As temperatures warm up, area trails are beginning to dry out. Many lower elevation trails on Emerald Mountain have been opened, including MGM, Larry’s, Bluffs Loop, Ricky’s Ridge and portions of Lupine. 

Trail users are advised to check the city of Steamboat Springs website for up-to-date trail closures and continue to prevent resource damage by respecting closures that remain in effect.

In addition, the city’s Parks and Community Services Department wants to remind all trail users of basic trail etiquette:

• Use authorized trails only.

• Stay on the existing singletrack of the trails. By walking on the sides of muddy trails, this creates trail widening, braiding and additional negative impacts.

• Stay off of all wet and muddy trails to minimize damage. If mud is sticking to your shoes, tires or animals then it is too muddy.

• Educate yourself and your friends. Friends don’t let friends use muddy trails.

The city of Steamboat Springs has limited resources for trail maintenance, and these limited resources are stretched even thinner when they are needed to address the negative impacts that result from users not following trail etiquette.