Introducing Jason Wells of Sasquatch Trails, A Contractor Utilized By NOHVCC To Conduct Great Trails Workshops

If you rewind the clock all the way back to the 1970s, Jason was already moving dirt. You probably wouldn’t line up to ride what he was building back then—but that’s where it all began: a BMX bike, a Honda Mini Trail 50, a shovel, a pile of scrap lumber, and a few adventurous buddies in Port Angeles, Washington. Six-year-old Jason had no idea that what felt like backyard fun would one day grow into a deeply fulfilling career shaping trails—and communities—around the world.

In the early 1990s, Jason moved to Bend, Oregon, where he opened a whitewater kayak shop, completed his degree in education, and spent the next decade teaching—both in the classroom and in the outdoors. Teaching and playing outside weren’t just interests; they were his calling. That passion eventually led him and his wife, Anna, to join the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) in 2006 as members of the Trail Care Crew. For 24 months, they traveled to a different town nearly every week, delivering trail-building workshops to volunteers, agency staff, and partner organizations across the country.

After two years on the road, Jason accepted a full-time role as a Trail Builder with IMBA’s Trail Solutions program. In 2017, he launched his own trail building and consulting company, Sasquatch Trails, continuing to expand his impact on the trail world.

Over the course of his career, Jason has built trails and led workshops in nine countries and all 50 states. His portfolio spans mountain bike trails for every ability level, moto and ATV trails, side-by-side routes, hiking and equestrian trails, accessible trails, and full-scale bike parks. While it’s hard for him to pick favorites, some standout projects include Sandy Ridge and Post Canyon in Oregon, as well as the nationally recognized trail systems in Bentonville, Arkansas. Anyone who has ridden one of Jason’s trails can tell you—he’s got a way with dirt. His work blends flow, fun, and function, all grounded in a strong commitment to social and environmental sustainability. Beyond shaping terrain, Jason prioritizes building community and empowering local stewards to care for their public lands long after construction is complete.

Jason began working with NOHVCC in 2020 as a trail building instructor and has since taught numerous Great Trails Workshops. The extended format of NOHVCC’s courses allows participants to build a strong foundation of knowledge with an emphasis on safety, while also gaining meaningful hands-on experience in the field. For Jason, it’s the perfect blend of education, empowerment, and impact.

When he’s not designing trails or leading workshops for agencies and organizations, you might find Jason flying airplanes, wing foiling, floating down rivers, or riding just about anything with wheels—moto, mountain, gravel, BMX, dirt jumper, even a unicycle. He lives and plays in Parkdale, Oregon, with Anna and their dog, Enzo—still chasing that same sense of adventure that started with a shovel and a dream in the 1970s.

Jason is one of just a few contractors that NOHVCC uses to develop and deliver Great Trails Workshops. If you are interested in learning more about the Great Trails workshops or to schedule one in your area please send an email to [email protected].