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Klamath Falls just earned some serious bragging rights. The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) announced the inaugural 28 communities that comprise its first-ever Trail Towns. This new national program recognizes places going above and beyond to build, maintain, and rally around trail systems that help knit local life together. Klamath Falls made the cut, and it’s one of only two Oregon cities to do so (along with Cascade Locks).
For Jessica Kostick, community engagement coordinator for Healthy Klamath, the news felt especially meaningful. “We’re a small community,” she says. “So to have a national designation is pretty cool. We’re putting ourselves on the map.”
What Is an IMBA Trail Town?
To earn the designation, communities must demonstrate strong trail infrastructure, a commitment to trail funding, an active local trail organization, a culture of community engagement, and a sustainable trail stewardship plan.
IMBA Executive Director David Wiens says: “These towns are leading with trails by modeling what robust investments in the outdoors can do for local health, local economies, and community connectivity — both to the outdoors and to one another. Trails bring communities together.”
Trails Are a Public Health Tool
For Kostick, trails are about recreation, but they’re equally about wellness. Her work at Healthy Klamath focuses on making healthy choices easier for everyone in the county. Trails, she explains, do exactly that. They connect neighborhoods to schools, parks, and even downtown Klamath Falls, making active transportation a realistic option for residents.
“If you’re somebody who doesn’t have a car and walks or rides everywhere, it’s now that much easier to get to your job,” Kostick says. “And if you’re somebody who’s training for a race, now you can run or ride to work.”
She also points out that trails support more than just physical health. When you’re out on a trail in a small town, you run into people you know. That connection matters, too. Physical health, mental health, social connection — trails can support all three.
Something for Every Rider Level
You don’t have to be an expert on two wheels to enjoy Klamath Falls’ abundant trails. The IMBA application required the city to show a mix of trail difficulty levels: about 20% beginner, 60% intermediate, and 20% advanced.
The trail systems at Moore Park (Moore Mountain), Spence Mountain, and Brown Mountain give riders many options. Moore Park is especially convenient since it sits just on the other side of downtown and is connected by the Link River Trail. “If you have extra time on your lunch break, go ride,” Kostick says. “Or after work, go ride.”
A Boost for Tourism and the Local Economy
The Trail Town designation also has big implications for Klamath’s economy. Choose Klamath notes that towns that put money into their trails tend to gain several benefits at once: more visitors, a lift for nearby businesses, healthier residents, and a stronger sense of connection to the outdoors. Kostick hopes travelers driving Highway 97, who often pass through on their way to Bend or other destinations, will now stop, spend a night or two, eat at local restaurants, and visit the local bike shop.
The designation may also strengthen future grant applications for trail improvements, giving the community a more competitive edge when applying for funding.
What’s Next?
Kostick and her partners already have their eyes on an even bigger goal: becoming an IMBA Ride Center. That’s a premier mountain biking destination that draws visitors who plan their entire trip around riding.
“Getting this trail designation and having us known as a place to come and ride your bike,” Kostick says, “I’m hoping it will help start to change the culture [of physical activity] in our community.”
