U.S. Forest Service seeking public comment on bike trails project in east Idaho

For the Kelly Canyon Mountain Bike Trails Project, the Palisades Ranger District is looking for public input.

According to a U.S. Forest Service news release, the canyon area, located 27 miles northeast of Idaho Falls, is seeing a rise in both motorized and non-motorized summer use, which is creating a need for enhanced non-motorized route alternatives.

There are a number of non-motorized paths spread over the National Forest System properties because cross-country mountain bike travel was permitted in the region prior to 2008. Many of these routes are situated in unsustainable and challenging-to-maintain areas, such as alongside streams or on steep slopes. Through this initiative, a formal non-motorized system would be established, enabling improved trail maintenance and recreation management.

The following is what the Kelly Canyon Mountain Bike Trails project is recommending:


  • Designating nine miles of existing trails as official National Forest System trails for non-motorized use

  • Constructing about two miles of new non-motorized trail to provide for loops and connections

  • Reroute and reconstruct up to seven miles of proposed and system trails to improve sustainability and accessibility, which would follow existing alignments

  • Eliminating or improving stream crossings to sustain riparian resources, hydrologic integrity and aquatic organism passage

Visit the U.S. Forest Service website to learn more about the project.

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