December 2 Trail Report

Welcome to the warm, wet start of winter! A few decades ago we would typically be into a pretty good 4 – 6 week deep freeze by now, with frozen trails that hold up well to all types of use. Not so anymore….

With intermittent rain, temperature lows consistently above freezing and highs into the upper 40s and even lower 50s forecast for the next week, we have started a pattern that will lead to saturated trails that are very susceptible to damage from poorly timed use. On the bright side, we have quite a few all-weather trails that should still hold up well during this time period, allowing you to stretch your legs in the Foothills without damaging trails. With creativity that involves utilizing routes like upper 8th Street, Rocky Canyon and Mountain Cove Road you can even put together longer jaunts. Please refer to these great suggestions for wet weather and winter use. 

As a quick refresher, riding, running or hiking on muddy trails leads to tread damage, failure of drainage structures our crews put in place to get water off the trail, and wider trails – all with the end result of eroded trails that become very difficult to repair. If you find yourself on muddy trails, or walking off trail to avoid mud it is time to turn around and seek a drier alternative.

Thanks for checking this report – we will be posting daily reports on our Facebook page and website, and updating our Interactive Map by 8:15 AM.