Letter from Bobby Koepplin, Valley City, N.D.  

 This letter is in response to Mr. (Paul) Stenshoel and his reference to the Byway and development of primitive trails.  
    First, while driving at 55 m.p.h. may only give you a glimpse of the Valley, the sites along the route may be just what you need to slow down and take a look. Stop at the 27 interpretive sites along the 63-mile Byway, five interpretive sites in Medicine Wheel Park and eight bridges as part of the Historic Bridges Tour to take in both the beauty and history of the Sheyenne River Valley.
    Secondly, development of primitive hiking trails is a lengthy process that requires extensive time, money and resources. The Sheyenne Chapter of the North Country Trail Association (NCTA) has 50 members from throughout North Dakota interested in the development of a non-motorized hiking trail in the Sheyenne River Valley. This section of trail in the Sheyenne River Valley is part of the North Country National Scenic Trail, which is one of seven recognized national scenic trails in the Unites States.  
    When completed, the 4,600-mile-long North Country Trail will traverse from Crown Point, N.Y., through seven states to Lake Sakakwea in North Dakota. It will be the longest scenic trail in America. There are three Chapters of NCT in North Dakota: Lonetree; Sheyenne River Valley; and Dakota Prairie Grasslands.
    There are a number of certified segments (trail developed to National Parks Service Standards).  
n Baldhill Dam: 35 miles from Baldhill Dam north along the west side of Lake Ashtabula
n Valley City Segment: 4.5 miles through Valley City
n Clausen Springs: a 2-mile loop around Clausen Springs Lake with plans for an additional 6 miles of trail to be built to Kathryn along the old railroad bed
n Fort Ransom State Park: 1.5 miles
n Sheyenne State Forest: 4.2 miles, including a 2.2-mile hike to North Dakota’s only registered waterfall
n Sheyenne National Grasslands:  30 miles
    The Sheyenne Valley Chapter of volunteers have been busy obtaining private landowner easements to allow hiking through private land, planning routes, raising money for boardwalk water crossings and signage, building and signing trail.  
    The trail when developed in the river valley will provide hikers with vista views, flora,  fauna and birding opportunities along with snowshoeing, cross country skiing and backpacking options.    Annual memberships are $46 per single or $60 for family.  In addition to trail building days, we have planned hiking activities that can be viewed on our calendar of events at www.northcountrytrail.org/srv.     For information, to join or get involved in making a difference and help build trail in the Sheyenne River Valley contact Alicia Hoffarth, president at 490-3889, Bobby Koepplin vice president at 840-0250 or Matt Davis, NCTA Regional Trail Coordinator for ND & MN at 701-388-1883.
    By the way:  The Sheyenne River Valley Chapter will be hosting the annual NCTA Conference in Valley City in August 2009.  We are expecting hikers from across the country to attend and hike our beautiful Sheyenne River Valley.        
 
Editor’s note: Koepplin is vice president of Sheyenne River Valley Chapter of the North Country National Scenic Trail and Scenic Byway.