Lewis County trails group sets outreach meeting, discusses landowner appreciation, signage and picnic-area plans

A Lewis County Trails Committee member said the group scheduled a community outreach meeting for Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Tug Hill Hideaway and plans to press landowner outreach and signage standardization as it readies seasonal trail openings.

Committee members discussed distributing missed landowner appreciation certificates, a proposed sign-and-sponsorship policy for trail kiosks and posts, picnic tables and play-area ideas, and potential openings on parts of the Watson parcel if pending contracts are completed.

Why it matters: The committee said landowner cooperation and clear signage are prerequisites for opening and connecting trail sections that cross or abut private property. Committee members also raised theft and maintenance concerns tied to donated picnic tables and flagged the need for consistent signage to avoid confusion and damage to private property.

At the meeting the primary speaker — identified in the meeting record as a committee member — apologized for an earlier missed distribution of certificates, saying, “I apologize. We will get everybody that was there.” That speaker said certificates were printed for ambassadors but were not handed out at the appreciation event.

The committee circulated an outreach invitation to property owners on Fish Creek Road from Byron’s Corners south to Osceola Road and on Byron’s Corners Road, aiming to resolve an access issue at Byron’s Corners and address how to reach the Tug Hill Hideaway legally. The committee noted one landowner who uses Amish-style communication had reached out without a phone and that members planned an in-person visit if no call-back followed the meeting.

Committee members discussed potential 2026 goals including improving connections with the Town of Lewis and linking county reforestation parcels in Montague and Peyton. A committee member said, “I would like to push town to Montague to get their the county reforestation areas connected.” The record shows several roads named as possible openings if contracts come through: Snell Road, Number 4 Road and Pine Grove Road on the Watson parcel.

The group discussed standardizing signage across the trail system and restricting nonstandard signs on private land. One member said they were “a little concerned with screws being put into private landowners' treaties,” and recommended placing signage on kiosks or signposts the committee controls. The committee discussed offering sponsorships or banner placements at approved locations and said map-ads and sponsorship processing had produced some technical delays that staff or volunteers were addressing.

Members also proposed expanding amenities: placing picnic tables in less-visible hiking spots to reduce theft risk, installing play areas near commons and Red Trails for additional options, and identifying scenic stops on maps. The committee debated whether donated picnic tables might be stolen if placed in easily accessed camping areas and suggested putting tables deeper on hiking routes instead.

A volunteer reported a recent scavenger-hunt event drew 24 teams and was well received; organizers said the event used physical maps and local businesses for clues. The committee noted interest from clubs in hosting future landowner-appreciation events and discussed whether to assign hosting on a first-come, first-served basis or rotate among clubs.

Next steps: the committee plans to hold the outreach meeting at Tug Hill Hideaway, revisit the signage and sponsorship proposal at the next committee meeting, and continue outreach to landowners needed to complete the listed trail connections. No formal votes or binding decisions were recorded in the meeting record.