Our MissionGarrett Trails is a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to the development of a well used network of high-quality, sustainable trails that provide access to Garrett County’s historic, municipal, and environmental treasures. Garrett Trails believes outstanding trails are important to the economic development of the County and will promote good health and well being for County residents.
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Our History
In 1999, the Garrett County Commissioners requested that the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce initiate a recreational trail plan for the County. In turn the Chamber of Commerce created, and the Commissioners appointed, the recreational trails task force to review the opportunities for trail improvements and development. Members voted in 2008 that Garrett Trails be formally re-organized as a non-profit organization dedicated to working for the development and promotion of a sustainable, accessible trail network throughout the region.
Board & Committee
The Board of Directors has overall legal responsibility for the organization and is responsible for the overall guidance of the mission. The Board ensures Garrett Trails is carrying out its duties in an efficient and effective manner and supports the implementation of activities to achieve the mission. The Board of Directors are not just people passionate about our mission, but also mediators of the public trust placed in nonprofit organizations. As such they have specific governance and oversight duties often summarized as follows:
Advisory Committee
- Duty of Care – Member must exercise reasonable care when making decisions as a steward of the organization
- Duty of Loyalty – Member must give undivided allegiance when making decisions affecting the organization
- Duty of Obedience – Member must be faithful to the organization’s mission
- Mike Dreisbach, Owner, Savage River Lodge, Garrett Trails President
- Mike Logsdon, Director of the Adventure Sports Institute at Garrett College (ret.), Garrett Trails Vice-President and Chair of the Mapping and Public Awareness Committee
- Rodney Glotfelty, Garrett County Health Officer (ret.), Garrett Trails Secretary
- Evan Byrne, Mountain Lake Park, MD
- Ryan Savage, Garrett County Commissioner
- Jay Moyer, Superintendent, Garrett County Roads
- Jay Quinn, Wisp Resort, Outdoor/Snow Sports Rental Operations Manager
- Elizabeth Williams, Marketing & Sales Manager, Fronterra Resources
- Scott Richardson, Associate Faculty, Adventure Sports Institute of Garrett College
- Sarah Walter, PLA, Penn Trails
Advisory Committee
- Larry Tichnell, Garrett County Commissioner
- Kim Folk, Garrett Heritage Area & Groups Director, G.C. Chamber of Commerce
- Jeff Simcoe, Md. Dept. of Natural Resources, Trail Planner
- Luke Mongrain, Md. Dept. of Natural Resources
- Sean Nolan, Md. Dept. of Natural Resources
Public Comment at Garrett Trails Board of Directors’ Meetings
The Garrett Trails Board of Directors welcomes comments and ideas pertaining to the policies, procedures, and/or practices of Garrett Trails.
- The meeting of the Board of Directors agenda will provide for public comment at the opening of meetings at 8:30 a.m. on the 3rd Wednesday of each meeting month, typically in the boardroom of the GEIC building at Garrett College. The location may change depending on room availability, with a notice on the board room door if it has moved.
- A sign-in sheet, indicating name and topic, must be completed by everyone requesting public comment.
- Comments will be limited to a maximum time of 3-minutes per individual or individual speaking on behalf of an attending group with the same comment topic unless otherwise considered by the Board President. A maximum of five 3-minute public comment periods (15-minutes total) will be provided on each meeting agenda at the opening of the Board of Directors meetings of Garrett Trails. At any meeting there will be no discussion or action taken pertaining to any public comment.
- Requests for time must be made by the Monday prior to the meeting by 5 p.m. Please email director@garretttrails.org.
- Public comment may be submitted in writing by email addressed to: director@garretttrails.org. The reading of any comment is limited to 3-minutes.
- Issues that are specific to individual Garrett Trails volunteers or employees must be submitted in writing to the Board and will be discussed in Executive Session and closed to those not members of the Board
- Rude, slanderous, or threatening remarks or other behavior that is disruptive or interferes with the order of the meeting is not permitted.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Eastern Continental Divide Loop (ECDL)
Thank you for your interest in the Eastern Continental Divide Loop. This FAQ outlines commonly asked questions about this initiative.
What is Garrett Trails?
• We are a private nonprofit organization composed of volunteers who live and work in Garrett County. The organization employs one paid staff person to perform the business of the board as Executive Director. The advisory board consists of State, County, and chamber of commerce representatives and staff. This structure allows the Garrett Trails board to work cooperatively with different agencies to advocate for the interests of Garrett County residents.
• We are dedicated to the development of a network of high-quality, sustainable trails that provide access to Garrett County’s historic, cultural, and environmental treasures. Exceptional trails are important to the economic development of the County and will promote good health and wellbeing for County residents.
• Currently, Garrett Trails is continuing to develop existing projects like the remediation of the Margraff Plantation Trails, the final resurfacing of more than 12 miles of the Meadow Mountain Trail, a new 1.2-mile trail connecting the Fork Run Recreation Area to communities on Marsh Mountain and Wisp Resort, and helping towns improve their trail systems for their residents and guests.
What is the Eastern Continental Divide Loop?
• The Eastern Continental Divide Loop (abbreviated to ECDL) is a proposed 150-mile loop trail through Garrett County, Maryland. It is named for its eastern leg running along the Eastern Continental Divide at Meadow Mountain. This trail will connect Maryland's largest wild forests with state parks, population centers, and ultimately the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) to the north.
• The proposed loop will use some existing trails and establish new ones. Garrett Trails is working with both public partners and cooperating private landowners to identify appropriate routes for the trail.
What are the goals of the ECDL?
• The overall goal of the project is to create a long-distance loop trail for a wide range of people and experiences, including walking, hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and paddling.
• Garrett Trails is working to help our local communities become more economically resilient and to improve sustainable access to public land.
• In recent years, Garrett County has seen an increase in guests coming to enjoy the outdoors. The ECDL will bring outdoor recreation tourism dollars that will help our County thrive.
• Substantial positive effects can be seen when trails are connected, and each smaller system becomes a potential stop on a larger loop trail. The ECDL is envisioned to connect local communities, enhancing local economic development opportunities and health & wellness.
• A comprehensive trail system in Garrett County will become an asset by recruiting new businesses to the county and providing new employment and bringing in additional tax revenue. Trails also provide a better quality of life for both residents & visitors through increased recreational opportunities.
• Sustainably built trails reduce environmental impacts from informal foot traffic as users seek to access remote areas. Formalizing trails also provides better access for emergency response and natural resource monitoring and restoration.
What will the ECDL be like?
• The loop will provide a variety of trail experiences for hikers, bikers, and paddlers, incorporating sections of road, single track, and multi-use trails. Some trail sections will provide more accessible experiences while others will be more rugged backcountry trails. Some sections will be suitable for equestrians, cross-country skiers, and other user groups.
• While the ECDL has been envisioned for a long time, much of the loop is conceptual. Each section will require funding and analysis to resolve the final route and character of the trail before it can be built.
What has happened in the past with the ECDL?
• Garrett trails has envisioned the ECDL in Garrett County since 2011 and has been working to complete it in sections as opportunities and funding allowed.
• The first concept plan was funded by the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail Office of the National Parks Service and printed in 2011. Garrett Trails has used this concept plan to provide guidance in the development of the ECDL.
• The Garrett County 2017 Land Preservation, Parks & Recreation Plan recommends further development of the Continental Divide Loop concept. Survey respondents indicated a desire for more trail connections, loops, and specifically a trail along the Youghiogheny River corridor.
• Garrett Trails has been committed to bringing partners to the table including state and local government agencies, elected officials, and private landowners. This collaboration has resulted in increased interest in the ECDL in recent years. Garrett County Senator George Edwards, Delegate Wendell Bietzel, the Garrett County Commissioners, and the Department of Natural Resources have all been supportive of the ECDL concept.
What is happening now with the ECDL?
• One roadside section on the eastern side of the ECDL from West Shale Road to New Germany Road was resurfaced in 2019 and 2020.
• As part of our efforts on the west side of the ECDL, Garrett Trails continues to work to reconnect the communities of Oakland, Friendsville, and points between that historically were connected through trails along the river and relied on each other through all seasons.
• In the Spring 2022 legislative session Senator Edwards and Delegate Beitzel were successful in securing funds for the DNR to begin exploring sustainable access to public land along the Youghiogheny River from Swallow Falls State Park to Friendsville. The DNR owns much of the land along the Youghiogheny, and we support the trail recommendations made in the 1996 Youghiogheny River Management Plan. Currently there are miles of state park trails, sanctioned fishing and boater access trails, old logging railbed, logging roads, and game trails in the Youghiogheny Wild River Natural Environmental Area, There are multiple commercial whitewater rafting companies, guided hikes, and thousands of boaters every year sharing the Yough experience with paying guests, their families, and their friends. Garrett Trails supports these endeavors as part of our efforts to help the communities that we live in.
How is the ECDL being funded?
• Because the ECDL is a large project spanning numerous types of properties, it is impractical to fund it all at once. Each section has its own challenges and needs to be considered and funded independently.
• Garrett Trails has used fundraising dollars from the Garrett County Gran Fondo and Taste of Garrett to work on sections of the trail in many parts of Garrett County.
• There are a number of shovel ready projects on both the eastern side and the western side of the ECDL. With the support of Senator Cardin, Senator Van Hollen and sixth district Congressional Representative David Trone, federal money will be used to complete these projects, and in all cases the grants or monies coming to build trail projects on the ECDL trail have been administered by the Garrett County Government.
Will there be a chance for the public to provide feedback?
• We welcome the participation and feedback of other organizations and the public in the design and development of the ECDL and look forward to working together to create a trail network that respects our unique natural resources, responds to the needs of our communities, and makes Garrett County an even better place to live, work, and play.
You don’t have to wait to enjoy trails in Garrett County!
• https://www.garretttrails.org/trails--maps.html
What is Garrett Trails?
• We are a private nonprofit organization composed of volunteers who live and work in Garrett County. The organization employs one paid staff person to perform the business of the board as Executive Director. The advisory board consists of State, County, and chamber of commerce representatives and staff. This structure allows the Garrett Trails board to work cooperatively with different agencies to advocate for the interests of Garrett County residents.
• We are dedicated to the development of a network of high-quality, sustainable trails that provide access to Garrett County’s historic, cultural, and environmental treasures. Exceptional trails are important to the economic development of the County and will promote good health and wellbeing for County residents.
• Currently, Garrett Trails is continuing to develop existing projects like the remediation of the Margraff Plantation Trails, the final resurfacing of more than 12 miles of the Meadow Mountain Trail, a new 1.2-mile trail connecting the Fork Run Recreation Area to communities on Marsh Mountain and Wisp Resort, and helping towns improve their trail systems for their residents and guests.
What is the Eastern Continental Divide Loop?
• The Eastern Continental Divide Loop (abbreviated to ECDL) is a proposed 150-mile loop trail through Garrett County, Maryland. It is named for its eastern leg running along the Eastern Continental Divide at Meadow Mountain. This trail will connect Maryland's largest wild forests with state parks, population centers, and ultimately the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) to the north.
• The proposed loop will use some existing trails and establish new ones. Garrett Trails is working with both public partners and cooperating private landowners to identify appropriate routes for the trail.
What are the goals of the ECDL?
• The overall goal of the project is to create a long-distance loop trail for a wide range of people and experiences, including walking, hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and paddling.
• Garrett Trails is working to help our local communities become more economically resilient and to improve sustainable access to public land.
• In recent years, Garrett County has seen an increase in guests coming to enjoy the outdoors. The ECDL will bring outdoor recreation tourism dollars that will help our County thrive.
• Substantial positive effects can be seen when trails are connected, and each smaller system becomes a potential stop on a larger loop trail. The ECDL is envisioned to connect local communities, enhancing local economic development opportunities and health & wellness.
• A comprehensive trail system in Garrett County will become an asset by recruiting new businesses to the county and providing new employment and bringing in additional tax revenue. Trails also provide a better quality of life for both residents & visitors through increased recreational opportunities.
• Sustainably built trails reduce environmental impacts from informal foot traffic as users seek to access remote areas. Formalizing trails also provides better access for emergency response and natural resource monitoring and restoration.
What will the ECDL be like?
• The loop will provide a variety of trail experiences for hikers, bikers, and paddlers, incorporating sections of road, single track, and multi-use trails. Some trail sections will provide more accessible experiences while others will be more rugged backcountry trails. Some sections will be suitable for equestrians, cross-country skiers, and other user groups.
• While the ECDL has been envisioned for a long time, much of the loop is conceptual. Each section will require funding and analysis to resolve the final route and character of the trail before it can be built.
What has happened in the past with the ECDL?
• Garrett trails has envisioned the ECDL in Garrett County since 2011 and has been working to complete it in sections as opportunities and funding allowed.
• The first concept plan was funded by the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail Office of the National Parks Service and printed in 2011. Garrett Trails has used this concept plan to provide guidance in the development of the ECDL.
• The Garrett County 2017 Land Preservation, Parks & Recreation Plan recommends further development of the Continental Divide Loop concept. Survey respondents indicated a desire for more trail connections, loops, and specifically a trail along the Youghiogheny River corridor.
• Garrett Trails has been committed to bringing partners to the table including state and local government agencies, elected officials, and private landowners. This collaboration has resulted in increased interest in the ECDL in recent years. Garrett County Senator George Edwards, Delegate Wendell Bietzel, the Garrett County Commissioners, and the Department of Natural Resources have all been supportive of the ECDL concept.
What is happening now with the ECDL?
• One roadside section on the eastern side of the ECDL from West Shale Road to New Germany Road was resurfaced in 2019 and 2020.
• As part of our efforts on the west side of the ECDL, Garrett Trails continues to work to reconnect the communities of Oakland, Friendsville, and points between that historically were connected through trails along the river and relied on each other through all seasons.
• In the Spring 2022 legislative session Senator Edwards and Delegate Beitzel were successful in securing funds for the DNR to begin exploring sustainable access to public land along the Youghiogheny River from Swallow Falls State Park to Friendsville. The DNR owns much of the land along the Youghiogheny, and we support the trail recommendations made in the 1996 Youghiogheny River Management Plan. Currently there are miles of state park trails, sanctioned fishing and boater access trails, old logging railbed, logging roads, and game trails in the Youghiogheny Wild River Natural Environmental Area, There are multiple commercial whitewater rafting companies, guided hikes, and thousands of boaters every year sharing the Yough experience with paying guests, their families, and their friends. Garrett Trails supports these endeavors as part of our efforts to help the communities that we live in.
How is the ECDL being funded?
• Because the ECDL is a large project spanning numerous types of properties, it is impractical to fund it all at once. Each section has its own challenges and needs to be considered and funded independently.
• Garrett Trails has used fundraising dollars from the Garrett County Gran Fondo and Taste of Garrett to work on sections of the trail in many parts of Garrett County.
• There are a number of shovel ready projects on both the eastern side and the western side of the ECDL. With the support of Senator Cardin, Senator Van Hollen and sixth district Congressional Representative David Trone, federal money will be used to complete these projects, and in all cases the grants or monies coming to build trail projects on the ECDL trail have been administered by the Garrett County Government.
Will there be a chance for the public to provide feedback?
• We welcome the participation and feedback of other organizations and the public in the design and development of the ECDL and look forward to working together to create a trail network that respects our unique natural resources, responds to the needs of our communities, and makes Garrett County an even better place to live, work, and play.
You don’t have to wait to enjoy trails in Garrett County!
• https://www.garretttrails.org/trails--maps.html