Borough opens new ATV trails at Jim Creek

BUTTE — Three miles of new ATV trails are now open for use.

The three new loops are located in the Knik River Public Use Area (KRPUA) near Jim Creek in Butte. The trailhead, about a mile east of Old Glenn Highway off Sullivan Road, was officially dedicated at a Wednesday afternoon ceremony.

Designed by Boutet Company and constructed by Spernak and Sons, the loops were funded mainly through a Recreation and Trails Grant program. Total costs came in at just under $87,000 with borough costs pegged at less than $18,000.

“I love my job because I get to have fun,” stated Mat-Su Borough Recreation and Service Manager Hugh Leslie, the first of several speakers attend.

A group of more than a dozen ATV enthusiasts gathered to hear Leslie, Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation grants administrator Steve Neel, Mat-Su Borough Mayor Vern Halter and Assemblymen Steve Colligan and Jim Sykes give the details on the system. All commented on the need to provide an area where novice riders, or those with no experience, can come out and brush up on safe riding skills. All felt the newest addition to the trail system would provide that.

When the borough adopted a plan for the 471 acres of the KRPUA under its jurisdiction, one of its focuses was to implement a safe, multi-use, reduced speed in the hundreds of miles of trails in the KRPUA as a whole. In developing the overall use plan more than three years ago, one provision called for establishing a “safe multi-use reduced speed or non-motorized trail through the area.”

Each interconnected loop in the trail is approximately one mile in length. The first loop is 0.8 miles in length, the second 1.3 and the third 0.9 miles long. Each can be ridden individually or combined. It is clearly marked and designed for single passenger ATV use only. Side-by-sides, of any size, as well as Jeeps and trucks are prohibited. Speed is limited to five miles per hour.

Nearly every trail in the more than 250,000 acres that comprise the KRPUA was created over the course of time as a result of unplanned social use, according to the state. The Jim Creek project in one of five in various development phases. Others include Jim Lake Overlook Trail, Sexton Trail, Trail of Envy and Chain of Lakes.

After a ribbon-cutting ceremony, several small groups as well as the speakers christened the new addition with a celebratory ride.