Two years of challenging trail conditions—is this the new norm?

To quote Bob Dylan, a hard rain is going to fall. Ask any trail builder or trail steward how the past two years have gone for them, and you’ll most likely get an exasperated look and a sigh. If we thought last year was a challenge with non-stop precipitation from spring into early summer, it was nothing compared to what we are experiencing this year. A warm winter with low snow totals resulted in a shallow freeze in the soil and a lack of protective cover. Follow that with what feels like endless rain and heat, and not only are people seeing extreme erosion, but also epic overgrowth. It’s enough to bring anyone working on trails down to their knees.

There is talk in the community, big talk, about this being the new norm. Climate change, whether it be deluge or drought, makes it hard to build and maintain trail networks. At the international trail summit in Madison this spring, people from all over the continent were discussing the same thing. While the West Coast dealt with wildfires and rock-hard soil, the East Coast saw massive destruction with storms like Hurricane Helene, which wiped out most of the trails in parts of North Carolina. These events are no longer what we used to call century events; they are happening almost yearly. And with the increasing demand for more mountain bike and hiking trails, and decreased federal funding, the question communities need to ask is, “How can we make trails that can sustain weather events and need less maintenance?”

Soil and drainage—half science, half art

As I spoke with trail builders/stewards in the Midwest, drainage and erosion were the two issues consistently raised by everyone. It was interesting to hear about the various ways people were using different soil and foliage compositions. Some areas, those heavily laden with rock deposits, esker material, or sand, have it easier with drainage. Take CAMBA (Cable, WI trails) for example. All but the new Telemark trails and parts of Flow Mama are built on eskers and can usually be ridden shortly after a rain without causing damage. Same with both Copper Harbor, MI and Cuyuna—both with more of a rock base. Now, compare that to most of the other Midwest trails, often composed of clay or a dirt/clay/sand mix. This might be the most challenging composite to work with—requiring the most time to dry and rutting easily. Clay also loves to stick to tires, so anyone riding it too soon after rain will cause damage. On the other hand, in low-moisture years, clay cracks easily and turns to cement, preventing repairs from being made. Meanwhile, sand forms large, loose areas, making the landscape resemble a beach during droughts.

Recognizing that it’s not feasible to change or augment large swaths of trail composite, we need to apply different techniques to each area, which is not easy to teach to new trail builders or volunteers. These days, everyone seems to want wide, machine-built flow trails. And, I agree, they are fun. But moving and disrupting that much clay or dirt without placing major drainage pipes or rock drains on the trail, and what once was built as a marvelous trail, soon becomes a “meh” trail in one season.

Vance McCaw, trail boss at Trek, said in the past two years, he has had to place many more drains to maintain the trails and has seen more damage than ever before. He, like most builders, is having to get creative in how to keep the existing trails and reconsider how new trails need to be designed. As a set of new trails are being designed and built in predominantly prairie areas, McCaw also brought up foliage control and how they plan to mow a wide enough swath in high-moisture years like this one. “When mowing prairie”, he said, “you need to mow five feet on both sides of the trail to make it rideable. If you mow a single line on each side, plant matter will fall over onto the trail, covering it up, and in some cases, making it unsafe.” A large part of the job has nothing to do with sculpting dirt; it’s about weed whacking, removing invasives, and clearing downed trees after each storm. That alone can be a part-time job for every trail system.

Steve Forss, at the Atwood trails in Rockford, heads out almost daily to remove invasives like honeysuckle and raspberry brambles that grow into the trails, catch people’s clothing, and prevent clear sight lines. In years like the past two, when it rains heavily, he jokes that you can sit and watch these plants grow each day. “The recent winters, with their prolonged soft soil conditions, have left me thinking more and more about the value of all-weather trail surfaces,” Forss said. “The challenge is providing the user experience while balancing environmental impact, maintenance, and cost. This will be an ongoing discussion within the Rockford Park District as we move forward with future trail development.”

What the future might hold and
how we, as trail users, can help

Sweat equity and consistent cash flow, combined with smart building, are now the name of the game. Many trail users assume that funding and building new trails are the major hurdles. Although this is the initial concern, as someone who weed whacks and leaf blows my local trails, I would say that weekly trail maintenance done by a strong group of volunteers is equally, if not more important. How can a few hours weekly make such an impact? Clearing foliage allows trails to dry much faster, leaving less room for ruts to form. Shoveling out small drains where water pools and deberming prevents standing water areas. Filling in small eroded areas quickly and trying to reroute water flows will often save flow trails and keep them as “flow”. Cutting back invasive plants or branches that grow into the trail at a higher height prevents people from forming new trails to circumvent them. These are all skills that can be easily taughtand are suitable for volunteers who have an hour or two to spare. By covering these basic tasks, volunteers can focus on building trails. Often it’s one or the other for builders. They don’t have the time or energy to do both.

For builders/stewards, using new elements like chip seal on trails notorious for erosion and carpet on jumps takes a lot of weight off. Olivier Vrambout and his wife, Julia Kaemmer, bought and formed the Localized bike park near Afton, MN. Purchasing the land and building the trails was just a drop in the bucket in costs for this non-profit, donation-run facility. A large part of their budget, Vrambout said, went to prairie restoration to help prevent invasive species from taking over and to help hold the soil in place. “It took three years, but we now have a native established prairie on some of our land for birds and butterflies while removing three acres of invasive species.” Vrambout is also moving towards the carpet on the jumps. He and McCaw both mentioned the added expense up front, but the improved ride quality and lack of erosion once implemented.

Josh Blum, a trail planner and designer for Rock Solid, one of the most widely used trail-building companies in the country, known for its innovative drainage techniques, spoke with me about two major upcoming topics—e-bikes and bike parks. As e-bikes have become increasingly popular, trail builders are tempted to create steeper trails. The issue with this is erosion. Steeper trails with electric assist almost always cause ruts. Pay-to-play bike parks are also gaining popularity. If done correctly, as seen at Giants Ridge and Spirit Mountain in Minnesota, the organization reinvests the funds in maintaining and building trails. If done incorrectly, or if a non-pay-to-play system decides to build a lot of downhill trails, the upkeep becomes unbearable, and none of the trails end up riding well.

Where to go from here?

Unless you’re a skilled trail builder, the best thing you can do is ask your local trail steward how you can help maintain the trails. Simple things, like picking up sticks after a storm and weed whacking, go a long way! If you’re interested in helping to form more sustainable trails, there are several great options available without requiring a background in soil science. Pay attention to which sections erode and how different trails behave in various weather conditions. Attend group trail days, where you will receive guidance from experienced leaders. Take workshops, when offered—many are free of charge! And finally, consider donating to your local trails to help fund equipment and skilled staff. This topic will become increasingly important as weather patterns become less predictable and less stable. Now is a great time to start talking and thinking about how you can help.