We wanted to repeat what we pointed out earlier this week and relay some information from the Ketchum Ranger District on current trail conditions. Unless you’ve been out of town for a few weeks or just living under a rock, you are aware that our area has received a significant amount of rain from several storms over the last 14 days. During the fall season with our cool daytime temps, freezing nighttime temps, and lower trajectory of the sun through the sky; the resulting wet conditions are not quick to go away, if they do at all.
As a result of this weather pattern, we now have some extremely fragile conditions on many of our local trails. Trails that seem especially susceptible to damage right now are in the Greenhorn drainage and many of our “lunch ride” trails including Fox Creek, Chocolate Gulch, and Citizens Trail. We’ve changed these trails to “partially open” on the BCRD Trailink website in an effort to highlight the areas where we’ve received reports of the worst conditions. This does not mean that all other trails are in great shape and acceptable to use right now. In fact, most shaded northern aspects are probably too muddy and should be avoided at this time.
A few trails that seem to be draining better and holding up relatively well right now include Lane’s/Sunnyside, River Run, lower Warm Springs, Carbonate, and all of the Croy Creek trails (with the exception possibly of the highest northern part of Bull Dog Trail).
The bottom line right now is to think about where you want to go, be aware of when it last rained, and be ready to turn around. It’s easy to adopt the “oh, it’s just me” attitude and press on through when you reach muddy sections of trail. By doing that, you are helping to ensure that our trails are in worse condition in the future and that our trail crews will be forced to reroute more of your favorite sections of trail instead of being out there building great new trails for us to enjoy.
Please choose where you recreate responsibly and have a great weekend!
Also, don’t forget that we’ll be having a trail work session Saturday 12-4 on the Forbidden Fruit Trail. If you like this trail, please come out and help us give it some TLC. Meet at the Adams Gulch Trailhead and be ready to go by 12 noon.
