Herman Leirer Multi-Modal Trail

Current Status

2012-01-16T10:42:00.000-08:00

The National Park Service has begun the Environmental Assessment (EA); several alternatives are being analyzed at this point. Schedule is unknown, however, when the EA is complete the results will be released for public comment via the NPS website. We will provide further updates on the project here as they are received.

Comments

2011-04-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

If you would like to offer comments on this project, please provide them using the comment option at the bottom of any post, or use the "comment collector" link that is in the upper right of this page.

Public Meeting #2

2011-03-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

Last night we held our second public meeting. At this meeting we summarized:

the history of the project,
how this current effort came about,
the agency stakeholders who are involved,
the first public meeting in this current effort (November 19, 2009),
the development of three conceptual trail options,
the Value Analysis Process (where a fourth option was developed), and
where things go from here.

The slide show from last night is available by clicking on this link: Public Meeting #2 Slide Show

The following document are available by clicking on them below:

Pre-Concept Report,

Concept Report,

Option Summaries and Costing Revisions, and

Value Analysis Summary

Concept Summary for Herman Leirer Trail

2011-02-18T11:07:00.000-08:00

Click on the image below to view the technical summary of the four concepts.

Second Public Meeting - March 2nd

2011-02-17T15:58:00.000-08:00

After several delays and breaks in the project schedule, we're back on track!

After the last public meeting held in November 2009 (see photo below), the design team developed four preliminary options for a multimodal trail along the Exit Glacier Road Corridor. These options were based on all of the previous information that has been collected for this project, in addition to what was discussed at the public meeting. We would like you, your family, and your business to weigh in on these options, provide feedback and discussion.

When: Wednesday, March 2nd - 7:00 to 9:00pm
Where: Legends (412 Washington St., Seward, AK)

If you'd like to get on the mailing list for this project, please leave your information in the comments link (in the right-hand side bar on this page). If you're unable to make it to the meeting, please take a moment and leave a comment there as well, we'd love to hear from you!

photo from first public meeting, November 2009

Trail Alignments - Concept Development

2010-01-22T17:52:00.001-08:00

We are currently in the process of developing several conceptual trail alignments and looking at their feasibility. We are planning on presenting these options at the next public meeting, which will likely occur in mid to late March, 2010. We will have more specific information in the next few weeks about that meeting. Please stay tuned!

(There is a link to the right where you can provide comments)

Related: A new multi-use trail in Grand Teton National Park

2010-01-22T17:31:00.000-08:00

You may be interested in this National Park Service e-newsletter about the opening of a new 8 mile, multi-use trail that runs parallel to the Teton Park Road in Grand Teton National Park.

"Connecting Communities and Parks
Partnerships are the organizational connections that let physical connections grow. NPS Director Jon Jarvis says, "Gateway communities and parks have an important relationship that needs to be grown through mutual respect and cooperation, particularly when tourism is an essential part of the economy. We need to help these communities, and all Americans, discover a unique and personal connection to their national parks."
One way to do that is a physical connection, such as trails and pathways through neighboring communities. Like the new trail completed last summer, connecting Moose to the Jenny Lake visitor's center in Grand Teton National Park.

Check out fun video of life around and on the new trail.(Pathway appears one minute in, after a look at the dog and the chicken coop.)
Courtesy of Wade McKoy, Focus Productions

"It was an instant success," says Friends of Pathways Executive Director Tim Young. "Over 200 people use it every day. It's more than just active cyclists. We're seeing people who were probably afraid of getting out there before -- recreational cyclists in jeans, people with disabilities, multiple generations."

It took many close partnerships: the towns of Jackson and Teton Village, Senators Craig Thomas and John Barasso, NPS, and Friends of Pathways. Two tragic cyclist deaths focused attention on the goal of a safe, inviting route for bicyclists and pedestrians off the main road. Now a quiet, non-motorized path is leading to a closer experience for park visitors and also enhancing the community's connection to the park.

Ultimately, the valley may have a 100-mile system of connected trails and pathways, helping people get safety to and from where they want to be. Another seven miles of trail are in development now. And within a few years, there should be a continuous path from the town of Jackson to Jenny Lake, interconnecting with other paths and becoming a full-fledged system throughout the valley. As park superintendent Mary Gibson Scott points out, the new trails "set the stage for people to make a personal connection to the natural world." Read more about it here."

Summary from November Public Meeting

2010-01-22T17:13:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for attending the meeting in November and for sending your comments to us!

A general summary of the comments from the November public meeting meeting:

What do you know about the road corridor?
• Gets a lot of use, lots of camping along corridor. Need enforcement from troopers, bear baiting in the area.
• Consider flooding, 4th of July camping/parking. Windy. Pavement is not good for horseback riding

How do you currently use the road corridor?
• Winter use mostly, some bike use early spring, skijoring, snowmachining, cross-country skiing, mushing, dog walking
• We like when the “gate is closed.” It’s safer, and more fun. Families don’t use the road because it has no shoulder. Bird watching, berries, wildlife hunting/viewing, horseback riding, mushing, snow machining

What about the corridor currently functions well for trail-based recreation?
• Trail is wide open (no blind corners) for mushers / snow machine users
• Summer – Higher vehicle use. Winter – varied use. Winter it is wider, flatter, can be groomed, good visibility, bridges

What about the corridor makes for challenging trail based recreation?
• Who is responsible to manage each area when road closures happen? The terrain and amount of water may be problem.
• Summer traffic is dangerous – no shoulder on road. Winter use has conflicting uses. Snow machines vs skiing vs mushing

How would you like to use the corridor in the future?
• Corridor could provide a more backcountry feeling for Nordic skiers. There was interest in single track or pathed bike path for safety reasons. (Seward woman was hit by a car on the road last year)
• We would like to be able to get to the glacier without competing with traffic. Multiple access for grooming trail

How can the community be involved with the success of this trail?
• Nordic Ski Club has interest in managing a portion of the trail and responsible for grooming (200 members). Seward Cycling Club has interest in summer trail work. Iditarod Trailblazers probably have interest and support of the trail corridor.
• Trailblazers brushing out trail

For your interests, activities, or sports, what makes the best trail?
• Winter Parking. No Parking at 1st gate. Present parking forces snow machiners to drive down road which is illegal. Mushers with dog also have problem with current parking. Machiners/mushers need large area. 4th of July use!
• Wide trail for two-way traffic. Unpaved for horses, paved for biking/roller blading
If any, what do you see as a fatal flaw in the success of this project
• 6’-8’ trail width Dog mushing. 16’ trail width wide skate skiing. Uninterrupted flow
• Mother nature (flooding), All agencies coordinating new trail non-motorized

Current Uses
• Dog sledding
• Snow Machining
• Camping
• Nordic Skiing
• Hiking
• Roller Skiing
• Skating
• Ski Joring
• Automobiles
• Biking
• Dog walking
• Hunting Access
• Rafting / Kayaking
• Jogging / Running
• Races

Roadway Issues and Notes
• Entire length is used
• Is grooming possible or necessary?
• No conflicts now
• Over use – very high demand
• Why past effort for trail stopped: some felt citizens dropped the ball, everyone was complacent
• Winter - the community's roadway
• Summer use – tourists take road but locals use trail
• Illegal camping – state lands
• Maintain – adopt a trail need community effort
• First 1.5 miles – private property issues with trail development

Vision for a trail in the Exit Glacier Road Corridor
• Good gravel trail
• Want non-motorized trail
• Dog mushers AND cross country skiers
• Classical cross country ski track
• Skate skiing
• Loop trail on South side
• 4 Wheelers Club
• Summer not safe for biking – but prefer hard compacted gravel surface
• Biking with kids
• Tourist Issue
• Horses

November 19th Public Meeting

2009-11-20T09:23:00.001-08:00

Photgraphs from the meeting last night.

We'd like your comments!

2009-11-04T14:09:00.001-08:00

Please click on the link below to be taken to a link where you will be able to provide comments to us about the Herman Leirer Road (Exit Glacier Road) corridor. We're at the beginning of our process and your comments will help to guide where the project goes.

Link: Herman Leirer Road corridor recreational use comments

Thank you!

Public Meeting - November 19th @ 6:00pm

2009-11-04T14:07:00.000-08:00

The purpose of this meeting is to find out how you, your family, and/or your business use the Herman Leirer Road (Exit Glacier Road) corridor, and how you might like to see developed to see this recreation corridor changed. This is the beginning of research into the feasibility of developing better access within the corridor, with the intent to create a non-road link between the Seward Highway and the Exit Glacier visitor center.

When: Thursday, November 19th
6:00 to 8:00pm
Where: Legends
(412 Washington St., Seward, AK)

Milepost Panoramic Photo Links

2009-10-13T11:53:00.000-07:00

The links below will take you to a panoramic photo associated with that milepost location. When you click on the link, you will be taken to a different website where the panoramas are hosted. The left of each photo is approximately magnetic north.

Pano MP 0.00
Pano MP 0.01
Pano MP 0.12
Pano MP 0.13
Pano MP 0.15
Pano MP 0.20
Pano MP 0.30
Pano MP 0.50
Pano MP 0.60a
Pano MP 0.60b
Pano MP 0.60c
Pano MP 0.70
Pano MP 0.80
Pano MP 1.00
Pano MP 1.21
Pano MP 1.30
Pano MP 1.30 - Herman Leirer Road Overlook
Pano MP 1.35
Pano MP 1.50
Pano MP 2.04
Pano MP 2.20
Pano MP 3.20
Pano MP 3.74 - Herman Leirer Road Overlook
Pano MP 3.80
Pano MP 4.50
Pano MP 5.70
Pano MP 5.70 - Dynamite Trail Midpoint
Pano MP 5.90
Pano MP 6.10
Pano MP 6.40
Pano MP 6.75 - USFS Main Overlook
Pano MP 7.10
Pano MP 7.30
Pano MP 8.20
Pano MP 8.22
Exit Glacier Overlook