​It’s mud season again. As the snow melts, we are getting icy and muddy conditions on the trails. It is especially important to pay attention to this on trails traversing side slopes where ice in the middle of the trail may cause people to walk along the muddy edges. This can cause erosion and damage to the trails; and this may also make travel hazardous.

During mud season, remember this phrase: “If you leave a track, please turn back.”

Please pay attention to Trail Closures. Temporary trail closures are posted for your safety, to avoid erosion and resource damage, and to protect the trail. We all love these trails, so please stay off when they are closed.

Here are some other tips for how to navigate mud season.

• Stay on the trail and stick to the middle. If you do find yourself on a muddy trail, it’s best for the trail to hike down the middle so as not to widen the trail. If someone else is coming and you need to make room, try to step off onto surfaces like rocks or grass versus moss and flowers.
• Choose your hike carefully. During periods of rain, or as snow is melting, make informed decisions about where to hike. Generally speaking, trails covered by trees will hold moisture for longer, while trails that get more sun will dry out faster.
• Hike early? If the ground is freezing overnight, aim to hike early when the mud is still hard. The mud will soften during the day and turn to an increasingly sloppy mess before refreezing at night.
• Consider carrying cleats in case you run into significant snow or ice. Better to use cleats than to detour off the trail.
• Use hiking poles to keep your balance on ice, snow, or mud.
• Be willing to turn around!