Brush Clearing and Trail Access Improvement in Coppei Creek

A Message Through Facebook

This job began like many of our favorite projects, through a simple message. A landowner near Coppei Creek, just outside of Dixie and Waitsburg, reached out to us via Facebook. He explained that he owned a large piece of steep, forested land and wanted better access to it for hunting. His request: reopen an old logging road that hadn’t been used in decades.

I let him know that while we don’t build finished roads, we specialize in clearing overgrown trails and improving rough access routes. That’s exactly what he needed no gravel or grading, just a safe, cleared path into his rugged property.

On-Site Assessment

We scheduled a time to meet, and together we hiked into his land to assess the job. The terrain was steep and rugged, but that’s our specialty.

The logging road he wanted cleared was barely visible, swallowed by decades of overgrowth. But once we traced the original route, it became clear that the brush was manageable. Tall grass, small saplings, blackberries, overhanging branches, nothing our 6-foot-wide brush cutter couldn’t handle.

The customer wanted the trail cleared to a small meadow about a quarter mile in. Based on the terrain and brush density, I estimated it would take 6 to 8 hours to complete. He was happy with the quote and gave us the green light.

Getting to the Job Site

We headed out early on job day to beat the heat. With the skid steer and brush cutter loaded into our dump trailer, our two-man team hit the road.

The drive to the property was straightforward at first, but the higher we climbed, the rougher the road became. We had to cross several steep stream cuts, which made hauling the trailer a slow and careful process. Eventually, we reached the overgrown trail and got to work.

Clearing the Overgrown Trail

Before we began, I confirmed with the customer how wide he wanted the road cleared. He said 6 feet—perfect for our setup.

My dad operated the skid steer and brush cutter, steadily working through the brush and saplings. I followed on foot with a chainsaw, tackling limbs and small trees the cutter couldn’t reach.

One of our concerns going in was a section the landowner said might be washed out. Fortunately, we encountered no impassable areas and were able to complete the full quarter-mile stretch as planned.

Ahead of Schedule and Under Budget

Even though the terrain was steep and overgrown, the job went smoother than expected. We finished in just 6 hours, faster than our original estimate. Instead of charging for 8 hours, we only billed the customer for 6. He was thrilled with the result and appreciated the honest billing.

A Job That Showcases What We Do Best

This Coppei Creek job was a perfect example of what Rugged Land is all about –brush clearing and trail access improvement in tough, backcountry terrain. Whether it’s for hunting, recreation, or simply stewardship, we specialize in making overgrown trails and forgotten roads usable again.

After one final check to ensure the trail met our standards, we loaded up and headed out—ready for the next adventure.