– A few trails to try first after wet weather –
OK you’ve got cabin fever, the snows are melting and you’re itching to put rubber on the trail. It’s been raining for days and you need to get back in the saddle, but Stop, wait it out…or ride a trail that drains well, has gravel or is paved instead.
Now some not so “nice” type A riders who can’t help themselves, are ripping up the trail way too soon, shame on you! Even though it always seems like a long winter, give nature a chance to dry out after the snow melts and the spring showers.
Before I suggest where you could go for an early ride, here are a few good reason why you should avoid the temptation to ride on more fragile areas. First it’s about preserving what little trail we have for as long as possible. Many hours may have been spent by local MTB crews to design and build tails you enjoy. Wearing them out faster is going to piss off everyone, don’t do it, water run off is enough of a erosion issue.
Trails wear out, they get wide,
they get rutted and then they get closed. :^(
WHY : It’s also more hazardous with greasy trails, slippery leaves/logs, deep mud puddles which make you go down more often. Ouch! Do you want to ended your riding season early with an injury?
And then your poor bike, all that mud grinds your gears, chain and brakes down real fast. Carrying a muddy bike home in your car is a mess and hosing it off at home is also ugly.
Where to Go: Here are a few trails I’ll suggest that drain well and can welcome early rabid riders. These locations, due to the high content of sand and gravel, drain quicker with few muddy spots. Many of these locations are in the sandy Oak Ridge Moraine zone.
Every place you ride should be judged as to how well it can take the erosion from your tires. Sure it’s a hoot to crank it through the pines leaving a wake of wide berms and skid marks, but that’s not cool.
Keeping your speed in check and having the skill to do a vertical and not skid out on the descent is the real challenge a seasoned mountain bike rider aims for.
Mud and erosion are part of the sport and fun, but the end game is to have the least impact on the trail, so you and others can enjoy them for years to come. Even in the middle of the summer there may be mucky puddles that never dry out. Sometime the choice is to go around them then further rut out an ever growing mud hole.
It’s about sharing and respect for the trail and other riders.
And Now the Good News:
After it Rains, the Snow is Melting, Ride Here First!
Joyride 150 – indoors
Durham Forest – northside sandy
Ganaraska – sandy
Northhumberland – sandy
Puslinch – northside gravel
Eldred King – lots of sand
Torrance Barrens – all rock
Dufferin Forest– drains well
Long Sault – sandy
Carrick Tract – lots of aggregate mixed in
And you could always consider a Rail Trail which is gravel based or a Park path and then there’s a road ride if you must. No it’s not MTB riding but you are on a bike and it could be good spring training.
AVOID these trails for 2+ days after it rains :
Don Valley- greasy
Kelso – will be closed
Ravenshoe – greasy, poor drainage
Couslon’s Hill – slippery slope
Albion Hills – muddy, greasy
Waterdown – slippery mud
We need a 2023 update! Especially with all this wet/warm weather we’ve been getting this winter.
Well the weather changes constantly but the terrain at these locations is the same year after year. I removed Buckwallow (sadly) from the list. Otherwise keep an eye on weather and plan wisely when to go.