During a visit to Coquille the other day, I was p[leased to see well the whimsically-named Hundred Acre Wood trail system for mountain bikers and hikers held up after the season’s heavy rain.
Laid out in woodlands at the eastern edge of Coquille, the trail system is more like 148 acres, but the reference to the famed Winnie the Pooh storybook setting was apparently too good to pass up.
Coquille public works director Mark Denning and his staff led the trail project through the various stages of approval, funding and construction, including the acquisition of important grants, which financed the project.
For the work, the city hired Ptarmigan Ptrails, who also designed the popular Whiskey Run Mountain Bike trail system in the Coos County Forest between Coos Bay and Bandon.
“They did a really good job,” said Denning. “The trails held up well and they require very little maintenance.”
Like most such projects, it was done in stages, with some work still to be done. In addition to the trails, there’s a pavilion, picnic tables, and plumbed restrooms in the parking area. There are even leashed hand tools for bike repairs.
Public works director Denning said finishing touches include some benches well as durable signs to replace temporary versions. The final phase is expected to include a loop around the whole property, following a logging operation on the northeast corner.
As for the trails, they’re a delight. Well-graded, cleared of roots and rocks, wide enough for passing, and lined with gravel or dirt, most are long, gentle switchbacks that ease riders up and down the slopes, inspiring the term “flow trails.” Most accommodate walkers and bikers, while some are exclusively for one or the other.
Bikers are offered a multitude of styles and experiences, ranging from low-risk to technically demanding. For example, mountain bikers seeking a fun, “gravity oriented” bike experience can check out south side trails, while trails in the northeast corner offer a more “subdued nature experience,” according to the planning documents.
Visitors can craft routes and loops of longer lengths or do short, after-work recreation. Local schools can also use the trail system for outdoor education activities.
Most of the intersections have “You Are Here” map/signs, although Denning acknowledged there are a few that might be confusing. To address that, the trails will likely be named – and some resigned -- rather than numbered and lettered as they are now.
Also on that subject, Denning was pleased to see the trail system has been entered into the TrailForks.com web site, making negotiation the trail system easier. The city of Coquille’s web site also has a downloadable map.
All in all, a worthy addition to the local outdoor recreation scene.
Getting There
The trails are literally minutes from town. From downtown Coquille, head east on E. First St., which is the street between the Sawdusters Theater and Safeway. Go 5 blocks and turn right (S) on Folsom St. In one long block turn left (E) on S. First Ave. and follow it up to the park entrance, marked by a Hundred Acre Wood sign.
Check it out!
(Shopper columnist Tom Baake is author of guidebooks available at the Coos Bay Visitor Center.)
