BLM looking to add more trail acreage for recreation in Bannock County

Outdoor enthusiasts in Bannock County could be seeing some additional recreation trails coming soon.

The Bureau of Land Management is looking at developing approximately 1,400 acres of land in the East Bench Management area.

The BLM has plans to look at all of its management areas in the near future, but decided to look at the East Bench area after a group of trail users approached the BLM about it. They came up with their own proposal and submitted it.

In those 1,400 acres, the BLM would be constructing a few new trails and connections, as well as reclaiming and working to improve some of the several existing trails. Since many of the trails are very steep or hard to access, the BLM would work on making those more accessible and user-friendly.

“Basically, the interest is opportunities for hikers, mountain bikers, OHV users, to have a connection with that part of town, particularly with the Portneuf Wellness Center and the Bannock Event Center in the area,” said Blaine Newman, assistant field manager with BLM.

The additional trail space would allow more opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding and in some cases, ATVs. Newman said the motorized trails would not be those near residential areas. Those trails near homes would be non-motorized.

He said long-term, this project could economically beneficial. There could be the possibility for the county to be able to host events on the trails. Events such as equestrian competitions or high school mountain biking races.

Newman said this project is in the very early stages and nothing has been set in stone yet. He said it’s only a user proposal at this point. They have not taken any sort of proposed action to the public yet. Newman said one of the biggest steps before moving forward is they would need to gain legal access to the land. Part of that would come from permission from private landowners and the rest would be from the city of Pocatello.

Newman said with gaining legal access for this project, it would benefit the county because it would allow residents of Bannock County to better utilize their public land. With a lot of the access currently private, it can be a challenge to utilize those trail systems. This project could help improve that.

Newman said BLM feels this could be a great thing and is excited to work more on this project.

“It fits BLM’s mission,” he said. “Recreation is a valid use of public land, particularly in urban interface. BLM’s one of many players in that area that’s looking for some potential development and we’re just excited to be a part of it and hope we can meet the users’ demands up there.”

Newman said the BLM does have to look at all different types of users in that area and take all into consideration. They also have to look at possible effects and wildlife and much more. The BLM also has to make sure that trails systems are sustainable for many years to come. So it really is the early stages, he said.

If the project does end up getting the official green light, Newman said BLM would like to start development within the next year or so.