Help protect Michigan’s outdoors this spring – avoid muddy trails

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DTE trail, Muddy day? Please don't play.

With warmer weather in the forecast, we wanted to remind everyone to help protect Michigan trails by not using them when muddy.

Riding or walking on a muddy trail destroys the surface. It leaves ruts/deep holes, uneven tire and footprints, contributes to erosion and creates a hard-to-fix trail surface. Hint: If you are leaving visible bicycle ruts, deep footprints or hoof tracks the trail is too muddy.

Spring is an especially sensitive time because frost layers often linger below the trail surface (even when air temperatures have warmed up). As a result, spring rains have trouble permeating the soil, creating muddy topsoil. Trail use and muddy conditions can erode trails very quickly.

Although you should avoid muddy trails altogether, please keep these tips in mind if you encounter a muddy section:

  • Mountain biking - If you encounter a muddy section, dismount and tiptoe down the center, not to the sides because it widens the trail.
  • Hiking - If you must traverse a muddy section of trail, go right through the center of the trail, rather than travelling around the mud and widening the trail.
  • Horseback riding - Although most horses don't mind getting their feet wet, you and your horse are encouraged to travel through the center of the trail so inadvertent trail widening doesn't occur.

Just like our friends at the Potawatomi Mountain Biking Association say, "Muddy day? Please don't play."