Trail Closures Due to Wet Trails and Freeze-Thaw Cycle Explained
It's that time of the year again when we start to see trail closures due to wet trails and freeze-thaw cycles. This article was originally published in February 2021. It's an important trail issue that needs to be revisited. Due to the nature of their design, there are probably more impacts that are caused this time of year with flow-designed trail systems. This article has been updated in December 2025. Trail damage due to above-normal wet conditions. New bikes for Christmas and New Year resolutions to get out and be more active. This time of year, we see an increasing number of new mountain bike riders and other outdoor recreational users exploring their local, state, and national parks. This might be their first experience using these public resources and their newfound outdoor activities. This post is to help trail users understand why there are trail closures due to wet trails and the freeze-thaw cycle we see this time of year. As an outdoor community, take...
