How to Behave on Trails

A MountainTownMagazine.com article written by Shauna Farnell

Trails are treasures, offering endless pathways to adventure. Clear Creek County is home to more than 75% public land, and incredible opportunities to become one with nature.

As such, we aim to keep our trails as pristine as possible, preserving their beauty and simplicity for future adventurers.

In order to protect the trails and the plants and wildlife that call Clear Creek County home as well as respect fellow trail users, we stick to a few simple guidelines every time we hit the dirt.

Don’t Smoke: The trails and trail heads are not the places to light up. Especially in the summer, we in Clear Creek County (like everywhere in Colorado and throughout the West) are in the red zone for wildfires. All it takes is a tiny spark or piece of ash to start a massive blaze.

Don’t Bring Your External Speaker: While we all love a soundtrack for our activities, save it for the hot tub or the après deck party. Subjecting everyone on the trail to your jams is inconsiderate. Some studies even suggest music from external speakers disrupts wildlife patterns. Moose, deer and countless other species bed down with their young in the brush near trails and in addition to alarming them with your tunes, you are also drowning out potential alerts (thunder, barking dogs, etc.) as well as sounds we all want to hear when out in nature: birds chirping, wind in the trees, babbling creeks and rivers.

Don’t Be A Jerk: It doesn’t matter how you’re enjoying the trail – by foot, bike or board of some sort – the key word is enjoy. We are out there to have a good time. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t say hello or at least smile to other trail users.

Communicate And Share Nicely: When there are individuals on the trail whom you’d like to pass, slow down as you approach, be sure to give them a friendly heads up if you’re coming up behind them and nicely make your wishes known. Something along the lines of “can we sneak by?” Usually does the trick.

Who Goes First?: The most widespread rule in trail etiquette is that anyone coming uphill has the right of way. Hikers going downhill must yield to hikers going uphill, downhill bikers yield to uphill bikers, etc. If someone is moving faster than you and asking to come by, step aside. Everyone on the trail must yield to equestrians. Again, communication is key.

Keep Dogs Leashed And Pack Out Their Poop: You may have the friendliest, most responsive pooch in the world. You still need to keep him/her leashed. Off-leash dogs – even the nicest ones – present numerous hazards on the trail. They get into scraps with leashed dogs and wildlife, cause bike accidents and damage plants when they wander off-trail. Also, always pick up your dog’s waste. If Fido’s business happens off-trail, you still have to pick up it. Also, storing the poop bag on the side of the trail with the plan to pick it up later is not acceptable. Being a responsible dog owner means picking up and carrying poop bags until you can dispose of them properly.

Leave No Trace: Whatever you bring with you – snack wrappers, orange peels, tissue, toilet paper, etc. – must also leave with you. There is no “it’s biodegradable” exception. Dropped food or other biodegradable materials should not be left behind.

Plan Ahead And Prepare: Familiarize with your route in advance as well as the weather forecast and trail conditions so you can dress appropriately and avoid trails that are potentially muddy.

Stay On The Trail: Cutting switchbacks, avoiding mud puddles and stepping off-trail for any reason ruins the trail – widening it, destroying surrounding foliage and causing erosion. Go through mud, not around it.

Don’t Approach Or Feed Wildlife: If you see animals near the trail, watch and photograph them from a safe distance. Don’t leave crumbs behind. Squirrels, birds and other species that consume human food can get sick, die and at the very least, forget how to forage for their own food to survive.

Leave What You Find: Yes, the wildflowers are stunning around here. Please enjoy them with your eyes and nose only. Do not touch them or take them with you, not even one. If everyone on the trail took just one, there would be none.