural communities to resupply or fill up the tank on your car. Recreating outside is an important and healthy activity, but the risk of spreading disease between communities with limited resources to combat this deadly infection is high. We believe recreational travel to be irresponsible until deemed safe by medical professionals.
As the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) says, “We know the outdoors are calling, but the decisions you make can affect everyone. If there was ever a time to recognize our interdependence, this is it.”
Note on trail conditions: Each winter hundreds of trees fall across the Oregon Timber Trail, and each spring hundreds of our dedicated volunteers remove these trees. Currently there are some Forest Service prohibitions on volunteer activity and many trails will not see regular maintenance and tree removal until 2021. Even after it is safe to travel and recreate on the OTT, you should be prepared to encounter many downed trees blocking the trail.
Do your research
If you decide to ride further from home, do your research to determine whether it is appropriate. Check with state and local governments about trail openings and closures as well as guidance for travel. It’s important to respect the small gateway communities that border our favorite recreation hubs and the limited medical facilities in these places. We have a list of links to assist you with your research below:
From The State of Oregon: https://www.myoregon.gov/2020/05/05/reopening-state-parks/
From the U.S. Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/home/?cid=FSEPRD716206
From the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/visitors.html
Guidelines for responsible outdoor recreation
From the state of Oregon
Prepare before you go:
Limit your recreation activities, and recreate only with people in your own household.
Check what’s open before leaving home. Your favorite trail or camp site may remain closed, or need to be closed on a temporary basis, to prevent crowding and protect public health.
Plan ahead and come prepared as service levels may be different than you are accustomed to.
Visitors may find limited restroom services available. Plan to bring your own soap, water, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper.
Bring a mask to cover your nose and mouth. Visit less crowded areas, visit during off-peak times, and have a back-up plan.
Not feeling well? Don’t go. If you have symptoms of a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, stay home.
Take Care when you get there:
Be safe and responsible by choosing activities within your comfort zone.
Leave no trace, and pack out what you pack in.
Maintain your own personal hygiene like washing your hands often, bringing your own water, hand sanitizer, soap, and toilet paper.
Avoid crowds. Be prepared for last minute changes to ensure the safety and health of others.
All of the standard ways to protect public health apply in the outdoors too, like maintaining physical distance.
Keep at least 6 feet between you and other Oregonians enjoying the outdoors.
Leave at least one parking space between your vehicle and the vehicle next to you.
It is wildfire season. Please remain safe and vigilant to ensure forest health and safety. Do not start fires in undesignated areas. Check if your campground or park allows outdoor fires before you strike a match. If permitted, make sure you are building a campfire properly and that you have water or an extinguisher on hand. Before you leave, ensure the campfire is out. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.
From the USFS
If you head out, please take some time to consider:
What risks are associated with the activity you have chosen to do? Law enforcement, search and rescue, and hospitals have limited capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the site you have chosen is full, have some backup options in mind that will allow you to maintain CDC social distancing guidelines.
How will you help minimize pressure on smaller communities adjacent to the forest that have limited resources? Restaurants, rest stops, and trailhead bathrooms are likely to be closed. Do you have the food, water, and fuel you need for the day? Do you have the supplies you need to hygienically pack out your waste?
We know the outdoors are calling, but the decisions you make can affect everyone. If there was ever a time to recognize our interdependence, this is it.