Those taking the opportunity this mild-weathered January to enjoy the outdoors are reminded to renew their Raccoon River Valley Trail permit.

Guthrie County Conservation as well as Dallas and Greene County Conservation sell annual permits for the 89-mile-trail. The 2019 permit is $10, daily permits are $2, and trail usage is free for those ages 17 and younger. Trail users may have new amenities to look forward to in the coming year. Guthrie County Conservation Director Joe Hanner says the Conservation Board is interested in partnering with the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association to install bike repair stations, “So we’re hopeful that we can get a partnership going there and raise some funds and put some repair stations in and around all trailheads on the Raccoon River Valley Trail and this is early on it but I think it’s a good project and hopefully the trail users and the bikers will start seeing a few of those popping up in 2019 around the Raccoon River Valley Trail.”

Hanner adds the Board has already received requests for those wanting to donate repair stations in memoriam. Annual trail permits can be purchased at the conservation office in Panora or at any of the trailheads.