Friends of the Forest volunteers and Forest Service employees cleaning up the Jim Thompson Trailhead in late October. Photo credits: Dale Smrz
For many of us, the first stop within the natural surroundings in the Sedona area is at a recreation trailhead within the Coconino National Forest. This is the place where outdoor adventure begins, and, in addition to providing a literal starting point, a visitor’s experience here can set the tone for the outing itself. Volunteers with the non-profit Friends of the Forest’s Trailhead Beautification Committee help the Forest Service to make that experience as awesome as possible, both from an aesthetic standpoint and concerning practical maintenance aspects.They clean up trailheads on a monthly basis throughout the year and work with the Forest Service on larger projects several times a year.
Primary tasks accomplished by the volunteers include removing trash, and trimming brush, grass, and trees in and around the trailhead areas. Minor maintenance issues are also addressed, such as repairing damaged fencing and posts. Anyone who has driven into a trailhead that has trash around and looks run down knows what an uneasy feeling this can create. On the other hand, well-maintained trailheads demonstrate a sense of care and a welcoming attitude, and can encourage visitors and residents to treat both the natural environment and the trailhead’s infrastructure with respect.
Not all trailheads in Sedona are the responsibility of the Forest Service, with some, especially in West Sedona, managed by the City of Sedona. The Friends of the Forest group has been designated by the Forest Service to clean up 18 trailheads in and around Sedona, West Sedona, the Village of Oak Creek, and Oak Creek Canyon. They may also clean up others not on their regular list.
These beautification efforts can be extended across all of us who visit a trailhead in the first place, before the volunteer crew even shows up. Here are some important things you can do, if you don’t already, to keep these areas clean:
- Place all trash in the waste containers located at most trailheads, often next to the restrooms. Some trailheads (Encinoso, Halfway, Call of the Canyon, Bootlegger, and Dry Creek) have small dumpsters.These can used for trash that a visitor has, but should not be used for any waste generated by a business.
- Pick up any pet waste and discard it in the pet waste container, if there is one at the trailhead. There is no poop-bag fairy, so it is up to all pet owners to pick up and discard waste generated by their pet. Please do not place trash in the pet waste containers as they are not big enough to hold all the trash generated at a trailhead. These containers are managed by the Oak Creek Watershed Council.
- If you smoke at a trailhead, make sure to thoroughly extinguish the device and discard the butt in an appropriate container. We are in a wildfire-prone area and improperly discarded smoking materials are a huge risk for starting a fire.
- If you’d like to help, you can pick up trash that you see at the trailhead, as long as you feel comfortable doing this and aren’t putting yourself at risk. Alternatively you can report it to the Forest Service or email the Friends of the Forest at: thb@fofsedona.org.
This is all in line with the fundamental tenets of leaving nothing behind and packing out whatever we bring along on our outdoor adventures, a great reminder also for any visitors you are hosting.
In addition to the trash issues, one final consideration is to be respectful of others at the trailhead and to abide by parking-related signage, including parking in the appropriate area for your vehicle. Some trailheads have designated RV parking spots, which are not meant for use by visitors in regular vehicles.
To learn more about becoming a a member of Friends of the Forest and volunteering with the Trailhead Beautification Committee, go to the Friends website: www.friendsoftheforestsedona.
Serving Sedona, written this week by Dale Smrz, Friends of the Forest, appears Wednesday in the Sedona Red Rock News.