In a push to improve access to the overlooked southern Wyoming Range, the U.S. Forest Service has begun efforts to revitalize a 180-mile trail network on Commissary Ridge in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Kemmerer District Ranger Adam Calkins, who is leading the project, said the initiative aims to reverse decades of neglect due to budget and staffing limitations.

These trails, overgrown and degraded by erosion and fallen trees, have seen little maintenance over the past 20 years. But soon, hikers, hunters, anglers and equestrians alike will enjoy upgraded trails and enhanced access.

The Forest Service mapped trail conditions and pinpointed areas most in need of repair. Calkins said about 80% of the trail system has been inventoried and they are now using that data to build a trail masterplan.

“Feedback from the public is very important,” he said.

Calkins, who lives in Kemmerer, emphasized his commitment to the area, noting that his children go to school here and the community is very important to him and his family.

“We recognize that this is public land,” he said, “and we are managers of that land. So feedback from the community surrounding the Kemmerer Ranger District is super important to us.”

The project’s key partners include Wyoming Pathways, OHV organization Tread Lightly from Salt Lake City, Friends of Bridger-Teton, and Lincoln County. Calkins praised local officials and nonprofit groups for their support.

“These nonprofits are essential to our ability to get this project going,” he said.

While the team has applied for grants, exact funding levels remain uncertain. The project, expected to last three to five years, will rely on grant support and community input to guide priorities.

To gather that input, the Forest Service has launched a public survey and scheduled an informational meeting for Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Fossil Fuel Coffee in Kemmerer.

“We’ll focus on listening to the public to prioritize which trails to use first,” Calkins said. They will also assess trailhead parking, tree clearing and provide other essential updates.

This revitalization, he explained, is intended to create a multifaceted trail system where visitors can enjoy various activities.

“Recreation is changing, and people want to do multiple activities from one location,” Calkins said. “We are trying to adapt to this system of multiple recreation uses in a central location.”

He said he envisions Commissary Ridge as a recreational alternative to popular areas like Jackson.

“The Wyoming Range is a great alternative to the Tetons or the Wind River Mountains,” he said. “It’s not heavily trafficked.”

Calkins has served as Kemmerer District Ranger for the Bridger-Teton National Forest for two and a half years, a period in which he has expanded staff and resources to tackle long-standing issues.

“It’s a problem we recognized that needed to be fixed,” he said, citing local demand for trail access. The Forest Service plans to hold additional public meetings in surrounding counties early next year, bringing the project to the wider community and gaining insight into broader regional needs.

With each restoration step, the Forest Service aims to build a sustainable trail system, improving both recreational access and preserving the landscape’s natural beauty for generations to come.

“The community asked for this,” Calkins said, “and we decided it was something we wanted to address.”

Calkins said if people are interested in using the trails now, they should call or stop by the ranger office in Kemmerer to get the latest updates.