<![CDATA[BARKEATER TRAILS ALLIANCE - Bike Trail Conditions]]>Thu, 14 May 2026 13:30:59 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Craig Wood & Dewey Open]]>Tue, 12 May 2026 17:44:33 GMThttps://www.betatrails.org/bike-trail-conditions/craig-wood-dewey-openChanges from last week:
⭐ Dewey went from red to yellow (ride with caution)
⭐ Craig Wood went from red to green (except for Green Jacket and Gold Jacket which are still CLOSED)
That's a wrap on closed networks! If trail work or wet weather sends any conditions back to red, we'll let you know.

We're forecast to get a decent amount of rain this week, but nothing toooo crazy. Somewhere between a qtr inch and a half an inch of rain is expected across BETA land on both Wednesday and Thursday, showers on Friday and Saturday. Help protect the trails by avoiding riding while it's actively raining, turning back if you're leaving tracks, and, if all else fails, ride straight through puddles to avoid widening the trail.
All the Trail Networks:

🟢 Cobble Hill & Blueberry Hill, Etown
🟢 Three Sisters & Hardy Road, Wilmington
🟢 East Branch Community Trails, Keene
🟢 Craig Wood, Lake Placid (except for Green & Gold Jacket)
🟢 Mt. Pisgah & Fowler's Crossing, Saranac Lake
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⚠️ Otis Mtn, Etown
⚠️ Flume, Wilmington
⚠️ Lussi/Loggers, Lake Placid
⚠️ Dewey Mtn, Saranac Lake
Volunteers are still out on the trail doing awesome work. Thank you to everyone who has helped get the trails ready this season! Don't forget to log your hours: bit.ly/LogHours4BETA
]]><![CDATA[Minor Updates -- Some More Openings]]>Fri, 01 May 2026 15:08:19 GMThttps://www.betatrails.org/bike-trail-conditions/minor-updates-some-more-openings
OVERVIEW: Not many changes from last week, but a few additional openings at Flume, Wilmington and Mt. Pisgah & Fowler's Crossing, Saranac Lake. 

Biggest takeaway lately is that volunteers across our region have been doing AMAZING work to get the trails ready for the season.  They've been logging many hours and tackling many miles to leaf blow and clear blowdown, not to mention the trails committees which have been strategizing on trail projects for the season. 

​To every volunteer: THANK YOU SO MUCH for your hard work, it makes a huge difference.  Please remember to log your hours -- we'd like to hook you up with some kind of thank you for your service and logging your hours is the best way to keep a record of that time.
FORECAST: ​Last week’s rain hasn’t put a damper on the conditions report.

Across BETA land the lows in the next couple days will drop to abt freezing, but we probably won’t dip into a freeze-thaw cycle.  Even so, please keep an eye out for esp. fragile soils this weekend.

Some rain on & off all week, the worst of it falling in western BETA land Tues-Thurs, 
~0.14in per day.  Friendly reminder: please avoid riding while it's actively raining and pay close attention to whether you're leaving tracks after we've gotten a bit of recent rain.

THE TRAILS
Changes from last week: 
  • 🟢 Mt. Pisgah and Fowler's Crossing, Saranac Lake -- Last week they were yellow, now they're green (EXCEPT for The Cure at Mt. Pisgah which is still too soft to ride -- please avoid it entirely).
  • ⚠️ Lussi/Loggers, Lake Placid -- Last week we initially reported LL as green, but it's truly hovering more around yellow since there's still a bit of work to do and a few stubborn wet spots.  Shoutout to the LP trail committee, esp. Nick Z, Stefano, Bob, and Dusty for getting the LP trails clear.
  • ⚠️ Flume, Wilmington -- After a week of volunteer work and a bit of drying out, all trails are considered yellow.  All trails have been leaf blown except for Upper Connector to Bear Den & res hiking trail to CCC.  Awesome work done by the Wilmington trails committee + friends in getting the spring maintenance done and dusted.

All the Trail Networks:
🟢 Cobble Hill & Blueberry Hill, Etown
🟢 Three Sisters & Hardy Road, Wilmington
🟢 East Branch Community Trails, Keene (including Trail 7)
🟢 Mt. Pisgah & Dewey Mtn, Saranac Lake (except The Cure, Mt. Pisgah)
🟢 Henry's Woods, Lake Placid (these are not BETA trails, but they're riding well)
⚠️ Otis Mtn, Etown
⚠️ Flume, Wilmington 
⚠️ Lussi/Loggers, Lake Placid
❌️ Dewey Mtn, Saranac Lake
❌️ Craig Wood, Lake Placid
]]><![CDATA[Even More Trails Ready For Riding]]>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:20:42 GMThttps://www.betatrails.org/bike-trail-conditions/even-more-trails-ready-for-riding​Even more trails are ready for riding -- WOOHOOOO!  
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But get it quick; lots of rain in the forecast starting on Wednesday and not letting up for a few days at least.  Trails may need another break from riding come next weekend after they get all that rain; we shall see.

UPDATES on the info contained in the pictures below: Trail 7 at East Branch, Keene is ready for riding.  Lussi/Loggers, Lake Placid is hovering more around yellow than green as there's still a bit of blowdown and a few wet spots.
]]><![CDATA[Riding Season Approaches in Fits & Starts]]>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:13:59 GMThttps://www.betatrails.org/bike-trail-conditions/riding-season-approaches-in-fits-startsTL;DR -- East Branch, Blueberry Hill, Cobble Hill, Three Sisters Trail, and lower Hardy Road trails are confirmed rideable for now (with caution and with good judgement); might be fragile again all of next week due to freeze-thaw cycle.

We've been hammering on "please protect the trails during mud season by staying off of them" -- that still holds true now and will continue to hold true likely for the next 6 weeks (Dewey is notorious for holding onto a lot of moisture even into June).  We finally have good news: after a stint of drying out, some of BETA's trail networks are ready for hiker and biker traffic. 

EAST BRANCH COMMUNITY TRAILS -- Rideable, but proceed with caution.  There is a decent amount of blowdown that needs to be cleared with a chainsaw (pssst -- we're fundraising for a chainsaw (and other tools) right now!).  Volunteers have been visiting East Branch and will return soon to rake trails that have a deep layer of leaf litter from fall/winter.  Thank you volunteers!
Pictures taken by Kaley Basile on her latest scouting mission, featuring BETA's reminder to turn back in you're leaving tracks or ruts in the trail; two of the five large trees she saw down over the trail; and some new rock additions to encourage descending riders to slow down before getting to a tight corner where they could run into other riders.  Trail building is way more than simply moving dirt!  Behavior management (psychology?) plays a role, too.
BLUEBERRY HILL -- Likewise, rideable with caution.  Some blowdown and some wet spots.

COBBLE HILL -- Our first green light for the season, Cobble Hill is ready for sending.

HARDY ROAD -- The lower trails are rideable, but the upper trails need more time to dry out.  If venturing higher in elevation, please pay attention to the trail and your impact so you notice at what point it's best to turn back.

THREE SISTERS -- Flobus is CLOSED.  Three Sisters Trail (aka Quaker Mtn Trail) and the Town Connector are rideable.

EVERYWHERE ELSE -- Probably or definitely not ready.  Lake Placid and then Saranac Lake trails are typically the last to firm up each spring, so do not hold your breath for them.  Stay tuned -- we'll keep sharing trail condition reports to help everyone plan their trips and protect the trails.

Next week, beware: Starting on Sunday, nighttime temperatures are forecast to drop well below freezing until at least Wednesday.  Silver lining: it will only snow in some places, -- maybe your town will be spared a dusting.  With freezing nighttime temps and above freezing daytime temps, soils may go through a freeze-thaw cycle.  This makes them super fragile and vulnerable to damage.  Please pay attention to whether the trail is extra soft next week and give it the rest it needs to firm up.  

Thank you for recreating responsibly!  It makes a huge difference and it is deeply appreciated.  Cheers, y'all!
]]><![CDATA[Mud Season Is Here]]>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:52:24 GMThttps://www.betatrails.org/bike-trail-conditions/mud-season-is-hereUPDATE 04/10: Mud season continues. 

Tis the season! Our favorite time of the year 🥰 
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Jokes aside -- spring/mud season is such a tricky time. We're all itching to get out there, but visiting our local trails before they're ready can really do a number on them. Going out too early and leaving footprints or ruts in the trail causes serious damage that requires hours of hard work to fix. From what we've seen, there are currently no BETA trails that are ready for biking or hiking traffic.

Thanks for being patient with the weather and the earth -- it is NOT easy to wait!
Hold strong -- you got this. 
Picture
]]><![CDATA[Trail Conditions Updates 11/21]]>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 15:34:37 GMThttps://www.betatrails.org/bike-trail-conditions/trail-conditions-updates-1121TL;DR – Most of our trail networks are still mountain or fat bikeable early or late in the day, but use your judgement. If you’re leaving ruts in the soil, turn back.

Bob Maswick, one of our Board Members, had this to say about current trail conditions, “It’s that time of year again where there’s not much snow, the ground isn’t frozen yet, temperatures vary from 10 to 40 degrees and you just want to ride one more time.

At East Branch [yesterday], I encountered almost every condition imaginable except for deep snow and even though I remembered the “Leaving tracks, turn back” advice? I’m signing up for a volunteer work party next year to repair some of the damage I caused.”

This is a great reminder that stewardship is a fundamental part of being a mountain biker (we think so, anyway) and that stewardship comes in a couple different forms, including:
- Doing our best to treat the trails and the people we meet on them with kindness and respect, and
- Pitching in on trail projects whenever we’re able.

Have you been out riding lately? How were the trails? Let us know in the comments here.

As always, thank you for recreating responsibly. Happy trails!
]]><![CDATA[Trail Conditions Update 11/07]]>Fri, 07 Nov 2025 20:00:55 GMThttps://www.betatrails.org/bike-trail-conditions/trail-conditions-update-1107​All BETA mtb trails are open and ready for riding. Please ride with caution -- leaves, blowdown, and hunting season are still top of mind.

Winter conditions are well on their way, especially at higher elevations. Avalanche Pass is still closed following the landslide in July of this year; we're keeping our eyes on if/how this will impact ski touring the route this season.

​That's all, folks! ​If you've got the gloves and the wherewithal, get after some late season mountain biking or tackle the early season toll road (check out our ski conditions reports here). As always, thank you for recreating responsibly. Happy trails!
]]><![CDATA[Fall is coming...Updates for 10/24]]>Fri, 24 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.betatrails.org/bike-trail-conditions/fall-is-comingupdates-for-1024All BETA trails are open and ready for riding. Please ride with caution -- top of mind are leaves, blowdown, and hunting season.

RAIN💧
Recent rain has turned our dry, dusty trails to hero dirt. Regional drought warning persists.

LEAVES🍂
Expect leaves on the trail. Wet leaves are slippery. It can be easy to lose a leaf-covered trail, especially at night. Leaves can hide rocks, roots, and ruts.

BLOWDOWN🪵
Expect blowdown (tree limbs, trunks) from recent windstorms. Assessment & clearing efforts are underway – please send in reports of blowdown.

HUNTING🔶
Hunting season is open. Hunting is permitted at many trail networks, including East Branch Community Trails and Hardy Road, among others. We encourage mountain bikers to wear blaze orange and avoid riding at dawn/dusk. Consider putting a bell on your four-legged riding partner and decking them out in orange, too.

Snow has started to grace mountain peaks, but so far none in the lowlands. Winter is coming -- ride while you can! Maybe we'll see you at East Branch Community Trails this Saturday, October 25th, to celebrate the opening of two new trails. Weather is looking mighty cold, but we'll have free hotdogs straight off the grill to warm you up. These new trails are thanks, in part, to grant funding from NYS Smart Growth Grant and People for Bikes.

Happy riding everyone!]]><![CDATA[Trail Conditions Update 06/13]]>Fri, 13 Jun 2025 12:33:04 GMThttps://www.betatrails.org/bike-trail-conditions/trail-conditions-update-0613
​Absolutely no changes from last week -- Dewey holds out at yellow (ride with caution) and the rest of the networks are good to go. Some systems still have wet spots here and there. This will be especially true going into next week.

Right now, BETAland is forecast to get rain starting on Sunday with some scattered showers and escalating to all-day thunderstorms by Friday. I'm no weatherman but the trails may not be quite so rideable next weekend -- get out there while you can!

For those hungry for some solid trail karma, join us at 9am on Saturday the 14th at Craig Wood/Scott's Cobble. We're giving Blue Ribbon and the Back Nine some TLC and wrapping up the naturalization process for the recent climbing reroute.

Happy riding, everyone!
]]><![CDATA[Trail Conditions Update 06/05]]>Thu, 05 Jun 2025 22:01:54 GMThttps://www.betatrails.org/bike-trail-conditions/trail-conditions-update-0605We're so close to having green lights top to bottom, but for now we have one holdout: Dewey.

Changes since last week: 
  • Work is underway on the climbing section of Back Nine at Craig Wood.  There is heavy machinery in use; the trail will be closed at times and signed as such, but we'll do our best to keep those closures to a minimum.
  • Dewey graduated from red to yellow -- conditions are highly variable and will likely take a step back after the rain we're forecast to get in the next day or two.  If you ride at Dewey, please remember to ride straight through puddles and wet spots but call it quits if you're leaving ruts.
Things that remain the same from last week: 
  • Keene, Etown, and Wilmington are all still green lights and will likely remain good to ride for the rest of the season unless we get a big weather event (aka lots and lots of rain over a short period of time).
  • Lake Placid is open for riding with some trails marked as closed due to poor conditions or construction -- please respect those closures to protect the trails, the folks working on them, and yourself.

As always, thanks for doing your part to protect our trails by visiting the ones that are ready for riding and being patient with the ones that need a bit more time.  If you notice any hazards or sections in need of trail work, please report it on Trailforks of comment below -- we appreciate your help.

Happy riding!
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