JACKSON, Wyo. — It’s that time of year again — mud season! Early spring means the weather can change hourly, and trails can sometimes become a sloppy mess.
On Friday, May 3, Friends of the Bridger-Teton asked hikers, joggers and bikers to help take care of trails during variable spring conditions. Friends of the Bridger-Teton posted that proper mud trail etiquette means committing to going right through the mud, rather than hopping up on the shoulder or side of the path. According to the organization, walking or biking off-trail can erode the soil and damage vegetation.
“When you encounter mud on the trail, go through it, and not around,” Friends of the Bridger-Teton posted on social media. “Going around the mud can damage vegetation on the side and widen the trail.”
Here are some muddy trail tips:
- Know the trail conditions before heading out.
- Hike or bike on cool days or early mornings when the snow cover or soil is still firm.
- Choose low-elevation trails that are south-facing or in the open because they will likely be drier.
- Be prepared to change course if there are wet or muddy conditions. Check with other users as they are leaving.
- Shortcutting switchbacks is even more damaging in the spring when vegetation is just beginning to grow. It also creates new channels for water to drain over steep slopes, creating more erosion. Stay on the trail.
- If there are long stretches of wet or mud, turn around and wait to complete that trail on another day.
- If far out on the trail, and have to use a muddy section of trail, commit to wading through the mud. Walk straight through the trail rather than hopping up on the shoulder or side of the path, which erodes the trail and damages sensitive vegetation.
- Allow trails to dry out after nourishing spring rains. These are good days for gravel or paved trails.
- If a pet poops it, scoop it! Dog poop left on the ground can run off into our waterways and have a significant impact on water quality.
- Ask questions before heading out: What have temperatures been like? Is a hike out and back possible before the ground thaws? How trafficked is this trail?
It is always best to allow trails to dry out after nourishing spring rains. Happy trails!
