A network of trails on tap just north of city

The Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District released a plan Monday that would create or improve about 24.5 miles of bicycle, pedestrian and horse trails in the Cedar Lake-Crystal Creek area north of Columbia Falls.

Called the Crystal Cedar project, it also proposes logging commercial thinning on about 2,600 acres of land in several units. Many of the units are off the Crystal Creek and Canyon Creek Roads, as well as off Rabe Road on the backside of Teakettle Mountain adjacent to private property.

There was some talk about a trail up Teakettle on Forest Service lands, but that isn’t part of this project. The iconic mountain overlooking Columbia Falls is core grizzly bear habitat, noted project leader Sarah Canepa.

She said this project was initially a fuels reduction project to thin trees adjacent to and near neighborhoods in the area, but the Cedar Flats Working Group, which is part of the Gateway to Glacier Trails organization, expressed an interest in creating a network of trails just north of the city, so they’ve been working with the Forest on the preliminary plans.

The closest proposed trailhead to Columbia Falls city limits would start on Fourth Avenue north of the city limits. If fully realized, a mountain biker or hiker could walk to Canyon Creek by trail. The trails also make loops and one proposed short nature trail would lead to a small fen.

The project also looks to reduce the risk of wildfires to nearby neighborhoods.

One cutting unit, for example, is just north of Meadow Lake Resort. Other units are near Spoon and Bailey Lakes, which have a host of private residences. The last time a fire burned through here was in 1929.

The one small portion of motorized trail would allow ATV access so ATVs can get to Forest Service Road 10815. The project calls for the creation of a little more than 6 miles of temporary roads as well. Some the roads once the logging is done would be used for paths.

The trails and improvements would have to come from a partnership with the Cedar Flats Group, Canepa noted. The Forest Service doesn’t have the funding to put them in itself.

Canepa said the Forest Service is hoping to hear from neighborhood groups and other stakeholders on the project.

A public open house is Tuesday, Oct. 30 from 6-8 p.m. at the North Valley Teakettle Community Room on Nucleus Avenue next to the Columbia Falls Senior Center. The Forest Service will present a brief overview of the project at 6 p.m. and resource specialists will be available to answer questions about the project.

Maps and descriptions of the proposed action is available for review online at www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=52844. Comments on the plan are due by Nov. 16.

Canepa said a environmental assessment on the project should be completed by later this winter, with a decision by next fall.