National Forest officials say they're seeing an increase in illegal trail building as more people are heading outside this summer.
User-created trails have management issues and can cause damage to cultural resources, destroy wildlife habitats, disrupt wildlife migration corridors, harm fragile or rare plants, spread noxious and invasive weeds, cause soil loss and create safety and liability concerns.
These types of routes are frequently on steep hills and cross streams. This can result in severe soil erosion or compaction, slope stability issues and negative effects on water quality or flow.
This type of natural resource damage is expensive and time consuming to repair and restoration can take many years to finish.
Anyone interested in volunteering to help with approved trail maintenance and construction projects should contact one of the local trails organizations listed below:
- Biggest Little Trail Stewardship
- Muscle Powered
- Reno Area Dirt Riders (RAD)
- Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association
- Washoe County Parks and Open Space at (775) 785-4512 x 106 for volunteer opportunities
- Washoe 311 to report illegal trail building
- The Carson Ranger District (775) 882-2766
People who are found guilty of causing resource damage on National Forest System lands by riding on or building undesignated trails could receive a maximum fine of $5,000 and/or six months of jail time. Violators can also be ordered to pay rehabilitation costs for repairing areas that were damaged.
“We are excited that more people and new users are enjoying the outdoors,” said Colleen Wallace Barnum, Washoe County Parks Operations superintendent. “Unfortunately, illegal trail building can have devastating ramifications for the local ecosystem.”
“User-created trails cost the county and Forest Service, and thereby taxpayers, thousands of dollars in restoration and rehabilitation costs every year,” said Matt Zumstein, Carson District Ranger.
“For every user-created trail we have to mitigate, it detracts from us putting in new trails,” said Zumstein. “We recognize the demand for trails and the economic driver this activity is to the local community, but we need to do it the right way by working hand-in-hand with our partners to build a sustainable trail system that minimizes impacts to other resources."
“We encourage people to bring trail ideas to us and participate in our planning process,” said Wallace Barnum.
“The future of trail opportunities on county and federal lands depends on you! Protect your right to recreate. Respect the land, the wildlife, and the rights of others,” stressed Carson Ranger District Recreation Officer, Brian Hansen.
Click here for trail information and tips on how to recreate responsibly on Washoe County lands.
Click here for tips on how to recreate responsibly on NFS lands.
For Leave No Trace or Tread Lightly tips click here.
(Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Carson Ranger District and Washoe County contributed to this report).
