Arnold trail plan marches ahead

The vision of a 30-mile trail that would connect Arnold-area towns with scenic outlooks, lazy waterfalls, a museum and giant sequoias is becoming a reality one shovelful of dirt at a time.

More than 10 miles of the Arnold Rim Trail, connecting Sheep Ranch Road in Avery to the Sierra Nevada Logging Museum in White Pines, has been completed, and temporary signs are being posted, said Arnold-area rancher Warren Alford, who conceived of the trail years ago. 

“I’m actually stunned,” Alford said of the progress. “It’s really exciting. It’s the most gratifying thing I’ve ever been involved with.”
  

An informational event, which will include group tours on the first 10 miles of the trail, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12.

The event will be held at Arnold’s Cedar Center, behind El Dorado Savings Bank, where tours will leave at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.

“It’s kind of our coming-out party,” said Steve Lauterbach, who organizes the volunteer trail maintenance days.

Lauterbach said the trail is still hard to locate and follow, but new signs and maps should be ready to guide eager outdoor enthusiasts by the Sept. 12 event.

Just this past Saturday, kids from the Sierra Ridge Academy and Calaveras County 4-H put their backs into the continued trail construction.

“It’s going great,” Lauterbach said. “We’ve built a lot of trails.”

Tour destinations at the Sept. 12 event will include some of the trail’s most prominent features and vistas. Hikers, mountain bikers and runners are welcome.

At the Cedar Center, a photo documentary of the construction of the trail will be displayed, local businesses will be represented, music will be played and a raffle to benefit further trail development will be held.

The celebration is being held by the Arnold Rim Trail Association, in coordination with the Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway Celebration.

“The Arnold Rim Trail is a part of a fast-growing, nationwide movement to connect towns, neighborhoods and schools with open spaces around them to foster appreciation of healthy recreation,” said Randy Crutcher, Arnold Rim Trail Association chairman.

The realization of Alford’s vision of 30 to 40 miles of trails encircling the greater Arnold area is only in its infancy. But soon, with the aid of federal stimulus money, about a three-mile loop will be added from White Pines along San Antonio Creek, Alford said.

There’s also been dialogue with Calaveras Big Trees State Park about connecting the Arnold Rim Trail to trails that weave through the giant sequoia groves.

Another phase of the trail would snake down from a ridge above Arnold and connect with a planned trail that would meander through downtown Arnold, as part of the Calaveras Council of Governments Arnold Mobility Plan.

“You’ll be able to park downtown, get coffee and go for a hike,” Alford said.

The trail is being designed and constructed by local residents collaborating with the Stanislaus National Forest. 

“I am thrilled at the support the community has shown for protecting and developing our own local natural resources to encourage folks to get outside,” said Tyler Summersett, a member of the trail association’s steering committee.

For more information about the trail and association, visit http://arnoldrimtrail.org/.

Maps of the trail are available at the Calaveras Ranger District office on Highway 4, just west of Hathaway Pines.