Wet Weather and Winter Trail Use

Preserve Our Trails - Avoid Muddy Conditions

Using trails when they are muddy is the leading cause of trail damage on the Ridge to Rivers Trail System. Please help us preserve the integrity of our trial system by doing the following: 

• Stay off muddy trails. Pay attention and if you are leaving tracks, turn back.
• In winter months, ride or hike early in the morning when the trails are frozen.
• Check daily Ridge to Rivers trail conditions on our website or on Facebook to know whether you should be on the trails during live weather conditions. We work hard to share updates often so you can always be an informed trail user!
• If you encounter short stretches of mud, ride or walk through them. Do not leave the trail, as this kills trailside vegetation and leads to trail widening.

Here are the top five reasons you should stay off the muddy trails: 

1. When trails are muddy, users often travel along the side to avoid the mud. This tramples and kills trailside vegetation and widens our trails. It means we lose the single track character of our trail system that is enjoyed by all. 
2. As trails widen, erosion increases and the trails become increasingly difficult to maintain. Trail crews cannot adequately repair this type of damage in the foothills and it becomes permanent. 
3. Drainage systems put in place by trail crews to divert water and curtail erosion are trampled and flattened, making them ineffective and again increasing erosion and widening along our trail system. 
4. Deep footprints, hoofprints, tire tracks and paw prints can freeze and become inconvenient and at times potentially dangerous user experiences once the trails dry out. Pleas always travel on trails when they are frozen or dry. 
5. Responsible trail use means preserving the Ridge to Rivers Trail System for future generations. 

Good under almost every weather condition

For when trails are muddy:

• Rocky Canyon Road
• Mountain Cove Road
• Upper 8th Street Road
• The Boise Greenbelt
• Boise City Parks
• Wilson Creek Trails (south of Nampa)

For when conditions are marginal thanks to their sandier soils: 

• Dry Creek Trail #78
• Lower Hulls Gulch Trail #29
• Camel's Back Trails #40
• Toll Road #27A
• Freestone Ridge #5

Due to higher clay content avoid these trails when conditions appear marginal: 

• Sweet Connie Trail #77
• Cottonwood Creek Trail #27
• Old Pen Trail #15A
• Table Rock Trail #15
• Polecat Loop #81
• Big Springs Loop #113
• Ridgecrest #20
• Bucktail Trail #20A
• Central Ridge Spur #22A (north)
• Central Ridge Spur #22A (south)
• Red Cliffs #39

Sign up for live trail condition notifications! Trail users of all kinds can receive alerts with timely notifications about things like muddy trails, seasonal closures and openings, and trail construction work. To sign up today: 

• Download the RainoutLine app from the app store
• Search for Boise Parks and Recreation in the app
• Find Ridge to Rivers Trail Condition Report
• Click Bell and Star to receive notifications, then allow notifications on your device

Don't want to download the app? Listen to updates by calling 208-231-0001 ext 11