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How often have you thought to yourself, "Self, if they would have asked me, I would have done it differently."?

Well, here's your chance. The Park Service is seeking advice from us, the public, on one of their next projects; the Rushmore Trail Access Route.

Park Service seeks comments on proposed Rushmore trail, access route
By Rapid City Journal Staff Ryan Woodard

Mount Rushmore National Memorial officials are inviting the public to discussions about a proposed hiking-trail system at the Memorial.

The meetings are being held so park officials can plan environmental assessments that need to be done before the trail can be built.

Staff members will be at the meeting to discuss where the trail will be located and to answer any questions from the public, Mount Rushmore superintendent Gerard Baker said.

He said the trail would be an excellent addition to Mount Rushmore.

“It’s a trail that will explore the resources, (and) give an opportunity for the visitors -– locals or whoever -– to take a nice walk,” he said.

He said the trail would begin on a rough trail across the road from Mount Rushmore’s parking area, go toward the road behind the mountain’s sculptures, head past Mount Baldy and come back up to the park.

The trail would also probably include switchbacks because of the steepness of some areas.

Baker said he hopes the hiking trail will be completed by the end of 2008. It could eventually connect to the Mickelson Trail, although that part of the project that is still in early discussions.

The trail would be part of a National Park Service Centennial Initiative celebrating 100 years of national parks in 2016.

If you go

What: Open house to discuss proposed hiking trail at Mount Rushmore National Memorial

When: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 13, and 11 a.m. Thursday, March 20

Where: March 13 meeting is at the Radisson Hotel in the Sheridan/Deerfield room and the March 20 meeting is in the conference room at the Prairie Wind Casino, U.S. Highway 18 on the western edge of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Mt Rushmore Park Page

Original Story