​Spring is in the air and we're all itching to hit the trails. Most of our riding areas are still waking up from their winter slumber and are not ready for riding yet.

While we wait to ride, there are a few things we can spend our time doing instead:
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VOLUNTEER. If the mud isn’t too bad, head to your local trails with a handsaw, loppers, or rake to prep them for the season. BETA trail work days are slated to kick off in May; stay tuned for more info.

A berm at East Branch Community Trails (EBCT) whose smooth surface was recently scarred by a set of bike tires. In order to restore this berm to its proper smooth status, the BETA trail crew or local volunteers will spend dedicated time fixing it this Spring. If they were not held up fixing preventable damage like that pictured above, the trail crew and volunteers would have spent that time working on other projects (like the as-yet-unnamed enduro-style trail being built at EBCT).

If you've visited EBCT, you know there are lots of beautiful, skillfully-formed berms -- how many of them will need help this Spring because of mud season damage? The answer to that question depends on how many people misjudge or ignore the trail conditions and visit before the trails are ready.

Please do you part in protecting the trails by waiting until the tread has hardened before hiking or riding this season.

Mud season has arrived in the Adirondacks. We want to ride bikes as much as anyone, but this is the season to be patient and avoid single track trails until they have dried and hardened.  Our trails are wet, muddy, and still covered with snow and ice in many places. 

Spring is a very sensitive time for trails. Riding or hiking on wet and muddy trails can cause lasting damage very quickly. If you are leaving ruts in the trail surface, the soil is definitely too soft to be riding on. Call it a day and wait for better conditions -- they will be here soon and we'll keep you updated with new condition reports.

​Ride dirt trails, not mud trails -- help us keep them in great shape for you and others to enjoy!

Winter is coming whether you're hoping and praying for its speedy arrival or dreading the snow to your very core. Nighttime temps are dropping. As we approach the time of year when trails are at their most vulnerable (scroll for a video from IMBA that explains why freeze/thaw makes trails vulnerable), please pay attention to and respect trail reports and temporary closures. 

Use your powerful noggin to make the best choices you can about when and where to ride.  A wise man once said you've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run.  If you're leaving ruts in the trail it's probably time to walk away, at least.  Running is optional.

Responsible trail use involves being mindful of our environmental impact and helping to maintain the quality of the trails for all users. Thank you!

We got a bit of rain, so you know what that means: give the trails a bit of time to dry out before visiting. 
​If you're leaving ruts in the mud because the soils are too soft, it's time to turn back.  Please protect our trails by respecting what they can handle.

It's green lights across the BETA trails at this point.  Of course you should always ride in control and be prepared for changeable conditions ... but get out and ride!

This will end regular updates but we'll post here if conditions change and trails have to close for any reason.

More greens every week!

WILMINGTON is generally looking great.  Flume Trails and Upper PMD have both improved since last week.  Keep your wits about you on Upper PMD as it still has some trouble spots.

LAKE PLACID has a lot going on, huh?  
🤠 Craig Wood is looking great EXCEPT for Green and Gold Jacket which are CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE.  Backslope Trail Builders has been hard at work getting these jump trails tuned up for the season.  Please respect that work and leave them in peace.  
🤠 Scotts Cobble is yellow in part because Peduzzi Trails is doing maintenance at the intersection of Cobblewood Connector and Air & Stone.  Keep an eye out for trail closure signs -- there is heavy equipment out and about.  It is still advised to enter Scotts Cobble via the Jackrabbit.
🤠 Lussi and Loggers are unbothered and ready to ride 😎

KEENE, ETOWN, and SARANAC LAKE are all green all day (...for now)!  Check out Dewey, which has finally graduated from red to green this week -- pay special attention to the brand new (and not *quite* finished) trail connections between Operation and Backgammon/Alternate-Backgammon.  Staff and volunteers dug new tread there on Saturday.  These reroutes are designed to help make Dewey easier to navigate + make the trails flow together a bit better.

Have an awesome weekend!  See you on the trails 😎

Thanks to the hard work of BETA staff, trail adopters and volunteers, all networks are shaping up beautifully. It's still Spring - you should still expect to come across occasional wet spots and perpetually troublesome soft sections, especially after the rain we've gotten this week. And although the trails are riding well, there is plenty of work to be done. If you want to get in on the chance to give back to our trails, join us THIS WEEKEND at Dewey (Saturday, May 18th, 9am) or Hardy Road (Sunday, May 19th, 9am).  SIGN ME UP!

Please remember, this report is just a snapshot and conditions can change. Please let us know if you come across a trail that's not ready for traffic due to soft soils, down trees, or other hazards. Gentle reminder to please reconsider your ride if you're leaving ruts. No one wants to turn back early, but no one wants to damage trails, either.

Lake Placid ➡️ All of Scotts Cobble (including Blue Ribbon and Cobblewood Connector) is CLOSED -- not only are the trails wet (including a significant amount of ice, somehow???), but BETA staff and @peduzzitrails are working together in an effort to harden the network. The Jack Rabbit entrance off of River Road is the recommended access point to Craig Wood while Cobblewood Connector is closed. Craig Wood is still a bit wet, but mostly rideable EXCEPT for Green Jacket and Gold Jacket. Our friends at @backslopetrails have been doing Spring maintenance on those trails to keep them in tip-top shape. Please avoid Green and Gold Jacket so Back Slope can focus on their work 🤝 Lussi and Loggers are good to go.

Wilmington ➡️ Gulo Gulo, Bear Claw, and other Flume Trails are dicey -- turn back if necessary. Upper PMD is still completely closed. Hardy Road and Three Sisters have the green light.

Saranac Lake ➡️ Dewey is still too wet and needs more sunshine to dry out. Pisgah and Fowler's Crossing are good to go.

Keene and Etown ➡️ All trails are good to go 🤩