About Us
KTC Mission Statement
To preserve and promote the public use of the 31-mile Klickitat Trail as a Recreational, Cultural, Natural, Educational, and Economic Asset of Klickitat County.
KTC Board of Directors
President: Ken Hansen — Lyle, Washington
Vice President: Currently Open
Secretary: Jim Minick — Lyle, Washington
Treasurer: Steven Woolpert — White Salmon, Washington
Barbara Robinson, President Emerita — Lyle, Washington
Jim Denton — Odell, Oregon
Nancy Allen — Wasco, Oregon
Bev Linde — Goldendale, Washington
Pam Essley — Lyle, Washington
Anna Marlin — Goldendale, Washington
Bill Weiler — Lyle, Washington
Kelley Beamer — Portland, Oregon
The Klickitat Trail Conservancy (KTC) was established as a non-profit organization in 2003 to demonstrate local and public support for the Klickitat Trail. We began organizing monthly group hikes and rides along the right-of-way, introducing more people to the beauty and potential of the route while challenging attempts to restrict public use.
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Director Rex Derr recommended that the Commission should seek to transfer the Klickitat Trail property to another agency in 2003. A show of support from local trail advocates and a promise of a $5,000 donation towards trail maintenance and operation convinced the Commission to retain the property.
Legislative capital budget appropriations, combined with the property donation and bequest of trail neighbor Irvin Mitchell, have provided funding toward the construction of a suspension bridge to close the last “gap” in the continuous Klickitat State Park Trail, bridging the Klickitat River just downstream from the old mineral spring water bottling and dry ice plants as well as trail surface improvements and replacement of several deteriorating trestles in the Swale Canyon section of the trail.
As improvements to the trail have been developed and its popularity has increased, it has become a valued community asset.
From KTC President Emerita Barbara Robinson: New bridges and new trail-beds are in our future! I want to emphasize that your support and kind words are very important to encouraging us and keeping the Klickitat Trail Conservancy going. I am so pleased to be able to share this progress report with you and hope you know that you had a VERY important role in making it all happen. These grants are big steps in the right direction. I hope you are as pleased as we are!
1. Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program Grant: The Klickitat Trail – Bridging the Final Gap
Repair the 1-mile disconnect on the Klickitat Trail immediately north of the town of Klickitat. This ambitious grant encompasses 1) a new bridge over the Klickitat River at Suburbia to replace the missing trestle; 2) a small bridge over Snyder Creek in Klickitat to replace a lost trestle; and 3) one mile of new trailbed between these bridges, finally connecting Klickitat and Suburbia. This will finally make the entire 31-mile Klickitat trail fully continuous and much more accessible to hike and bike.
2. Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program Grant: Swale Canyon Trestle & Improvements
Major trestle repair and general improvements to the Swale Canyon section of the trail.