If you’ve ever shown up after a rainy night and thought, “It’s just a little wet—I’ll be fine,” you’re not alone. But for natural-surface trails, muddy conditions aren’t just a comfort issue—they’re a trail damage issue.
Choosing not to ride when trails are muddy is one of the simplest ways you can protect the trails we all love, reduce volunteer workload, and keep systems open and enjoyable longer.
Wet trails are fragile
Even well-built trails rely on the tread staying firm and the drainage working as designed. When the ground is saturated, it loses strength—meaning tires and footsteps can permanently change the trail surface in just a few passes.
Mud turns into damage fast
When you ride on a muddy trail, your tires can:
- Cut ruts into the tread
- Create depressions that hold water
- Widen the trail as riders detour around mudholes
- Break down drainage by pushing soil into low spots and drains
Those ruts and pockets don’t just “dry out.” They become water collectors. Once water is trapped, the trail stays wet longer, the mudhole grows, and the damage spreads.
One bad day can mean weeks of problems
A muddy trail might look rideable in the moment, but the impacts can last a long time. Ruts harden into uneven tread, puddles become recurring features, and riders keep widening the trail to avoid the mess. Sometimes the trail won’t truly recover until sustained dry weather returns.
Riding muddy trails steals time from improving trails
Every muddy rut and expanding mudhole eventually has to be repaired:
- Reshaping the tread and restoring the trail “crown”
- Rebuilding drainage so water can shed again
- Hauling rock or materials for armoring
- Repairing widened “braided” sections back into a single line
That work takes significant volunteer time and materials—time that could otherwise go toward new trail, better flow, and long-term improvements.
What you can do instead
When trails are wet:
- Check trail status/condition updates before you head out
- Choose activities that don’t damage soft ground (fitness rides on durable surfaces, indoor training, etc.)
- Wait for the trail to firm up—often a day or two can make a huge difference
- If you’re unsure, err on the side of protecting the trails
A good rule of thumb: if you’re leaving tracks or spraying mud, it’s too wet.
The bottom line
Not riding muddy trails is trail stewardship in its simplest form. It protects the work already done, reduces repairs, and helps keep trails open and fun for everyone.
Thanks for doing your part—your decision makes a real difference for every rider who comes after you.
