DANFORTH — A steering/working committee was formed and convened on Feb. 8 to help create the East Grand Highlands hiking trail system on the lands of the David Snow Jr. Family in Danforth.
The committee is composed of interested hiking enthusiasts from the East Grand Lake area and includes at least one teacher/teacher assistance and students from the East Grand School.
The trails will be located south of Danforth on U.S. RT 1, just north of the Greenland Cover Road, with the trail head on the east side of U.S. RT 1. The first phase, in 2016, will consist of a trailhead parking area with signage and a 1.5-mile trail to an overlook point. The overlook will provide views of Sucker and East Grand lakes as well as Canada. Depending on available funding, organizers hope to provide a picnic area and an observation area by the fall of 2016. This entire area will be for day use, foot trails and no motorized or tire driven vehicles (except for those used in construction and maintenance).
Additional phases to this project may add: trails down to and around Sucker Lake, an additional trailhead at the intersection of Boulder Road and the existing ATV/Snowmobile trail and picnic areas around Sucker Lake as permissions and funds are available.
This project will require many volunteers and donors to complete. Anyone interested in volunteering or donating, should contact the committee at: hikeeastgrandlake@yahoo.com and let them know what kind of help you can supply; your phone number; email and when you are available.
Examples of the type of help needed are: committee members; trail and trailhead parking lot construction; trail layout for future phases; work parties to clean and build the trail; building sign kiosk, bridges and observation platform; preparing refreshments for those in work parties; grant writing; fundraising; and research.
Business/contractors/individuals willing to donate time, material and machinery will be recognized in future communications and at the trailhead kiosk sign with donor name plates.
The opening of the first phase of the trail system is planned for late spring to early summer 2016. The area is currently closed to public access until it is announced that the trail system is open. This is to allow for construction without danger to the public.
The Greater East Grand Chamber of Commerce will help shepherd this project to completion and we will be looking for another non-profit organization to partner with. Steve Mine will be chairing the steering committee and can be reached at the email listed above.
