OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Preliminary alternatives for developing the Spruce Railroad grade into a nonmotorized, multiuse trail from the Lyre River to the park’s western boundary will be presented today.
The Olympic National Park meeting will be from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Port Angeles Senior Center at 328 E. Seventh St.
Park staff will present and discuss six preliminary plans — one submitted by Clallam County — for developing two segments of the Olympic Discovery Trail on the historic Spruce Railroad grade.
They will provide details of each alternative, including proposed trail alignment, width, surface materials, access points and associated visitor services.
Alternatives
The park, working with Clallam County, is developing an environmental assessment, which is expected to be released for public review and comment later this year.
It will contain a preferred alternative, which could include one of the developed alternatives or a combination of elements taken from several of the alternatives.
The work would be on two segments, along the north shore of Lake Crescent and near the Sol Duc Road, along the general route of the Spruce Railroad grade.
The proposed new trail segments are all within Olympic National Park.
About six miles of the Olympic Discovery Trail within the park are now under construction by Clallam County.
This segment parallels the Camp David Junior Road on the north shore of Lake Crescent and is scheduled for completion later this year.
After the National Park Service approves the environmental review and the county builds out the trail, the park will manage the segments within its boundary.
The trail on the gentle railroad grade must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Both park and county staff will be available to answer questions during today’s meeting.
140-plus responses
The park received more than 140 responses during the initial scoping period, Superintendent Karen Gustin said in a statement.
“We’re eager to share what we learned through this process and how we are using the public’s suggestions as we move forward in developing alternatives,” she said.
Developing the Spruce Railroad grade into a multiuse trail is in both the 2008 Olympic National Park General Management Plan and the 1998 Lake Crescent Management Plan.
The Olympic Discovery Trail is a multiuse, nonmotorized trail that will eventually stretch approximately 140 miles from Port Townsend to the Pacific Coast.
The Olympic Discovery Trail follows portions of the now defunct Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad.
About 60 miles are completed, and about 42 of these are administered by Clallam County.
Remaining segments are under construction or are in the planning and design phase.
For more information, see http://parkplanning.nps.gov or phone 360-565-3004.
