The Bend-Ft. Rock Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest is hosting an “Open House” on site, at the main trailhead for the Phil’s trail complex. (on F.S. Rd. 4604, just south of Skyliners Rd.) for all those concerned about the proposed changes to the Phil’s Trailhead zone.
The FS has lots of ideas about how to make the now over-crowded Phil’s area better. Perhaps the biggest issue is how to improve parking (we have an idea: start riding your BIKE to the BIKE trails) but traffic flow, trail access and safety concerns will also be discussed.
Ride your bike over to the Phil’s Trailhead Wednesday, June 22 to participate in the open dialogue scheduled from 4pm-6pm. A COTA (Central Oregon Trail Alliance) representative will also be on hand to help keep things in check.
This article appears in Jun 16-22, 2011.
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Riding your bike to the trail sounds great. What should I do if I live out by the Bend airport? Or if someone is here form out of town?. Or is Phil’s just going to become a “locals only” thing?
Let’s be wise about how we spend our money – economic times are tough and expected to remain so for the foreseeable future.
Phils TH doesn’t need an extensive make over, most days when I ride (and I ride at many different times) the parking lot is not full.
My suggestions:
1. Clean up / organize the dirt parking lot so that parking spaces are identifiable.
2. Allow parking on one side of the tar road into Phil’s. This would provide more parking spaces for busier days.
3. And for really busy days, use Miller Elementary for overflow parking. The busiest day’s at the parking lot occur in the summer when their is no school at the Elementary. Use facilities that are already constructed instead of creating more. Note place a sign at the entrance off Skyliner identify over flow parking at Miller. And …. from Miller Elementary you can easily ride the dirt trail along Skyliner to Phil’s complex.
Cost savings = Huge! Same goal accomplished.
I concur with Mr English’s statements. There are much more significant concerns that could use the money that would be poured into paving lots at Phil’s. The existing parking can be cleaned up with minimal expense and made more useable.
Better/updated signage at Phil’s would go a long way to informing visitors to the area, particularly at crowded times on weekends and holidays.
Among that signage I’d like to see some inclusion of TRAIL ETIQUETTE guidelines. There are an astonishing number of riders on these trails who ride off into the bushes any time they see another rider approaching within 50 yards! I’ve chatted with many people who simply don’t know how to properly yield or understand that uphill traffic has the right of way.
Signs, printed matter would help. I would volunteer graphic design time and energy to help defray costs.
In addition to Kevin’s suggestion about using Miller Elementary School as overflow parking, how about educating people to use the gravel “parking” area below the trailhead for parking. It is already there and would require little upgrade maintenance for use. The gate is open 24/7 during peak riding season.