10 Tips for Mountain Biking Etiquette During Mud Season

Springtime means warm weather, blooming flowers, and, for many, the switch from speeding down snowy trails on skis to flying down muddy ones on mountain bikes. Unfortunately, the melting snow and April showers can deteriorate trails very quickly, particularly if mountain bikers are riding on the soft, muddy ground and causing damaging ruts and increased erosion. Repeat the springtime beatings enough and the trails may not last—potentially closing access to cyclists. To avoid damaging the trails, follow these 10 mountain bike etiquette tips during mud season to ensure they stay rideable for everyone, all year long.

10 Tips for Mountain Biking Etiquette During Mud Season

1. Do Your Research

Check trail conditions before you head out. Trail condition updates are just a click away thanks to social media’s ever-growing reach. Many local mountain biking clubs and groups post these updates online so that riders know where things are good and which trails need time to dry out. Organizations like BETA, MTBNJ, and VMBA are just a few groups in the Northeast that regularly provide this information.

2. Respect Closures

Some trail systems prohibit riding during mud season to preserve the quality of their trails. Wet trails are susceptible to damage and repairing them is expensive, time-consuming, and sucks resources away from other projects—like building new trails and opening access to new areas. Riding closed trails also shows a disregard for land owners and managers, ultimately threatening long-term access for all bikers.

3. Ride Appropriate Trails

Some areas naturally drain and dry more quickly than others. Trail systems with sandy soils and those that receive lots of sun dry faster than those with loamy soils and those in the shade. This is one reason why places like Cape Cod’s Maple Swamp Trails are a popular early-season destination for mountain bikers.

4. Get on Rock

Not all trails are created equal. Sculpted, flowing routes made from dirt or clay tend to be more sensitive to muddy conditions, whereas technical, rocky ones are more robust and less likely to be damaged if damp. If conditions are questionable, ride the techy stuff and practice your rock garden technique.

5. Steer Straight Ahead

It is inevitable to find lingering wet spots and mud puddles while you ride, even though everywhere else seems dry. When you come across a mud puddle, ride through it, not around. Widening trails are a problem everywhere, and are difficult to reverse. Consistently riding around a puddle’s edges only makes it wider, perpetuating the problem.

6. Get Up Early

Hitting the trails early in the morning is a tried-and-true strategy for mountain biking during mud season. Because spring weather often consists of warm days and cold nights, you just might find that a muddy mess of a trail in the afternoon is frozen rock solid early in the AM.

7. Gravel is Great

Sometimes, everywhere is a sopping, wet mess, but you still feel the need to get out on your mountain bike. In that case, head to the gravel roads, carriage paths, or rail trails. Here, you will still be able to scratch the off-road itch while protecting the singletrack trails until things dry out.

8. Pay It Forward

It takes a lot of time and hard work to make trails fun and sustainable, so consider joining your local bike club for a trail workday. Building new, sustainable trails or fixing lingering problems on existing ones is a great way to help preserve the network and make it enjoyable for everyone. Just be sure you are working with an approved group, as rogue trail building does more damage than good.

9. Take Note

If you’re expecting dry ground on your ride and find less-than-ideal conditions, let others know that the trails still need some time before they’re rideable. Make a note of perpetually muddy or wet sections that may need some extra attention at the next work session.

10. Have Realistic Expectations

Just logging some miles on your mountain bike during mud season is a win. Take what nature gives you and don’t worry about making every ride epic, Strava segments, or shredding your favorite trail. It’s a long season and there’s plenty of time to bang out your dream ride, nab that king/queen of the mountain, and send your favorite strip of dirt.