Reiter Foothills Forest
Updated: May 22, 2011
What's Happening at Reiter Foothills Forest?
Construction of the Reiter Foothills Forest motorized system is finally underway! The Phase 1 parking areas have been constructed along the Deer Flats Mainline Road. Crews have been clearing and digging the single-track motorcycle trails.
In June, Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crews will join DNR to continue trail work through September.
Trail designers are developing designs for the remaining Phase 1 motorized trails. We expect the design work to continue through the summer into fall. This winter we will put the trail design out for public comment through the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review process. Trail construction for non-motorized trails should begin in Spring 2013.
Non-motorized trail system: DNR expects to continue with design work on the non-motorized system through the summer and fall of 2012, go through the SEPA review in winter of 2012-2013, and begin construction in the spring of 2013.
Stay in the loop with Reiter Updates
Would you like to keep current on the progress with recreation development at Reiter Foothills Forest? Then check out our regular updates and even subscribe to get them delivered to your inbox. You can also attend our monthly focus group meetings, which take place the fourth Wednesday of the month, from 7 to 9 p.m., at East Public Meeting Room in the Snohomish County Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., in Everett. (Note: due to the upcoming holidays, the November 2011 meeting is rescheduled for Nov.30 and the December 2011 meeting is cancelled.)
Reiter Foothills Forest Temporarily Closed
In November 2009, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) temporarily closed recreation access to the Reiter Foothills Forest to all but foot traffic. The closure enabled staff and volunteers to restore environmental damage from unauthorized trails and to plan, design and build trails in more sustainable locations. >> News release about temporary closure
>> Fact Sheet about temporary closure
Volunteers: An integral part of reopening Reiter Foothills Forest
Volunteers have and will play a major role in reopening Reiter Foothills Forest. DNR is scheduling work parties, field visits, trainings, and trail devlopment meetings. If you'd like to help in any of these efforts, please send an email to reiterfoothills@dnr.wa.gov, or sign up to get regular updates about Reiter and announcements about volunteer opportunities.
Where is Reiter Foothills?
The 10,000-acre Reiter Foothills State Forest is a continuous block of forest land located in Snohomish County 30 miles east of Everett between Gold Bar and Index. The state forest is sandwiched between Highway 2 and the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
Recreation Plan will help guide management in the area
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources released the final Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan on April 22, 2010. The plan will guide the sustainable management of recreation in the area, while providing a variety of enjoyable, safe, and challenging recreation experiences.
>> Download the Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan (3.4 MB PDF)
>> Concept map of planning area (4.3 MB PDF)
>> Reiter Foothill Forest Recreation Plan — Final SEPA determination documents >
>> Reiter Foothills Forest proposed motorized trail system — Final SEPA determination documents
Why the focus on recreation planning in Reiter?
Thousands of visitors annually use the trails and facilities in Reiter Foothills Forest to enjoy off-road vehicle riding, horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking. The southern portion, in particular, has become increasingly popular for ATV, motorcycle, and 4x4 use.
The popularity of this undeveloped area has led to overuse, with a great deal of environmental damage occurring in stream and streamside habitats. DNR, the Departments of Ecology and Fish and Wildlife, and the Tulalip Tribes have jointly identified some interim measures to protect the area against further damage. But the area has a pressing need for well-planned recreation facilities and trails.