The Story of Smokey Bear
Smokey Bear has been a symbol for fire prevention since 1944 when a bear was drawn on an advertising poster. The government needed wood to build battleships and military transport crates during WWII. The campaign was to protect the forests that provided the timber.
In 1950 a tiny black bear cub was found clinging to a pine tree by fire crews battling a human caused fire in New Mexico. With badly burned paws, the bear was initially called "Hotfoot Teddy" and soonafter called "Smokey Bear" after the bear in the poster. His popularity grew and he quickly became the living symbol for Fire Prevention.
In fact, more than any other motto, more people can complete the phrase "ONLY YOU"....
with "CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES!"
In 1984, Smokey was honored with a postage stamp - a baby bear hanging on a burned tree - the only time in history that the USPS created a stamp in honor of a real individual animal.
2004 was Smokey Bear's 60th birthday celebrating ongoing wildfire prevention.
Smokey Bear's Lesson
Come and hike the trails off High Drive and learn about forest fire prevention.
You will travel through both "healthy green" and "dead burnt" forest areas while learning a lesson from Smokey.
Please stay on the trail to prevent soil erosion.
Smokey's Lesson has 8 educational micros and a final container.
The entire loop is a little less than a mile long and has multiple resting stops along the way.
Be sure to sit and enjoy the view between waypoints #3 and #4.
Please watch for muggles as hikers, joggers and mountain bikers use this trail system.