Written by: Larry Smith
The Jacksonville Woodlands are 300 acres of scenic woodlands preserving some of Oregon’s most historic goldmines and naturescapes. The Jacksonville Woodlands Natural Park and Trail System surrounds 70% of Jacksonville’s National Historic Landmark District, thus preserving the town’s forested backdrop. The Woodlands are laced with 16 miles of trails passing through six different ecological zones ranging from stream-side riparian zones to the upper, south facing open oak savannahs.
The Jacksonville Woodlands Association, working within a formal memorandum of understanding agreement with the three land owners, Jackson County Parks, The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the City of Jacksonville, operates the natural park as one unit. The Association, from its founding in 1989, has focused its efforts on land acquisition, forest health, recreational trail construction and maintenance, and educational and resource interpretation.
Yes, it is quite a story of how a group of community volunteers some 30 years ago was able to pull off the most successful, small-town, all volunteer land conservation project in Oregon. That story has been captured in Larry Smith’s new book, Jacksonville’s Emerald Necklace, from Goldmines to Woodlands Trails.  Be inspired by the story of how Larry’s students were able to raise money, and influence landowners to sell their land to the project. Larry’s 5th grade class even bought an 1895 goldmine! The book is a must read to better understand the history of and the community effort that was required to establish the Jacksonville Woodlands. The book contains over 400 pages, along with 400 carefully selected photos, and weighs in at 2.2 pounds. The selling price is $40.00.
The book is available for purchase at several stores in Jacksonville: The Happy Alpaca, Art Presence (next to City Hall), Rebel Heart Books, The Trotting Fox, and at the Jacksonville Chamber Information Center located in the 1891 trail depot.Â
Several thousand people each month can be found out hiking Jacksonville’s woodlands trails. If your family or community group would like a personal tour of the Jacksonville Woodlands and its historic goldmines, please contact Larry Smith at: 541-899-7402. Or better yet, send him an email: twinhiker@gmail.com.
Send contributions for trail maintenance or to order a book to:
Jacksonville Woodlands Association
P.O. Box 1210
Jacksonville, Oregon 97530
