Transcribed March 18, 2019 Larrabee State Park Trail Planning Public Meeting Comments Held on March 13, 2019 at Squalicum Boathouse in Zuanich Point Park Trail Connections Blanchard Forest block-connector from/to Larrabee. Trail connector to Blanchard Forest Block Connect Lake Padden with Chuckanut Trail System. Would be awesome! Connect to Lake Padden with trail. Further connect Larrabee trails w/ DNR land trails. County park and DNR connections. I think there are too few trails and we need more connected loops. Specific use trails seem like a great idea. Yes directional trails on certain use trails. Lost Lizard Trail/Connect to Blanchard. Single track connection Arroyo to ridge trails. Connectors to Lake Padden and Blanchard would be great, but I d like to see the core of the park stay close to what it is now (not webbing out, confusing, busy like Galbraith) Connect Lost Lake area with Pine/Cedar Lakes area with new trail. Connection for bikes and horses between Raptor Ridge and Hemlock. Better trail connections into Whatcom County park trails so we can have more bike appropriate loops for big rides (and DNR trails on Blanchard). Is it possible to work on permanent recreation easements to allow improvement of connector trails such as East Lost Lake to Burnout. Would like to see more connections to make loop trails. Connection to Blanchard multi-use. Is there a way to connect with Blanchard? Comment below: then to Lake Samish and (illegible). Connect trails to Blanchard. Cycling. Can these trail connect to Blanchard? I think it would be really nice if they did. I would like more mountain biking trails in general. I would like to see trails that connect to Blanchard. I like to ride trails @ night and would like that to be an ok time for activity. I like to hike, bike and walk my dog on the trails. It s in my backyard & I love it. Thank you. Build a connector trail connecting Blanchard Mountain (Lizard Lake) to South Lost Lake Trail. 1
More connectivity/loops. Less mt. bikes too destructive to understory. Please collaborate together with county Parks, City Parks and DNR to make connected loops from North Chuckanut T.H. to Blanchard. There is a state initiative to do this. Trail connections. New trails. Want water trail from Larrabee Park picnic area to Clayton Beach on west side of RR track along the water. Very difficult to build but would be fabulous and heavily used. South end of East Lost Lake Trail connectivity to Chuckanut Trail system via Lost Lake Trail? Larrabee connectivity to Blanchard multi-use or biking only. Improve connectivity of trails to Blanchard and among trails in Chuckanut area. Connector trails from Larrabee to Blanchard. Night riding on Hush Hush and Double Down. Favorite Trails Favorite trail: Fragrance Lake (no bikes). Build a connecting trail between Lower Ridge Trail and Chuckanut Ridge Trail. Favorite trail: Rock Trail hiking. Double Down MTB Favorite Trail: Double Down and Black Diamond. Recommendations: Build more specific use trails to alleviate hiker, biker, runner conflicts and maximize fun for all user groups. Favorite trail: $2 Commented below: Clear trail use labeling at top and bottom of trails. I heart Double Down on my mountain bike. Favorite trail for hiking: Rock Trail Favorite trail: Rock Trail. My favorite trail is Double Down. I would like to see more single use Mt. bike trails and more multi-use trails. I would like to see more connectivity from Chuckanut to Blanchard. Favorite Trails: Double Black, Double Down, Ridge. Would like to see the Ridge Trail be pedalable the entire length. Prefer to see more single use trails (biking). Favorite trail: Ridge Trail and Two Dollar. Mt. bikers can be bullys. They bike on hike only trails. They erode trail surfaces. Mt. bikes are human powered motorcycles. Favorite: Rock Trail. Bike trails ok. Connect Park and DNR land (trails). More parking. Double Down/Double Black. Mountain biking. Favorite trail: there all great but I ll pick Rock Trail. Hiking. Favorites: all of them. Recreation: climbing, trail running. Favorite trail loop : North Lost Lake to south Lost Lake to top of Double Black to Fragrance Lake to 2 Dollar by mountain bike. 2
Favorite trail: Interurban from Bham to Clayton Beach. Thx for end of trail improvements. Double Black!!!! Double Down!!!! Favorite trail: Chuckanut Ridge Trail. Use: hike. Make a trail to join Blanchard Trials. Favorite Trails: 1. Two Dollar 2. Chuckanut Ridge. Favorite trail Double Black Diamond/Double Down. Additional single use trails are needed. Specifically more bike only trails. Having such a limited number of bike only trails is creating over use problems and the need for additional maintenance. Please create more opportunities for volunteering/trail days. Double Black and Double Down are my favorite trails. The technicality, use of terrain and challenge make it the most enjoyable. Double Black and Double Down. Favorites (hiking): Lily Lizard, Rock Trail, Raptor Ridge. MTB Favorite Raptor Ridge + (illegible). Trail Use Type For multiuse trails consider restricting use on specific days to only hikers or only mtn. bikers i.e. odd days hikers only. Even day bikers only. I think that directional, single-use trails are a good idea. Reduces abuse that heavily trafficked, multi-use trails receive. It s safer for all of the users, allows trails for user groups to remain open during events (ex: during a bike race, bike-specific trails can be used for the event, and hike-specific trails can be left open. Prefer single use trails with enforcement! No directional trails. Seasonal closures ok. More dedicated mtn. bike trails to decrease potential dangerous interactions on multiuse trails. What I want Teddy Bear cove overpass. What I like single-use downhill mtn. bike trails with shuttle access. Need switchbacks and more gradual trails on steeper areas to access bouldering to minimize impacts and off-trail use. o Commented below: Yes Would love to see more bicycle specific trails. Single use trails for climbing in very limited areas right next to bouldering areas? Hiking trail needed to Cyrus Gates Overlook. Could be uphill bike. $2 should be single use for foot traffic. Can we work on having an ascending trail for bikes and foot traffic from Fragrance Lake to the top of Cleator Road? 3
Single-use trails for bikes could lower bike traffic on other trails and make them safer. Need trails to the Lost Ledge boulders to allow use by climbers and allow information to be shared more publicly/broadly. Dog off leash trails. If possible off leash trails w/o mountain biking, due to high speeds of bikes coming down trails or around blind corners. o Commented below: +1 Well-defined erosion proof trails to climbing areas. Mountain bike climbing trail to top of Cleater for Enduro and in general. Open trails to pedal assist bikes so the aging population can continue to ride. Less Mtn. bike trails! More mountain bike trails. Preference for defined single use trails. Multi-use for connections. One relatively short trail for small children, to introduce them to the trail system and local flora. Love to see Fiona Ridge trail become multi use. Hike and bike to get out and see the old growth Firs. Also would be amazing if that trail could descend down to Fragrance Lake. One trail that is ADA friendly. Can be multi-use (walking, jogging, running) but no bicycles or motorized vehicles. More gradual Mt. biking trails in park for beginners. Would like to see more trails multi-use. Please work with access fund to design and build climbing access trails. Climber. Official, low impact trails to the climbing areas around lost lake and north of the Rock Trail. The bouldering area is amazing and well crafted trails are needed. Age 23. Primary use mountain bike. Most used trail: Double Black & Double Down. Comment: More bike specific trails and community trail work days. Would like to see a meandering climbing trail from Aroyo to Lost Lake. Would like to see more bike specific/multi-use trails to offset the density of people per trail. More mountain bike specific trails from Cyrus Gates to Lost Lake Day Use. More bicycle trails!!! Could be more trails based on need and variety of terrain. Both multi use and single use. More descending bike trails. Primary use: MTB. Fav Trail: Double Blk, Double Down. Comment: A more novice trail for new riders. Directional trails are an awesome idea to help keep people from running into one another. I would like to see more directional trails. 4
Climber. Additional trail from the road to climbing areas. More single use downhill bike trails, being able to link different trails together is ideal. Official descent trails to the bouldering areas from Chuckanut Ridge Trail. Trail system. There are currently too few down-hill, (single-use) mountain bike trails. Having user specific trails is safer for all users. Rock Trail was designed and built to be a hiker only trail. Yet it has been used for a bike race resulting in damage to the trail and safety issues. Improvements Enforce speed limit on Cleator Road. Need to close bootleg trails. Need enforcement. Control bike concessions to limit large groups of bikers. Safer crossing to Woodstock Farm Park across the road. Fix steep grade in 1 st mile @ Pine? Cedar Trailhead. Fragrance Lake Trail is too steep in some sections. Chinscraper needs improvement for erosion and improved accessibility. Upgrade Chuckanut Ridge Trail. Rock Trail needs a return loop. Easy and official access to climbing areas. More user specific trails would help to alleviate conflict between hikers and bikers. Clearer trail labels and explanations, expectations. Rock trail. Need it to be a loop back to the parking lot. Easier decent from Ridge Trail. Better system of Mtn. bike trails (multi-use). The one I am on Birding. Respecting habitat for what wildlife remaining. For bicycle trails, steepness can be greater if trail surface can maintain it, for example rock faces can be above 30% steepness sustainably. Need to prioritize maintenance. State $ helps. Volunteer orgs. Leverage their resources. Additions Education Programs: Ride, run, and dog. WMBC. Trail building maintenance. Decisions made in favor of succeeding generations no bikes. MORE TRAIL DAYS user specific? 5
Trail system along the boulders and between the boulders in the bouldering area below Chuckanut Ridge Trail. Additional trails to northern areas, e.g. coming down from the Ridge Trail. We need more advanced single track mountain bike trails! The park has great topography, climate and terrain for shuttleable trails! Comment below: The State Park lands are not amusement parks. Access to old growth. Love the park as it is. I would like to see minimal trails added if any added. Natural grade (like the Ridge trail) as opposed to unnatural banks/berms/ups/downs designed for mtn. biking. Off leash access dogs. Build Fragrance Ridge trail (1996 map). Please don t make another Galbraith. From, a trail runner. Wish there was an epic mountain bike and hiking trail loop of 20miles or more w/ camping primitive. More trails off of Fragrance Lake Rd. Specifically downhill bicycle trails. Mountain bike direction. Downhill trails! More. Mountain bike. I ride at night and would love to have better parking, have received tickets. Generally prefer multi-use but a mountain bike only trail ok. Too few trails, esp. loops appropriate for mountain biking. Thoughtful & intentional trail construction that both meets user needs as well as protects sensitive species areas. Access to climbing areas make it easy to get to/navigate. Fav Trail SST & Mohawk. Single use trails! BBQ trail days cook on the mtn! Too many trails? No way! I moved here and bought a house because of Gailbi! Double Down; more trails and blow it out. Other You said you look through ecological, environment and cultural lens to determine trails, how do you resolve the conflicts among those factors? Most of the people at this meeting are current users, how do you plan to engage new/nontraditional users in the planning process? Mountain bikers have forced us off the trails by their aggressive behavior. We have noticed an increase in litter in the park. 6
Night riding I love night riding Double Down and Double Black! The gates being locked before dark makes it difficult. After hours use. Night riding. It would be nice to be able to use the trails at night using lights. It s hard to get out early enough in the winter. Extend legal use beyond/before dusk. i.e. legal night running/hiking Please allow night mountain biking on designated trails. Allow night mountain biking, esp. for winter time. More user specific trails. Uphill and downhill directional for safety. Night riding for bikes. Can we ride at night? Cool if we could. Night riding. More bike trails. Trails open for night use for working folks. More mtn. bike trails. Night use for biking & hiking. Legal night biking. Trails should be accessible at night many people don t have time to go during the day during short winter months. No bike concessions. Increased dog poop bags noticeable. No bike racing events. Car break ins at trailheads. No bike concession. No bike racing events. I moved to B ham in November because the mountain bike trails are great. Mountain bikers can be in combat mode during their experience and often are unfriendly or aggressive in passing ordinary hikers. They expect you to move for them. Legit Fiona Ridge Trail. Recreation easement and collaborations w/ neighboring land owners and managers to build sustainable trail networks. (Runner) The mountain bikers keep making their own trails since planned ones are boring. Make harder MTB trails designed with natural area resources in mind. Is there a way to get a status of the Cleater gate on-line? More parking at Lost Lake day use.. More MTB specific trails with connectivity from Cyrus Gates to Lost Lake Day Use area. Trails connecting Blanchard and Chuckanut. We enjoy biking all year. Including the winter when it is dark out. No tickets for night biking and parking. 7
The park is not an amusement park. Respect the natural system. Bike = Double Down. Hike Rock Trail. 2 Dollar. Fragrance Lake Trail. For hiking. Are the tribes involved in the planning process? How so? Proposed planning process: Please execute the plan. Mountain biking: Double Black to Double Down. Raptor Ridge to Madrone Crest to Hush Hush (Salal). Upper/Middle Ridge to Hush Hush (Salal). Many visits to Calyton are by nonpaying people who will park along the Chuckanut right of way and walk thru the woods to get to the current trail. Trails should be accessible at night many people don t have time to go during the day during short winter months. What are the plans for unofficial trails such as: Secret Squirrel, Fiona Ridge Wild Whatcom (outdoor education non-profit) does service outings with our students. Would love to have them help in some kind of volunteer capacity on trail building! One common issue made is trails are built to grade standards instead of working with the natural terrain and flow of the land. Building with the land is key for sustainable & fun trails. Reach out to local trail advocacy groups to organize work parties. We should use more volunteer organizations like the WMBC to build user and non-user specific trails. 8