ROSS LAKE

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Ross Lake National Recreation Area Washington

Alternative F. Construct the Newhalem Creek Trail and Boardwalk

Description of Alternative F.

This fully accessible trail and boardwalk would lead visitors from the North Cascades Visitor Center to the edge of Newhalem Creek (Figure 7). It would compliment the system of front country trails that have been constructed over the past ten years in the vicinity of the Visitor Center.

The first leg of the trail would follow an old logging road about 0.3 mile along a forested terrace (selectively logged at one time) to the edge of the floodplain of Newhalem Creek. The last 0.1-mile of trail would traverse the floodplain along an elevated boardwalk and terminate at a viewing platform near the edge of Newhalem Creek. The combination trail and boardwalk would satisfy the high demand for additional hiking opportunities near the Visitor Center and provide a short walking opportunity for visitors of all ages and physical capabilities. The trail would also showcase old growth trees and a cascading creek.

Figure 7. Newhalem Creek trail and boardwalk.

Issues

• Construction of a boardwalk in a riparian (floodplain) area.
• Impacts to natural resources from trail/boardwalk construction.
• Density of development: focusing visitor use around the Visitor Center prevents additional development in undisturbed areas. However, if development around the Visitor Center is too concentrated this could reduce the quality of the visitor experience.