- Date
- 2009-09-12
- Kind
- Dispute
- Where
- Beaver Island
- Eras
- Modern era
- Concepts
- recreationland-usecommunitytransportation
- Within
- Beaver Island
Summary
In September 2009, a letter circulated in the Beaver Island Forum asking the Port St. James Association who had authorized a plastic “no motorized vehicles” sign and two rocks reportedly placed at the Hidden Valley Trail entrance. The writer said her regular observations and a three-week trail camera showed hikers, mountain bikers, and wildlife but no motorized vehicles; she also argued that snowmobilers helped keep the winter trail open and clear of deadfall.
Evidence limits
The thread documents a resident’s observations and a community access dispute. It does not establish the legal status of motorized use, who installed the objects, or what the Association ultimately decided.
Open questions
- Who placed the sign and rocks at the Hidden Valley Trail entrance, and did the Port St. James Association take board action on Elaine West’s request?
- Is Hidden Valley Trail today designated motorized or non-motorized, and does that match the 1981 completion record?
If you can answer any of these, or correct anything above, the archive wants to hear it — see Corrections.
Sources
- The post reproduces Elaine West's letter to the Port St. James Association. She reported regular walking, a three-week July trail-camera observation showing hikers, mountain bikers, and wildlife but no motorized vehicles, and questioned who authorized a sign and two rocks at the trailhead. She also described snowmobile assistance with winter deadfall and requested board action. This is a resident's firsthand account and request for a decision, not proof of authorization, legal access rights, or the board's eventual action.forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 01 · t001904
Added 9 August 2026. Recent changes
Cite this article
Beaver Island Archive, “Port St. James residents debate Hidden Valley Trail access and signage, 2009”, https://beaverislandarchive.org/events/beaver-island-hidden-valley-trail-access-dispute-2009/, accessed [date], citing Stephen C. West, “Message For PSJA Members-Directors From - Elaine West,” Beaver Island Forum, September 12, 2009..
Last revised 2026-08-09. Fill in [date] with the date you read it — this page is static and cannot know that.
BibTeX for “Port St. James residents debate Hidden Valley Trail access and signage, 2009”RIS for “Port St. James residents debate Hidden Valley Trail access and signage, 2009”