Stay Off Wet Trails

If you are leaving ruts or footprints on the trail, you are damaging the trail surface and should turn around and exit. Leaving behind a faint tread print is okay, but when your print clearly shows the width of the tire or the shape of your sole, the trail is too wet. Take your ride or hike to the pavement.

‍The HMBA does its best to post updates on trail conditions, but we cannot monitor them 24/7. Flowfeed, used by some of our chapters, has been highly accurate in terms of providing real-time information on trail conditions, but no app supersedes what riders see when they’re actually at the trailhead. Beyond bike handling and fitness, another skillset all riders need to develop is judging when trails are too wet to ride and then exercising the responsibility of bailing on the ride, if necessary. To get started building this skillset, remember: if you are leaving ruts, the trail is too wet.

‍Dirt comprises various types of soil particles and macropore structures that hold air. When dirt is saturated from rain or freeze/thaw cycles, the water has a lubricating effect, allowing soil particles to more easily slide and pack together. In such conditions, the pressure from bike tires topped by the rider is all the weight necessary to collapse the macropore structures, resulting in compaction.

Some degree of compaction is good. Newly cut trail is often noticeably uncompacted. It’s uneven, bumpy, and soft. It can feel more like riding on the beach than a trail. Once enough tires have passed over, the trail reaches an optimal state of compaction: it is firm and doesn’t give under a rider’s weight, but it is also able to absorb water when it rains. Limiting activity to dry trails maintains this state. Riding or hiking wet trails and leaving ruts or footprints is a clear sign that damaging compaction is occurring. Repeatedly compacting trails in this manor leads to trails that don’t absorb water or drain, which can lead to degradation and erosion.

When sections of trail become too compacted, they do not absorb water when it rains, resulting in various problems. On flat sections of trail, puddles can develop that hold water even when the majority of the trail is dry enough to ride. Most riders will ride around the edges of puddles to avoid getting muddy and because they believe this reduces additional damage to the trail; however, this actually causes further damage. The edges of the puddle are still soft and muddy, and the ruts left behind, are, again, a clear indication that the soil beneath is being compacted. If there are no natural barriers on either side, continual skirting of the edges widens the trail and increases the size of the puddle. If trees block riders from continuing to go around the puddle, it will continue to compact to the point that it becomes a jarring pothole.

Compacted sections on hills can lead to erosion as water flows off the trail instead of being absorbed. This run off can negatively affect nearby vegetation as the unnatural flow erodes the forest floor along the hill. In even more serious situations, widespread erosion can have a detrimental effect on nearby waterways as sediment, nutrients, and contaminants are washed into streams, creeks, or ponds. This can result in algae growth and disrupt otherwise healthy aquatic ecosystems. Ruts on hills will cause even more damage to the trail surface because the ruts create channels that focus the flow of water. Compared to water naturally flowing in a dispersed manner, this channeled water gains velocity and energy more quickly as it flows downhill, cutting the ruts deeper with every rain as it washes soil away.

Trails can obviously be too wet after rain, but in cold weather, the freeze/thaw cycle also leaves trails too wet and muddy for use. Freeze/thaw can occur due to temperature, sunshine, or a combination of the two. If the temperature drops low enough for a long enough period of time to freeze the trail solid but then temperatures warm above freezing enough to thaw the surface, surface moisture is retained because the water has nowhere to go: it will not evaporate because the air temperature is too cold, and it will not absorb into the ground because the subsurface remains frozen. Even when temperatures remain below freezing, sunshine can warm the surface enough to produce this same situation.

Riding the trails during freeze/thaw creates short-term and long-term problems. In the short term, riding a thawed, muddy trail leaves ruts that get frozen in place when the temperature drops again. If other riders come out later to ride properly frozen trails, they can get pulled into the ruts created by riders who were riding when it was muddy. In high-speed sections, this can cause a loss of control. In the long term, riding during freeze/thaw damages the trail the same way trails are damaged when riders ride muddy trails after a heavy rain.

Trails can be muddy at any time of the year. Mud is mud regardless of current weather conditions.

Reasoning that because it’s okay to ride in one location in the rain means that it’s okay to do the same in another location is a false equivalency and disregards critical nuance. From arid deserts to temperate rainforests, trail systems are unique to their environment. Rainfall that one trail system may easily absorb and shed would render another trail system muddy and in need of a full day to dry out. Furthermore, the difference between 0.04 inches of precipitation over the course of a day versus 0.3 inches per hour is significant. More importantly, the difference in impact on trail conditions precipitated by these rainfall amounts is significant. View the web sites maintained by Pisgah Area SORBA, Boulder Mountainbike Alliance, Moab Mountain Bike Association, Central Oregon Trail Alliance, International Mountain Bike Association, and search for more if you choose. Trail organizations in all climates across all environments in the United States instruct riders to stay off wet and muddy trails because we witness the damage it causes. And we expend resources repairing that damage.‍ ‍

Similarly, mountain biking being an outdoor sport does not inherently mean that riding in any conditions is okay and that we must accept the resulting trail degradation and learn to ride rutted, washed out, eroded trails. Trail building techniques and design have evolved and continue to evolve. As older trails are repaired or rebuilt, trail designers use improved techniques such as out-sloping bench cuts, in-sloped turns, grade reversals, and rock armoring to make trails much more resistant to nature’s elements. Furthermore, just as trail building techniques have evolved, so too have bikes and the trails themselves. Today’s bikes and trails are both more purpose built compared to the past. Beginner trails are meant to be predominantly easy and remain so, not erode into intermediate-level trails. Flow trails are meant to remain smooth and facilitate maximum speed, allowing appropriately experienced riders to attain maximum air on big jumps. We as riders still need to do our part and use trails responsibly. Not all trails are intended to be gnarly and technical. No one appreciates those who ride muddy trails, leaving ruts and hastening erosion. Responsible riders don’t like it. Those who fund the trails don’t like it. Trail designers and builders don’t like it. And volunteers who comprise the maintenance crews that spend time repairing the damage instead of riding don’t like it.

Mountain bike trails are not a disposable commodity designed around planned obsolescence. They are built sustainably, and, when used responsibly, allow riders (and in many cases hikers) to enjoy the surrounding landscape. When no one is riding them, the plants and animals remain, surviving: trees are growing, flowers are blooming, insects are pollinating, mammals and reptiles are foraging, fungal networks are decomposing deadfall, and watersheds are dispersing nutrients. In a world of ever-decreasing natural spaces, we should count ourselves as fortunate that we can engage in an outdoor activity we enjoy and give a damn about these opportunities being available to the generations that follow.

Our parks must balance recreation with conservation, and they cannot do so without our participation. It is an unequivocal fact that riding and hiking wet and muddy trails increases the rate of otherwise manageable wear and tear, causing damage to the trail surface that, if not repaired, can lead to degradation of the surrounding environment.

Do your part to educate yourself and understand when trails are too wet to ride, then be patient and wait for them to dry.

Mountain Bikers Yield to Hikers/Runners and Equestrians

Many mountain bike trails are multi-use, and in such cases, no user group has any more of a right to the trails than another. Riders will encounter hikers and trail runners, and in some larger parks and state forests, certain trails may be shared with equestrians. Safety is the basis of who yields to whom, not what is perceived as easier. Although it can be argued that those on foot can easily step off the trail, mountain bikers are moving faster and therefor need to maintain control and be able to appropriately and safely yield to others.

Unless there is trailhead signage stating otherwise, the right-of-way hierarchy is: equestrians > hikers/trail runners > mountain bikers. Expressed another way: mountain bikers yield to hikers/trail runners, and everyone yields to equestrians.

When approaching hikers and runners head on, slow down. If the trail is narrow and bench cut into a steep hillside or otherwise constricted by natural features, be prepared to stop completely, dismount, and let the hiker(s)/runner(s) pass. If the trail is wide enough to allow it, move as far right as you can and pass slowly, under control. Watch for dogs and small children. If either is present, you may choose to stop and walk your bike past the group. Children can make unexpected moves. Dogs should be on leashes, but unless the owner has reeled them in and choked up on the leash, they can still make sudden moves as well. It is not uncommon for hikers and runners to step aside and cede the right of way to riders. In such cases, slow down, pass safely, and be polite. Say “thank you.” If you are in a group, let them know how many are behind you. Show some consideration and do not blow past at full speed. When approaching hikers and trail runners from behind, slow down, get their attention, and then follow their cues to pass safely. They will likely step aside and let you pass. If they do not move off the trail despite there being space to do so, you’ll have to find a spot to get around them and do so in a safe, controlled manner. On hillsides or in otherwise constricted sections, you may have to exercise patience and slow your speed considerably or dismount and walk until there is space to get around.

If you encounter equestrians, come to a stop as soon as you see them. Call out to get their attention if they have not yet seen you. Ask the equestrians how to proceed. Despite their size and strength, horses are considered prey animals. They do not have claws or sharp teeth, so their fight or flight instinct tends toward flight. Good owners acclimate their horses to the sights and sounds of the trail so they are less likely to scare, but just as we humans can be startled by something moving quickly in the woods, so too can horses. Thus, it is important and bears repeating: stop when you see horses; ask how to proceed. The equestrian knows their horse and will tell you and your group where to position relative to the trail so that they and their group can pass safely. Approaching horses at any speed could cause them to buck or bolt, putting the rider and those around them at risk.

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Pass Politely

Do not simply blow past slower riders unannounced. You may startle them and cause them to crash. They may make a sudden, unexpected line change and you’ll both crash.

When approaching a rider from behind, speak up and get their attention. Even if your freehub tends to broadcast your presence, do not assume the rider ahead hears you. “Rider back!” is the typical call when you’re closing in fast on another. If you’re on what is for you a leisurely ride and in no rush to get around, start with a greeting. However you choose to announce yourself, allow the rider ahead to acknowledge you. More experienced riders who can focus in front and still remain attuned to what’s behind them may move aside before you even say a word. Newer, inexperienced riders may be so dialed in on the rocks, roots, and trees they’re worried will crash them that they may not initially hear you, and they may need to find a smooth, flat, open space before they feel comfortable moving aside. If the slower rider is not yielding and hasn’t acknowledged they heard you, speak up again. Give them the benefit of the doubt and don’t immediately assume they’re ignoring you and buzz past them.

Courtesy works both ways. Passing and being passed are skills all riders need to learn. When you are the slower rider, if you do not immediately pull off the trail, then acknowledge the rider behind you and let them know you’re looking for a spot to move aside. Give the passing rider the benefit of the doubt as well: you may feel they’re yelling louder than necessary and assume they’re being impatient, but they may simply be trying to ensure you hear them. They may have already called out to you and you did not hear them and react so they’re raising their voice. In any case, let the rider back pass as soon as you’re comfortable doing so. That rider behind you is not a jerk because they’re faster than you—when they’re courteous in asking to pass, be courteous and let them. If you’re competitive, accept that they’ve caught you. It’s fine to try and keep up once you’ve let them around, but it’s not cool to try to speed up and stay ahead.

When passing oncoming riders on relatively flat sections, situations will vary, so there is no single rule to determine whether either has the right of way. Use common sense and be nice. If the trail is narrow and the oncoming rider is working through a technical section, yield enough to allow them to complete the section. If the trail or trail corridor is wide enough, both riders can slow, move right, and pass without stopping. Unless the other rider has stopped and moved off the trail or is slowing and communicating to you to continue, do not maintain your speed and remain in the middle of the trail; both riders should move right to give one another the space to pass under control.

If you’re the lead rider in a group, let the passing rider(s)/rider(s) you’re passing know how many are back.

If you ride with earbuds, please consider riding with only 1 so that you can maintain awareness of your surroundings and react quickly and appropriately.

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The Rider Going Uphill Has the Right of Way if Riders Meet Head On

Unless otherwise specified at the trailhead, the rider pedaling uphill has the right of way. This is a case in which easier is a factor. From a stop, the downhiller can simply let off their brakes and continue down. Restarting a climb is much harder, and in particularly steep or technical sections could require the climber to hike-a-bike to a position where they can resume pedaling. Therefore, uphill riders have the right of way. Generally speaking, the downhill rider should come to a stop and move off trail as this gives the uphill rider complete freedom of line choice. Partially blocking the trail could result in blocking the line the uphill rider needs to take to keep moving. The uphill rider may stop and pull aside for the downhiller, or, on a wide trail, may communicate that the downhiller can pass on one side, but such deference is always the uphill rider’s call to make, and the downhill rider should begin yielding when they see an uphill rider approaching. When a climber calls out “rider up!” they are clearly stating that they are not conceding their right of way and they intend to continue climbing and expect the downhill rider to stop and move off the trail. On extended climbs especially, uphill riders who are the lead in a group should announce how many riders are back. Downhill riders should use their best judgement when they have this information. Groups can get strung out on long climbs. Downhill riders are not obligated to wait for an entire group to pass, especially if there is a good sightline and remaining climbers are not in view; however, the downhiller in such a situation now knows for certain there are additional climbers approaching and should be especially cautious around any blind turns or through any sections with limited sightlines.

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Be Patient Passing Uphill in the Same Direction

When approaching another rider from behind on an extended climb, modulate your speed as best you can, announce yourself, and ask the rider ahead to let you around when they find a spot where they can yield. Once again, courtesy works both ways: the rider ahead is not obligated to stop and be forced to attempt to restart on a particularly steep section, but the rider behind should not be forced to complete the climb at another’s reduced pace. Therefor, the slower rider should yield when they find a section in which they are comfortable stopping and from which they feel they can restart.

The situation is not significantly different when an e-biker catches up to a rider on a traditional, non-motorized bike. Although the e-biker may not have caught up to the other rider without the motor assist, has the benefit of the motor to more easily modulate speed on the climb, and has the benefit of the motor to restart the climb from a stop, the e-biker should not be forced to complete the climb at another’s reduced pace. So here again, the rider ahead is under no obligation to yield in a section they would have to hike-a-bike out of were they to stop, but should move aside when they reach a flat section from which they can easily restart. The e-biker should allow some space and not follow too closely as they wait to pass.

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Follow State and Local Rules Regarding E-Bikes

If you own an e-bike, know what class it is as well as the rules by which that class is bound.

The class of e-bike allowed on trails is determined by the property manager, not the HMBA (or the respective local trail organization). Riders should check the relevant web sites related to the location they intend to ride. Because it can be difficult to sift through the information and know who oversees a particular park, herein is information specific to trails maintained by the HMBA as of 2026. (Disclaimer: This information does not represent legal advice. Given that laws and park rules change, the accuracy of the following information is not guaranteed. It is the individual’s responsibility to ensure that they are operating an e-bike in accordance with state and local laws and regulations.)

Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on the following trails.

‍Amphitheater‍ ‍

Maintained by Tippecanoe Mountain Bike Association (TMBA).

The various property managers overseeing the land hosting mountain bike trails in Tippecanoe County have adopted Indiana DNR’s policy on e-bikes.

https://www.in.gov/dnr/rules-and-regulations/e-bike-rules/

Fort Harrison State Park (Fort Ben)

Maintained by Indy Trail Collective (ITC).

Fort Ben is overseen by Indiana DNR. Indiana DNR allows class 1 e-bikes on natural surface trails.

https://www.in.gov/dnr/rules-and-regulations/e-bike-rules/

Hoffman

Maintained by Tippecanoe Mountain Bike Association (TMBA).

The various property managers overseeing the land hosting mountain bike trails in Tippecanoe County have adopted Indiana DNR’s policy on e-bikes.

https://www.in.gov/dnr/rules-and-regulations/e-bike-rules/

‍McCormick

Maintained by Tippecanoe Mountain Bike Association (TMBA).

The various property managers overseeing the land hosting mountain bike trails in Tippecanoe County have adopted Indiana DNR’s policy on e-bikes.

https://www.in.gov/dnr/rules-and-regulations/e-bike-rules/

Murdock

Maintained by Tippecanoe Mountain Bike Association (TMBA).

The various property managers overseeing the land hosting mountain bike trails in Tippecanoe County have adopted Indiana DNR’s policy on e-bikes.

https://www.in.gov/dnr/rules-and-regulations/e-bike-rules/

O’Bannon Woods State Park

Maintained by O’Bannon Woods Mountain Biking (OWMB).

O’Bannon Woods State Park is overseen by Indiana DNR. Indiana DNR allows class 1 e-bikes on natural surface trails.

https://www.in.gov/dnr/rules-and-regulations/e-bike-rules/

Class 1 e-bikes are not allowed on the following trails.

Southwestway Park

Maintained by Indy Trail Collective (ITC).

Southwestway Park is overseen by Indiana Parks & Recreation. A search of the Indiana Parks & Recreation web site reveals little specific information on bikes in general, and no specific information on e-bikes. The Park Rules & Guidelines page provides the following relevant information.

• Bicycles are not allowed on gravel paths

*Each park has their own rules & regulations.

https://parks.indy.gov/explore-indy-parks/

The Southwestway Park page on the Indiana Parks & Recreation site does not provide any specific information regarding e-bikes.

https://parks.indy.gov/parks/southwestway-park/

Therefore, IC 9-21-11-13.1,Electric bicycles; rights and duties; exemption from certain statutes; required equipment and features; restrictions on use applies to the trails at Southwestway Park. The mountain bike trails at Southwestway Park are nonmotorized, natural surface trails that were created by clearing and grading the native soil, and no surfacing material has been added. Indiana Parks & Recreation/Southwestway Park do not specifically allow e-bikes. Consequently, state law applies.

https://iga.in.gov/laws/2025/ic/titles/9#9-21-11-13.1

Town Run Trail Park

Maintained by Indy Trail Collective (ITC).

Town Run Trail Park is overseen by Indiana Parks & Recreation. A search of the Indiana Parks & Recreation web site reveals little specific information on bikes in general, and no specific information on e-bikes. The Park Rules & Guidelines page provides the following relevant information.

• Bicycles are not allowed on gravel paths

*Each park has their own rules & regulations.

https://parks.indy.gov/explore-indy-parks/

The Town Run Trail Park page on the Indiana Parks & Recreation site does not provide any specific information regarding e-bikes.

https://parks.indy.gov/parks/town-run-trail-park-mtn-biking/

Therefore, IC 9-21-11-13.1,Electric bicycles; rights and duties; exemption from certain statutes; required equipment and features; restrictions on use applies to the trails at Town Run Trail Park. The mountain bike trails at Town Run Trail Park are nonmotorized, natural surface trails that were created by clearing and grading the native soil, and no surfacing material has been added. Indiana Parks & Recreation/ Town Run Trail Park do not specifically allow e-bikes. Consequently, state law applies.

https://iga.in.gov/laws/2025/ic/titles/9#9-21-11-13.1

Class 2 and 3 e-bikes are not allowed on any trails maintained by the HMBA.

IC 9-21-11-13.1, Electric bicycles; rights and duties; exemption from certain statutes; required equipment and features; restrictions on use

https://iga.in.gov/laws/2025/ic/titles/9#9-21-11-13.1

Ride Within Your Limits

Others should not be injured because of your decisions or flat out recklessness.

Sometimes riding at your limit or even a little beyond is how you improve. If the conditions are right and you want to push your limits, it’s your decision. But make sure the conditions are right. First and foremost, you need to be able to focus far enough down the trail to watch for other trail users and be able to reduce your speed or stop, as necessary, to yield appropriately. When approaching and passing other trail users, you must be in control. It is also crucial to exercise good judgement when riding through blind turns. Even when you know the trails well and know exactly how sharply the trail bends on the other side of those shrubs up ahead, you don’t know whether anyone is on the other side of that blind turn. One of your limits is how quickly and safely you can react to the unexpected. Riding within your limits is essentially about ensuring you maintain the control necessary to avoid injuring others.

Do Not Block the Trail

If you need to stop, move off the trail so others can pass. It’s more than simply the courteous thing to do. Blocking the trail can result in others crashing to avoid you, or could result in them crashing into you. If you’re in a group and one of your riders is injured and cannot or should not be moved off the trail, assess the situation. If there are clear sightlines in either direction, other riders should yield appropriately as they approach. If sightlines are limited in either direction and the injured rider is well attended to, other available group members should walk down the trail to a spot where they can give approaching riders a heads up that they need to slow down. But when you stop and are capable of moving off the trail, move.

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Do Not Modify the Trail or Create Rogue Trails

If you are unable to ride certain sections of trail or specific obstacles, work on improving your skills or dismount and walk. Altering the trail to conform to your preferences or abilities is selfish. It is also illegal in many cases and an act the parks may take seriously enough to investigate and prosecute.

Our trails are ridden by mountain bikers of all skill levels. Beginner trails often have some features that are intermediate. Similarly, intermediate trails will have some advanced features, and advanced trails may have some black-diamond features. These “next-level” features are present because many riders want to progress, and these features offer challenges that allow riders to develop the skills necessary to facilitate that progression. If you don’t want to progress, dismount and hike-a-bike the features you cannot ride and do not want to learn to ride.‍ ‍

Do not remove or alter obstacles. Do not pry rocks out of the ground and roll them off of the trail. Just because you cannot ride over a particular obstacle does not mean that others cannot or do not enjoy the challenge. If a tree is down, notify the HMBA by posting on the respective Facebook page (see below). Some trees may be left on the trail as log overs. Do not remove standing trees. In some parks, DNR are the only personnel allowed to saw trees. On trails maintained by the HMBA, specific, certified HMBA members are the only non-DNR individuals allowed to saw trees. Removing trees without permission in city and state parks is illegal and something the parks take seriously. If caught, you could be prosecuted.

Do not create rogue trails or bypasses. Designing and building trails is more complicated than simply cutting in the line that looks like the most fun. First and foremost, the HMBA works closely with the parks: we get permission to build trail in specific areas; we spend hours scouting the area to design a route that is interesting and sustainable; and the park reviews the proposed route and gives final approval. Our members have decades of experience building and maintaining trails and have learned how to build sustainably. Our designers know that sometimes what would be the most fun line from one point to another would erode and wash out in short time and require rerouting, so a different line must be chosen. Modifying the trail in the belief that an alternate line will be better damages the trail network and will quite possibly introduce an unsustainable line. Additionally, the importance of having park permission when cutting new trail cannot be overstated. Parks are balancing conservation with public recreation. Building rogue trails is illegal, and there have been cases of individuals being arrested and criminally charged for taking such actions.

To report downed trees blocking the trail, post on the appropriate Facebook Group page.‍ ‍

O’Bannon Woods State Park

‍https://www.facebook.com/followmeinthewoods/

‍Fort Harrison State Park (Fort Ben)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1009766722495292/

Southwestway Park

https://www.facebook.com/groups/204530125309/

Town Run Trail Park (Town Run)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/60024611414/

TMBA trails (Lafayette)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/tippemtb/

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Do Not Ride the Trails When Wet or During the Freeze/Thaw Cycle

This is a big one. That’s why it’s first and last. If you haven’t already, please see the Stay off Wet Trails section for more information.