Bureau of Land Management re-opens Rainie Falls Trail
Grants Pass, Oregon – The Bureau of Land Management Grants Pass Field Office is excited to announce that repair work has finished on the Rainie Falls Trail nearly three months ahead of schedule. The barriers will be removed Friday, September 20, 2024 and the public will again be allowed to use the trail. The area has been closed since the Rum Creek Fire in 2022.
There is still the potential for hazards in the burned area including falling trees and limbs, debris flows, falling rocks and other safety concerns.
The Rum Creek Fire caused rock, trees, and other debris to fall on the tread of the trail. Retaining wall features built out of wood, railroad ties, and metal stakes were burnt and damaged to the point of failure. The trail posed extreme fall hazards. The BLM contracted with Work Horse, Inc. out of Enterprise, OR to repair the trail. The cost to repair the trail was approximately $230,000.
“We want to thank the public for their patience while safe conditions were ensured after the Rum Creek Fire,” said Heidi Lowery, Grants Pass Field Manager. “Please hike carefully on the re-opened trail and keep an eye out for hazards.”
The revised closure order will be posted on BLM.GOV: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.