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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 Melting Started riding at 11:00 am, trail was completely frozen. Everything from dirt to small amounts of f... Pandl 01-07-2012, 04:31 PM
Carver Lake Closed Trail will remain closed through the next week with the warm weather and rain/snow forecast. Thank ... mtb_guy 02-22-2012, 08:38 AM
Elm Creek Closed Both Elm Creek and Murphy-Hanrehan are still closed, BUT the Park District will be looking at both t... JayT 02-21-2012, 09:11 AM
Hillside Park Melting Yeah, what he said. If "wet don't ride" was an option right now that would be the cond. If it was ... pseudosu 02-17-2012, 06:25 PM
Lake Rebecca Icy Just got back from a night ride on the fatty at Rebecca, after doing a lot of exploring on foot earl... cadaverbones 02-03-2012, 07:54 PM
Lebanon Hills Closed With temps still well above normal its not clear if re-opening will happen so for now things are sti... gopherhockey 02-21-2012, 09:41 AM
Mammoth Icy Climbs and bridges are icy. You is extreme caution when crossing crooked bridges! They are glazed ov... Yammer 12-30-2011, 01:36 PM
MN River Bottoms Icy Rode a little ways around the Mendota entrance to the trail on Saturday. Going south the trail is sl... jwcutler 02-20-2012, 05:00 PM
Monticello Melting Trail still has a snow base in some sections (and is nicely packed), and bare ground in others. Mud... Count 02-19-2012, 05:10 PM
Murphy Hanrehan Closed Both Elm Creek and Murphy-Hanrehan are still closed, BUT the Park District will be looking at both t... JayT 02-21-2012, 09:13 AM
Salem Hills Melting ... jwcutler 01-31-2012, 02:32 PM
Terrace Oaks Closed ... jeffgude 11-01-2011, 05:41 PM
Theodore Wirth Closed Gates are closed. :cryin: Please stay off the trail during this freeze/thaw period. Greendog 02-15-2012, 08:49 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 Light Snow Trail was great fun. Maybe 1.5 inches of snow. A couple icy patches, otherwise great traction with m... fnkmstr67 01-15-2012, 11:47 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 Snow - Fat Tires Needed Trail is great...about 3-4" of crusty packed snow. It is bumpy and likely ride worthy on 2" tires w... fatbaldpop1 02-15-2012, 02:31 PM
Hartley Park Icy Rode Monday and Tuesday- rode on Pug Monday and lived in fear of ice and Tuesday was on 1x1 with st... fatbaldpop1 02-15-2012, 02:28 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.