Arcata Ridge Trail Project
Project Summary
The City of Arcata is creating a four-mile trail running from West End Road to Buttermilk Lane, crossing through the Sunny Brae and Arcata Community Forests. When complete, the Arcata Ridge Trail will allow hikers, bikers and equestrians to travel from the north to south of the City limits without leaving scenic redwood forested hillsides. Once the Annie and Mary Trail is complete, there will be less than a mile between the two trails, making it possible to walk or ride all the way from Blue Lake through Arcata.
The trail will strengthen Arcata’s reputation as an active travel destination and help preserve the City’s undeveloped eastern boundary, which would both maintain a wildlife corridor and protect the headwaters of Jacoby Creek, Gannon Slough and Beith Creek from future development.
Currently, the City is acquiring easements and purchasing parcels to “fill in the gaps” of the planned trail. The latest parcel along the Ridge Trail to be purchased is a 114-acre parcel owned by Bob and Carol Morris, for which the City received nearly $2.3 million in grants from the California Wildlife Conservation Board and the California Transportation Commission. The Morris property increases the total acreage of the Sunny Brae Forest to over 300 acres and allows forest access via Fickle Hill Road.
The community has been enthusiastically supportive of purchasing of properties to complete the trail. Both the Arcata Ridge Trail Festival—an annual weekend of mountain bike races, trail runs and music—and Bat ‘N’ Rouge—a comedy drag softball fundraiser—are popular community events that raise funds for the Trail. Donations can also be made directly to the Arcata Forest Fund which is administered by the Humboldt Area Foundation. Checks can be made out to the fund and sent to the Foundation at 373 Indianola Road, Bayside, CA, 95524.
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NEW! Take an animated flyover. of the Arcata Ridge Trail. (Requires Google Earth.) Click here for viewing instructions.
Thank you to this year's Bat N' Rouge and Ridge Trail Festival organizers and participants!
Upcoming Events
The Second Annual Ridge Trail Festival - Saturday and Sunday, October 8 - 9, 2011
Greenway Partners, Revolution Bicycle Repair and Pacific Builders sponsor a festival to benefit the Arcata Ridge Trail project. This two day, two location event kicks off on Saturday, October 8 at Redwood Park in Arcata at 9 a.m. with a Mountain Bike Cross Country race. Other races, including a 5K fun run/walk, kids bicycle race and short track mountain bike race will be held throughout the day. Come out and enjoy live music, local BBQ and beer, a mountain bike learning center and bicycle demos.
Super-D and Downhill MTB races will be held on Sunday, October 9 at Horse Linto Camp in Willow Creek starting at 9 a.m.
For more information, check out www.ridgetrailfestival.wordpress.com or email kcohune@gmail.com. Register for races at your local bike shop or online at www.active.com/5k-race/arcata-ca/ridge-trail-festival-2011.