Local Man Creating Hiking/Biking Trail in Dayton

DAYTON – A hillside trail being created for hiking and biking behind the Port of Columbia in Dayton is ready for walkers, and may be ready for biking before the end of the summer, says trail creator Doug Hinds.

The trail was started earlier this year by Hinds, who works as the local lineman for Pacific Power, and is doing most of the work on the trail himself. Hinds wants to provide people an alternative to the Touchet River Dike and other area paths.

"It's for the community and people coming into town that don't want to walk the (Touchet River) Dike, or want to hike," Hinds said.

The trail could be about 1.5 miles long when completed, if everything goes as planned. The path winds back and forth up the hill behind the Port, which is visible from Highway 12 as people enter or exit Dayton's west end.

Hinds, an avid hiker and biker, has wanted to create a path like this since he came to Dayton six years ago. While he attempted to get approval for the path his first year, he did not have the support he needed.

However, this year was different, as he got approval from Jennie Dickinson at the Port of Columbia. After he received this approval, he started on the trail in March, as he was recovering from hip surgery.

While he does most of the physical work on the trail by himself, Hinds has received help in the form of people lending him the equipment he needs to clear and shape the trail. He said he has received help from at least 10 different community members in the form of weed killers and landscaping equipment to help his work on the path.

Hinds is also planning to put a bench at a resting point on the trail that will provide a scenic view of Dayton from above, something that he pointed out that you cannot get from the trails and paths that run through town.

"The trail shows off the community greater than the dike or other places in town," he said.

As for the work still to be done, Hinds said that the community can help.

"The trail is a little raw right now. It is ready for walking, but I wouldn't try to bike it yet if you are not experienced," he said.

Hinds said that it would be great if people walked the trail to help get the path beat out, as the more people walk on it the more clear-cut and cleaned out the path will become. He hopes that people walking the path will enjoy the view, and even the exercise, that they will get from the trail. He also was thankful for all of the support he has received in various forms from the community members he has met over the years in Dayton.

The beginning of the trail is located at the Port of Columbia, at 1 Port Way in Dayton.