The Western Gateway is now complete!!!! 

Details of the Western Gateway:

• Originally conceived over two decades ago, this ~29 mile non-motorized trail project was approved on May 31, 2018.
  
• Construction occurred during two six month seasons.
• Ground broke on November 8, 2018 with the first of 19 volunteer trail work days over the first season construction season. Season one construction ran through April 2019. The SRRTF sponsored 12 of the 19 workdays through a generous grant from REI. Other volunteer trail workday sponsors included, the VVCC, Over the Edge Sports, Friends of the Forest, Wildlands Trekking, Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau and Keep Sedona Beautiful.
  
• Two four person youth crews from the American Conservation Experience in Flagstaff conducted 8 weeks of work beginning in January 2019. This crew began work during the Federal Government shutdown. 
• The second season began on October 26, 2019 with the first of 15 volunteer trail work days over the Season 2 construction period which ran through early April 2020. The SRRTF and VVCC sponsored 12 of the 15 workdays through generous REI and National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance grants. Other volunteer trail workday sponsors include: Friends of the Forrest, Over the Edge Sports and Enchantment Resort.
• Two eight person youth crews from the American Conservation Experience in Flagstaff conducted 8 weeks of work beginning in January 2020 (report below). Majority of these crews were female and both crews were headed by females. The FS gave this year's ACE effort glowing reports. ACE Report, RRRD 2020.pdf
• The project was 100% community funded.
• • The Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund supplied:
  • • $78,000 to the Forest Service for the project
    • ~$157,000 for the ACE crews during the project
    • ~$4,000 for apres work day refreshments
    • ~$1,500 for mapping
  • VVCC separately spent over $2,800 for signage and trail markers
  • Forest Service provided gatorade and water during season 2
  • Famous Pizza supplied pizza at half price throughout both project seasons on SRRTF and VVCC sponsored volunteer workdays
  • Lagunitas Brewery in Petaluma, CA supplied the beer during season 1
  • Largest project contributors to the SRRTF:
  • • VVCC (~$77,000)
    • National Forest Foundation ($50,000 - two separate $25,000 matching award grants, one for each season)
    • Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau ($45,000)
    • Enchantment Resort ($25,000)
    • REI Flagstaff ($11,000)
    • Hundreds of individual contributors.