ORA Trails - Outdoor Recreation Alliance

06/13/2026

We’re excited to unveil our new 2026 jersey design, created by ORA board member Megan Runge in celebration of our 25th Anniversary year and brought to life through our partnership with Borah Teamwear!

The design is inspired by the beautiful landscapes that define our region while paying tribute to the roots of ORA Trails: Human Powered Trails.

Sound familiar? It’s where Powered by People comes from.

Since the beginning, ORA has been powered by people who show up. People who see a vision, volunteer their time, share their talents, and help turn ideas into reality. The trails we ride, the places we gather, and the community we’ve built over the past 25 years all exist because of countless individuals who have invested in this organization.

As we celebrate this milestone year, we’re celebrating the people behind it all: the builders, volunteers, donors, partners, advocates, and trail users who have helped shape ORA’s story. And that includes you!

View this year's design through the Borah store link: https://ora2026.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Open until 6/27 midnight!

06/12/2026

Huge thank you to the Fox2548 & WIProud team who joined us today to celebrate their Founders Day at the Bud Hendrickson Nature Loop!

Together, they cleaned up trash, cut back hanging branches, and tackled encroaching weeds and vines along the trail.

We're grateful for everyone who gave their time and energy to help keep our trails safe, welcoming, and beautiful for the entire community!

06/12/2026

Got a little time to get outside this weekend? Consider heading over to the La Crescent Bike Park to help out and help get this project wrapped up! Tommy has been working so hard at this and the community support behind it has been incredible.

06/12/2026

Huge thanks and appreciation to all those who show up for the student athletes, their families, and the trails. 🌟

Thank you to all our coaches that make this team possible. We appreciate the passion, commitment, and energy they bring to the team to help our student athletes grow.

Behind every athlete is a coach who showed up

06/11/2026

Last call to sign up for the Trail Master Lite training happening this weekend!

Learn more and sign up here: https://oratrails.app.neoncrm.com/event.jsp?event=52&

06/09/2026

This past weekend, ORA Trails hosted a Chainsaw Certification Training, and we're excited to welcome 10 newly certified chainsaw operators to our volunteer and stewardship network! 🌲🪚

The group included 2 ORA staff members, 3 summer work crew members, and 5 rockstar volunteers. Led by Chainsaw Safety Specialists, participants spent the day learning safe chainsaw operation, risk management, maintenance, and cutting techniques before putting those skills into practice in the field.

Not only does this training help expand ORA's capacity to complete trail work and stewardship projects on municipal lands and at the Community Trail Farm, but the hands on training session also helped advance work at the La Crescent Bike Park.

Building trails is about more than dirt and trees. It's also about building a knowledgeable, empowered community of people willing to care for the places we love.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated. Heck yeah! 🤘

06/08/2026

The trail work night scheduled for tonight (6/8) is cancelled due to the rain and muddy conditions. See you next week at Upper Hixon for the regularly scheduled work night, 5:30pm-7:30pm!

06/05/2026

One of the most exciting things happening at the Community Trail Farm is seeing it become an outdoor classroom for students of all ages. 🌱

Over the past two years, students from UW-La Crosse have helped collect important baseline data through plant identification, soil classification, and fish quality monitoring. As ORA works to restore the landscape, improve ecosystem health, and build resilience into the land, students are helping us understand and track that impact over time.

We also partnered with the North American Squirrel Association (n.a.s.a) and Longfellow Middle School to bring an off-road wheelchair experience to the Trail Farm. Keegan, a 7th grader, and his friends spent the day cruising the all-weather trail, building forts, and exploring the woods together. Moments like these remind us why we believe in "Trails for Everyone."

The momentum with Longfellow has continued to grow, with more than 200 students participating in experiences ranging from trail building and invasive species management to mountain biking and fly fishing.

Meanwhile, 5th graders from State Road Elementary spent part of their overnight camping adventure at the Trail Farm, learning about the property, exploring the outdoors, and getting their hands dirty through work and play.

As access and infrastructure at the Community Trail Farm continue to grow, so will the opportunities to connect more kids, schools, and families to meaningful outdoor experiences. We can't wait to see the impact of getting even more young people outside!!!

!

06/03/2026

🌟Volunteers in Action🌟

Recently, about 45 volunteers from Trane Technologies spread across our trail systems and public lands for a day of service that will leave a lasting impact.

Volunteer teams helped:
⚒Prepare Upper Hixon for ORA Trails Fest through lawn work and signage efforts
⚒Continue maintenance and sightline improvements at Lower Hixon and Gateway
⚒Restore landscapes through invasive species removal at the CTF
⚒Began transforming the knoll area along the Community Built Trail into a future gathering and observation space at the CTF
⚒Uncovered and cleared an old dump site to support ongoing restoration efforts at the CTF

Days like these are a reminder that trails and outdoor spaces don't happen by accident.

Thank you Trane Technologies for helping power these places!

06/02/2026

⚠Chainsaw Certification Training - Saturday, June 6th, 8:30am-4:00pm!

A fallen tree doesn't clear itself!

Join ORA Trails for a full-day Chainsaw Certification Training and learn the skills needed to safely support trail maintenance, storm cleanup, habitat restoration, and stewardship projects throughout our region. To operate a chainsaw with ORA Trails and on municipal lands, you need to have completed a chainsaw certification course!

📍 Classroom: La Crescent-Hokah Middle/High School
📍 Field Session: La Crescent Bike Park

Register here: https://oratrails.app.neoncrm.com/event.jsp?event=60&