2026 Rainbird Trail Improvements: Staircase and Viewing Platform Construction

Ketchikan Gateway Borough is seeking the services of a qualified company or individual to conduct upgrades on Rainbird Trail. The improvements include the construction of a new staircase and a viewing platform, per attached drawings by R&M Engineering. Please see attached map and site photos for the improvement locations and site conditions.

The Rainbird Trail offers a convenient and immersive rainforest experience within a 20-minute walk from the city center and cruise ship docks. This trail is moderately difficult and traverses some 1.25 - miles of steep terrain above the UAS Ketchikan Campus, the Jefferson Reservoir, and Third Ave. bypass. The terrain is a mixture of site-sourced rock and gravel walking surfaces, log tread stairs, bridges and cut rock walkways.

This project will accomplish two restoration projects:

• North Rainbird Trail staircase: A destabilized tree on the northerly segment of the Rainbird Trail fell over in March, 2024, rendering the trail impassable. This staircase of 50-lf will ensure safe egress from the top of the rock face on which the tree was located to the base. Upon completion, the northerly segment of the trail will be reopened.
• South Rainbird Trail Viewing Platform: Located near the south Third Avenue Bypass access stair, this section of the trail was closed following the Third Avenue Bypass Landslide in August, 2024. This 16'x16' viewing platform will utilize a long-overgrown lookout for partial restoration of the trail.