Mountain Bikers Unite to Save Massive Sandstone Slab Trails

Jennifer Miller · 2026-07-02

It's a story we've heard too many times: one user group loses trail access because of another. And more often than not, it's mountain bikers who end up on the losing end. To keep the peace, there's often a push to separate everyone. But that's not always possible, especially on public lands. Fortunately, some groups are willing to compromise and work together. They're promoting outdoor recreation as a whole. That's a good thing, because the alternative could mean losing access to features like massive sandstone slabs. ### Two Build Phases Bring New Trails to Teanaway The plan for the Teanaway Community Forest is new, but many of its trails aren't. Jesse Cunningham, Evergreen's Advocacy and Trail Program Manager, explained that the area was a free-for-all. Social trails popped up over the years, and it was chaotic. Luckily, Washington DNR wanted to formalize the trail system for multiple user groups. They didn't want to close everything for habitat restoration, which is always a risk. Along with great terrain and potential 1,000-foot descents, Teanaway has spectacular geological features. While "rock slabs" are usually linked to places like Squamish, the Teanaway Forest has a large sandstone slab locals call "Cheese Rock Slab." It's huge, can be slick, and offers multiple lines for those starting their adventure on it. The slab kicks off a black-rated trail called "Sandstone Slab" on many maps. It drops over 300 feet in a quarter-mile, with most of that drop being the slab itself. Cheese Rock Slab sits right in the heart of where Evergreen is focusing its trail work.  ### Phase One: Big Sandy Trail Expansion So far, Evergreen and other groups have pushed through phase one and are moving to phase two. Phase one focused on trail restoration and expansion of a popular route called the Big Sandy Trail (BST). The current BST is split into upper and lower portions. Lower BST is the legacy trail. Upper BST, completed in 2024, stretches nearly four and a half miles, dropping over 1,000 feet. It's a blue trail with a mix of flow and tech. It's also a great connector for locals in nearby communities like Cle Elum and Roslyn. "People would ride from those communities, over the ridge, and drop into the Teanaway for years," Cunningham said. "But there's no good singletrack to get you back out or connect those areas, so we built that upper Big Sandy Trail." Lower BST needed work to meet modern standards. Some sections were too steep, and erosion had taken its toll, especially on a trail named "Big Sandy."  ### Phase Two: Connectivity and Private Land Challenges Phase two could take a couple of years. It focuses on getting existing trails off private land. Two trails, Windy Ridge and River Ridge, are on Evergreen's list. They also want better network access and connectivity, which is tough in a system transitioning from social trails. To help, Evergreen has flagged a new trail called Dingbat. Like Windy and River Ridge, Cunningham thinks Dingbat will be intermediate, given the terrain. ### The Bigger Picture: User Group Collaboration This project shows what's possible when user groups collaborate. Instead of fighting over access, they're sharing the space. The result is better trails for everyone. It's a model worth replicating across the country. If you're a mountain biking events pro, keep an eye on Teanaway. It's becoming a prime example of how to build and maintain sustainable trail systems.