The significant moisture Boise received this week has left Foothills trails muddy and prone to damage.  Ridge to Rivers staff are urging would-be trail users to stay out of the Foothills for awhile.  “The snow and rain we’ve received has saturated soils in the foothills – we’re seeing water on many trails that are normally bone dry.  When the temperatures climb above 30 degrees or so – and they are staying that way for another few days, these trails become quite muddy.” said Ridge to Rivers Trail Coordinator David Gordon.  Hikers and mountain bikers create deep ruts while going through these soft areas, and also widen the trails when they walk or ride off of the trail to avoid them.

Gordon says that cold mornings are the best time to use the trails during the winter -- before the temperature climbs above 30 degrees.  Unfortunately weather forecasts don’t indicate such a freeze for another few days. 

Ridge to Rivers posts a daily trail condition report each morning on the homepage of their website www.ridgetorivers.org , and on Facebook under Boise Foothills Trail Conditions.  “We encourage Foothills trail users to take a look at this before heading out on the trails, as it provides you with information that will allow you to make responsible trail use decisions,” says Gordon.

Now that so much moisture is in the ground, Ridge to Rivers will again begin enacting a daily closure on a number of heavily used trails that are prone to damage from use under muddy conditions.  The closure is voluntary. The goal is to protect the resource from suffering long-term, irreparable damage and provide a quality recreational experience for users.

The trails will not be closed completely however.  Use will be permissible daily until 10:30 AM - which is typically the time of day when trails begin to thaw out and soften.  We are asking that users stay off of these trails after 10:30 AM daily.  All effected trails will be clearly signed on the ground.

 Trails / Areas to be Voluntarily Closed at 10:30 AM Daily (Links to maps below for each area)

• All Trails in the Polecat Reserve
• All trails in the Table Rock Area:
  • Table Rock #15
  • Old Pen #15A
  • Table Rock Loop #16
  • Rock Garden #16A
  • Rock Island #16B
  • Table Rock Quarry #17
  • Quarry #18
  • Castle Rock #19
  • Hot Springs #19A
• Military Reserve Area (all trails OTHER THAN Mountain Cove #22C and MRP Connection #23):
  • Eagle Ridge #25
  • Eagle Ridge Loop #25A
  • Cottonwood #27
  • Toll Road #27A
  • Central Ridge #22
  • Central Ridge Spurs #22A
  • Freestone #22B
  • Elephant Rock #23A
  • Ridgecrest #20
  • Bucktail #20A

Closures will be lifted when trails dry out.

Using trails when they are muddy is discouraged for the following reasons:

• Excessive foot and tire tracks in muddy conditions flatten drain dips constructed each fall to prevent erosion on the trails.  When these are flattened, water can not be diverted from the trail, and erosion ensues.
• Degraded conditions for those who are using the trails responsibly.  Trails are excellent for use during the winter when they are frozen.  However once they receive heavy bike and foot traffic, they develop deep pocks and grooves – making for uncomfortable, ankle twisting hiking and running, and teeth chattering mountain biking.  Staff has had numerous recent discussions with users who have complained of this problem. Individuals invariably try to walk on the vegetation alongside of the muddy trails to stay out of the mud.  In doing so, the trailside vegetation is denuded, and our trails turn from singletrack pathways into small roads as the width continues to increase.
• Winter trail use is completely acceptable and a wonderful experience for users when the trails are either dry or frozen.  Unfortunately, those attempting to use many of our trails responsibly - when they are either dry or frozen, now encounter large, deep foot prints and bike tracks - making for very tricky and uncomfortable hiking, running or riding.  The result again, is that these individuals are forced off of the main trail, to the vegetation alongside where the ground is smooth.  This area eventually becomes denuded, and tracks deepened here as well.  At that point, the users again move further away from the center of the trail - it is an endless cycle that is beginning to change the character and integrity of our trail system.

For more information, call Ridge to Rivers at (208) 493-2531.