Ledger Creek Trail's ribbon has been cut!
Bryce and Shawnae Somsen were among the first to ride the new trails.
To get this out of the way, the exact name of the trail system has been a matter of some discussion. According to the most recent conversation among Director Dan Squires, Commissioner Bryce Somsen, Mayor Paul Gritton, and others, the main idea theory seems to be that the actual water source is referred to as Ledge Creek, which almost everyone seems to agree is right. At some point, though, the term “Ledger Creek” to refer to the area between Highway 30 and Bailey Creek came into use and has persisted on official maps of the land in question. If you have seen it printed both ways, you aren’t alone, and it’s a subject we plan to eventually get to the bottom of. In any case, because the city – along with the support of the county and Nutrien, as well as a number of other supporters – is using the name Ledger Creek Trail system, that’s what we are going with.
Mayor Gritton officially opened the Ledger Creek/Nutrien trail system just southeast of town near Bailey Creek. With Senator Mark Harris, Director Dan Squires, Rep. Mike Veile, and Commissioner Bryce Somsen.
The project itself has been in the works for the past several years, with the original idea having been developed several grant cycles ago when Nutrien donated 600 acres south of the highway to the city. In order to develop the land into a usable trail system, the city applied for a grant through Hispanic Access, which is a natural beauty and community improvement grant. The grant had a number of conditions, which included location as well as tree planting.
Trevor Robbins, who has worked with the same grant in Malad, was taken on by the city to help facilitate the grant requirements and supervise the planting of trees along the trail pathways. Due to the nature of the soil, Robbins feels that trees should work well in the location if properly chosen and maintained. While it will take a number of years for the trees lining the route to become properly established, the difference should be obvious within a few short years.
The trails have been covered with silica sand, which has involved the help and donations of time and resources from Caribou County, among others. Right now the sand is still quite soft, but as it becomes compacted through use, it should become a perfect surface for a range of uses, including bike riding, hiking, and more.
In attendance were a number of city officials, including Mayor Paul Gritton, Director Dan Squires, Deputy Clerk Melissa McDowell, and Councilmembers Dan Larsen, Paige Byram, and Ryan Carpenter. Representative Mike Veile and Senator Mark Harris were also there, as were County Commissioner Bryce Somsen and Arborist Trevor Robbins.
