Funds approved for Deathball Trail complex

COUGAR RESERVOIR: Trail maintenance, visitor education, invasive species management, and chainsaw training. The list of activities the Cascade Volunteers have taken on in the past will grow, thanks to the grant approval given to the Deathball Trail Complex plan as part of the Travel Oregon Recreation Ready programs for 2025.

Under Phase 1 approval, plans call for developing a trail complex in the Deathball/Thors Hammer area on the south side of the McKenzie River near Cougar Reservoir.

In their application, supporters favored a trail complex including, but not limited to, interpretive sites recognizing First Nations people of the region (Molalla, Kalapuya, Chinook), low elevation trails that are accessible during the peak, shoulder season, and potentially year-round seasons that would include easier to moderate trails that are beginner-friendly, e-bike friendly, and accessible by adaptive bikes.

Under Phase 1, no development money has been promised, but areas of technical assistance will be supported. If a Phase 2 level were to gain support from Travel Oregon Recreation Ready, up to $00,000 in grant funding is possible.

The Cascade Volunteers was formed in 2005 by a group of community members focused on maintaining and creating trails on the Willamette National Forest. From 2005 to 2018, more than 3,600 volunteers logged 193,000 hours, work valued at more than 4.9 million dollars.