New West Fork Teanaway Trailhead & Trail System Officially Open: Phase 1 Complete!
In partnership with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Washington Trails Association, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, Back Country Horsemen of Washington, and community partners, we celebrated the grand opening of the new West Fork Teanaway Trailhead on June 6th – marking the completion of Phase 1 of the multi-phase West Fork Teanaway Trails Plan.
This milestone represents more than a decade of collaborative planning and partnership. The Teanaway Community Forest was established as Washington’s first state-owned community forest in 2013 after DNR purchased the land with legislative funding. Since 2013, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance has worked alongside DNR and other stakeholders to help shape the area's management and recreation plans. In 2020, Evergreen joined the West Fork Trail Coalition, a partnership dedicated to creating and implementing a phased trail vision that will ultimately provide approximately 55 miles of multi-use trails throughout the Teanaway.
“It’s no secret that the Teanaway Community Forest is a popular area for recreation – from mountain bikers, to hikers, to equestrians, there’s no shortage of opportunities for good family fun in Washington’s great outdoors,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove. “I am beyond thrilled to provide more recreation opportunities here in the Teanaway. At a time when recreation investments are being pulled back in Washington, I’m proud that DNR is still hard at work to provide opportunities across the state thanks to the hard work of our staff and partners.”
Phase 1 construction began in 2022 and delivered several key trail projects throughout the West Fork Teanaway. Evergreen's Kittitas Chapter led construction of the Upper Big Sandy Trail and a new climbing trail connection to Lower Big Sandy. Coalition partners completed the Frog Pond Loop and Cheese Rock Trail, creating new opportunities for trail users to experience some of the area's most popular destinations.
“Creating a singletrack trail to connect the West Fork Teanaway to the top of Cle Elum Ridge and the Towns to Teanaway trails system has been a longtime goal for the mountain biking community,” said Jesse Cunningham, Kittitas Program Manager of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance. “We are thrilled to have completed the Upper Big Sandy Trail to serve as a multi-use connector of these two trail systems.”
In addition to the trail network, DNR completed the new West Teanaway Trailhead, which includes parking for 65 vehicles, ADA-accessible restrooms, a bike repair station, trail information kiosks, and direct access to the new trail system. Trail signage throughout the network is now installed, making it easier than ever for visitors to explore the growing recreation area.
The success of Phase 1 was made possible through the contributions of numerous funding partners. Trail and trailhead construction were supported through grants administered by the Recreation and Conservation Office, along with funding from the Suncadia Fund for Community Enhancement, the Kittitas Stewardship Fund, the Evergreen Kittitas Chapter members & donors, Dru Bru, and other community supporters who helped bring the vision to life.
Work is already underway on Phase 2 of the West Fork Teanaway Trails Plan. The Evergreen Kittitas Chapter is currently leading construction of the Windy Ridge Trail with support from coalition partners, while Washington Trails Association and Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust continue work on the Aspen Grove Loop. Future phases will expand the trail system, improve connectivity, and further enhance access to the Teanaway Community Forest while supporting stewardship and restoration goals across the watershed.
