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 Why Are Trails Closed?

 It Just Rained, Is It OK To Ride?

Metro Trail Conditions
 Please monitor trail conditions often and do not ride when conditions are wet or closed.
Trail Status Guide Brief Condition Description Update By Date Posted
Afton Alps Closed It's ski season! They actually had natural moguls below chair 3.... SkiPharmer 12-07-2011, 09:08 AM
Battle Creek Dry Trail was in good shape yesterday. All the sandy spots were frozen and the rest of the trail was dr... forum116 12-28-2011, 09:14 AM
Carver Lake Melting Pretty much every kind of condition exists....dry, tacky, snow packed, but I think there is enough i... SkiPharmer 12-26-2011, 03:25 PM
Elm Creek Dry Trail was dry today when I rode it this afternoon. Whatever sections were muddy in the prairie have... Count 12-27-2011, 04:06 PM
Hillside Park Dry Rode yesterday and the trail was perfect, felt like October. No ice, no mud, just dry single track.... k1rider 12-27-2011, 02:09 PM
Lake Rebecca Dry Dry and fast tmd 09-25-2011, 10:46 AM
Lebanon Hills Icy When I was leaving the trail at 12:30pm (32F), some spots were just starting to get soft. Keep your... tedsti 12-28-2011, 01:00 PM
Mammoth Light Snow Rode most of Mammoth last night on ... fat fires needed in only a couple of spots but the trail is p... Wolfchimp 12-08-2011, 11:17 AM
MN River Bottoms Dry Dry, with the typical sandy spots. Only a few tacky spots, it was excellent. drnomadz 12-27-2011, 01:05 PM
Monticello Perfectly Groomed Dry. Some leaves but they arn't enough to cause trouble navigating the trail. http://www5.... Pain Cave Spelunker 12-19-2011, 05:12 PM
Murphy Hanrehan Closed drove by at 10:00 this morning 12-27-11.the boards are still up ratpatrol 12-27-2011, 10:51 AM
Salem Hills Light Snow Trail was in good condition this afternoon. Several spots of packed snow. Very few icy spots. Mor... Pandl 12-27-2011, 07:12 PM
Terrace Oaks Closed ... jeffgude 11-01-2011, 05:41 PM
Theodore Wirth Perfectly Groomed Just went for night ride tonight. Awesome conditions. No snow. No ice. knobbies 12-28-2011, 10:14 PM

Southern Minnesota Trail Conditions
 Please monitor trail conditions often and do not ride when conditions are wet or closed.
Trail Status Guide Brief Condition Description Update By Date Posted
7-Mile Damp Everything thread but trail conditions can be edited. ryno lite 05-02-2011, 09:28 PM
Grandmas Trail Damp Big thanks to Mapleton Carl for his chainsaw work today! We got the trees cleared and rerouted one ... Trevize1138 05-10-2011, 03:27 PM
Holzinger Lodge Dry Rode Holzinger for the third time this season last Saturday, as I was in Winona for the Boats and Bl... cjlindor 09-27-2011, 05:55 PM
Mt. Kato Tacky Rode exactly 1 year after my last ride here. Trail is tacky where the leaf cover isnt. Lots of litt... fnkmstr67 10-23-2011, 04:28 PM
Memorial Trail Dry Trail is in good shape, Nick raked the DH run and the rest of the trail is good, dry a bit dusty, bu... cglasford 10-24-2011, 09:23 AM

Northwestern Minnesota Trail Conditions
 Please monitor trail conditions often and do not ride when conditions are wet or closed.
Trail Status Guide Brief Condition Description Update By Date Posted
Jail Trail Dry Trail is in great shape! It's leaf covered as it always is in the fall, but quite ridden in. Twist... Count 11-05-2011, 05:10 PM
Milaca Perfectly Groomed Great winter riding conditions yesterday (12/11/11). No bugs, no snow, no mud, 40 degrees and sunn... CraigB 12-12-2011, 11:15 AM
Cuyuna Lakes Closed Trail system is closed for the season due to deer hunting opener this Saturday and muzzle loader sea... woody_8_5 11-04-2011, 12:31 AM

Northeastern Minnesota Trail Conditions
 Please monitor trail conditions often and do not ride when conditions are wet or closed.
Trail Status Guide Brief Condition Description Update By Date Posted
Grand Rapids Dry Trail is in great shape. Leaves have been blown free of trail so you can see roots and rocks. One tr... wallybiker 10-28-2011, 09:16 PM
Hartley Park Icy Mix of packed snow and icy bits.Nice mini berms in many areas. slim 12-28-2011, 02:33 PM
Piedmont Trail Tacky I thought I did....sorry.... OPEN!!!! DODZEE 05-20-2011, 10:35 AM
Levis Trow Damp Quite a few muddy spots on Lower Glen. Swamp Cut is almost entirely muddy. Pain Cave Spelunker 09-06-2011, 06:39 AM

Why Are Trails Closed?

Sustainable trails are built so that water will run across the trail, not down it. When water runs down the trail it focuses the water and increases erosion. Riding wet trails creates ruts that will focus the water and increase erosion.

Riding wet trails also increases cupping of the trail surface and causes puddles to get deeper and wider, both of which slow the recovery of the trail.

Trails are closed (and often fenced off) during the freeze/thaw cycle in the fall and spring. During these times, trails are especially susceptible to significant damage.

Trails may also be closed after significant weather events, or if there are unsafe trail conditions.

The trails around the Twin Cities metro area are particularly sensitive due to the very large numbers of users these trails get every year.

When trails turn into maintenance headaches, land managers start to consider closing trails for good... PLEASE do your part to ensure that we have access to great trails by riding responsibly. Together we can keep these mountain biking opportunities available for generations to come!



Wet Trail Conditions

Beyond major closures, knowing when not to ride after a rainfall can be less obvious. Trails will not be posted as closed or fenced off after normal rainfalls/storms, so it is up to you to make an educated decision. Here are some general rules regarding wet conditions:

- Trails should not be used during wet weather, or when the trail is soft or muddy.
- Trails are open if the trail is firm and the surface will not be disturbed by foot or bike travel.
- PLEASE be patient if the trail isn't ready... allow the trail to dry before riding.
- Trails are typically too wet to ride for 18-24 hours after a significant rainfall.
- Riding wet trails damages the trail by creating ruts that increase erosion.

Please check the Trail Conditions Pages above for the most up-to-date information. And if you ride a trail, please take a minute and update the conditions if they haven't been updated in a while... this is a great way to both help out your fellow riders and help preserve the trails we love!





For more information on the trails shown above, click here to see our trail reviews area.