Equestrian Network Magazine

Why Close Trails?

by Elizabeth Earnhardt

Here's why. The way I see it trails are like people; they are born and die. How long they live depends on their foundation. What we want to concentrate on is prevention. By thinking ahead we can avoid many complications. I have decided that closing of trails is not always a bad thing. Face it; some trails just should not be there. In my opinion, we must work with the rules of nature, the lay of the land, and what we know from experience when making trails. You can't put a trail just anywhere.

The most common resistance to equestrian trails is the erosion they cause. This can be eliminated. How? By proper trail placement. Close trails? Did you hear me say that? You bet I did. Ride the road if you have to, and sometimes you literally have to when the trail is that bad. Trails made by people with no trail design or engineering experience and no good common sense continue to contribute to a negative reputation equestrians have with land managers and other trail users and give ammunition to those who want permanent trail closures for equestrians.

This trail is washed out and needs to be closed for safety reasons.

I can hear it now; a trail preservationist who wants to close trails. I am telling you, it will happen eventually. What I want to do is put my time and efforts into developing healthy trail systems that can be sustainable over the long term. Why? For every mile of dead trail closed, with the labor saved we can open two more miles of healthy trail that will basically maintain itself. For example, a trail that traverses a hill by using switchbacks rather than going straight down adds miles and prevents erosion. By concentrating on the cause and not the symptoms we can make our lives better.

Some areas are closed to horses by signs like this.

Consider concentrating your efforts to repair and install only trails that are in accordance with design specifications. Unhealthy trails will just give more ammunition to close all trails, and the job to keep a trail healthy is made easier if the trail is of good design to begin with. I could use the word re-locate and get a different response, but relocation consists of trail closure, which is done when the trail does not warrant the time and effort needed to maintain it, or when even with such efforts the negative effects outweigh the positive. It also consists of replacement of the trail or section of the trail into a more trail friendly location. With this approach, eventually we will have a system of trails that is easily maintainable and has desired riding conditions while being environmentally friendly. There will be no argument against having us there.

Maybe you are not convinced trail closures are needed. Consider this; Trail A travels down a 12% grade, through a wash and along the creek for a few yards. It then crosses the creek where there are no rocks and only deep mud. When sitting atop this hill faced with going down through this mess you would think to yourself who in their right mind started crossing here and why in the world did so many people follow in their footsteps that it could get this bad? Here is the million-dollar question. Would you recommend closing this trail and

Roads closed to vehicle traffic make excellent horse trails.

looking for another way? Say it, yes.

Are you still scared you will 'loose miles' and insist we try to maintain this trail? Good luck is all I can tell you. It is not in accordance with specifications. Suppose we make repairs. All we can do is install a crossing. With current placement eventually someone will get hurt coming down the steep hill should their horse balk or try to jump to avoid the mud at the bottom. We will be told that 'we tried' but even with volunteers working on trails the erosion will continue. We will have to succumb to failure and admit that the best thing for the trail is closing it.

So, how is our time best spent when trying to protect trails? It is frustrating working on a section of a trail that you feel will just continue to get worse. For instance, we worked on this one section of trail for several years and spared no sweat. Repeatedly, in a matter of minutes with each rainstorm Mother Nature put us in our place. I recommended closing and relocating the trail. Don't worry, I am not giving up, I am getting smart.

Another example of road closure opening up new horse trails.

I've decided the best medicine for trails is prevention. Why not plan ahead and work on those trails that are located in a good place. Read a trail manual and it is very specific in where trails should be located. Certain terrain should be avoided altogether. When asked what the easiest trail to maintain was it was not the shortest trail but the one located on high ground traversing rocky terrain. Creek crossings on level ground over hard packed soil and pebble or rock covered bottoms do not wash out and all but eliminate the need for maintenance. Our life is made much easier, we can water our horses without getting stuck in the mud and the water will stay clean with a reduction of downstream sedimentation.

Upon inspection I realized lot of our trails are located in places they shouldn't be. My question is how many of us will realize this now, take the time to work on the problem and get us a 'sustainable' system of trails and how many will continue to ignore that there is a problem and wait until it's too late?

Recreation areas and some trails are shared by campers, hikers, mountain bikers, off-highway vehicles, dirt bikes, atv's and horses.

Next month to find out about 'fees vs. no fees'.