Spring 2025 Update

Spring brings new life as we enjoy our island’s trails. It is also bringing renewed life to the Old Military Road Trail project. Here’s the rundown:

The first three years of our OMRT Committee efforts were about building relationships with partner agencies and the public as well as creating a strategic plan about the benefits of the trail to our community. Two years of help from National Park Service (NPS) trail planners were valuable and much appreciated.

In October of 2023 our committee was awarded a $20,000 grant from a non-profit to have our San Juan Island National Historical Park install OMRT trailhead kiosks, trail markers and informational signs at both camps. However, due to NPS staff shortages and park planning regulations, that signage project has been delayed until 2026 or 2027.

Our committee did not pursue the strategic plan for much of 2024 due to the public’s election year information overload, divisive politics and the lingering resistance to the Zylstra Lake/Friday Harbor Trail.

However, last fall we fired up to focus on signage on our proposed route along existing trails that are already in the public domain with our OMRT partner agencies. Getting ‘feet on the ground’ is our tactical goal to build momentum and raise folks’ awareness of our special history: where one road’s easy access between two opposing countries helped build a lasting peace, not war. 

All long trails take years to complete, especially with sections that are on private property where voluntary landowner permission is critical. In the meantime, entities such as Public Works are working to create wider shoulders like on Bailer Hill to increase safety for bicyclists and walkers. Trails and safe access to the spectacular beauty and distinctive history of SJ Island is more important than ever. We realize that we all, especially families, need safe and convenient ways to be renewed by the outdoors, by the force nature always delivers to revitalize the human spirit.   

As this is a multi-year endeavor, your support and help is as needed as much now as ever it was and perhaps more so during these times of agency cuts. Our website is in the process of an important update though is still an easy way to access OMRT information and videos.

Thank you!