Spring trails open as Home Water Preserve upgrades begin

WENATCHEE — After a stretch of weather that has drawn hikers and riders back into the foothills, one of the valley’s most popular trail systems is opening the season with both access and interruption.

As of April 1, Sage Hills Trail is open, offering a familiar early-season route above the city. But across much of the Home Water Preserve, crews have begun a coordinated effort to rebuild trails, restore habitat, and reshape how recreation moves through the landscape.

The 960-acre preserve, owned and managed by Chelan County PUD, functions as both a wildlife corridor and a heavily used recreation area. The current work reflects a long-term push to better balance those roles as use has grown over time.

Chelan PUD is partnering with the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance on the multi-year project, which focuses on both improving the trail experience and protecting the surrounding ecosystem.

“We’re creating a win-win for people and wildlife,” said Kelly Cordell, senior wildlife biologist for Chelan PUD. “The wait will be worth it in the long run.”

For trail users, the changes will be tangible. Redesigned routes are intended to create smoother flow, more natural turns, and fewer steep climbs. At the same time, crews are building trails with improved drainage and more durable soil composition, aimed at reducing erosion and long-term maintenance.

Just as important is what will disappear.

About four miles of unauthorized or unsustainable trails will be decommissioned, with several routes permanently closed by December 2026, including Upper Blue Sage, Short Toss, Jackhammer, and Upper Maiden Ridge. Those closures are tied to habitat restoration goals, helping reestablish native vegetation and create clearer separation between wildlife movement corridors and recreation.

Active construction between April and June is focused on Coyote Canyon, Lightning, Snakebite, and Heart Murmur. Those trails will reopen once work is complete, though specific dates have not yet been announced.

“When folks go around the closure points, it delays the work and creates serious safety risks,” Trails Project Manager Ryan Graig said. “Staying off closed trails helps us finish faster, and when the work is done, riders and hikers will enjoy smoother, more sustainable trails built to last.”

The preserve remains open for seasonal recreation between April and November, and visitors are encouraged to stick to designated open routes as work continues.

Maps and updates are available through the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust at https://www.cdlandtrust.org, with additional trail openings expected later in the season.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media