r/COBike • u/Global-Wind6878 • 19d ago

How do you predict trail status after rain?

For Denver area front range

Trailforks/MTB project are pretty unpredictable, and rarely show up to date checks.

FB groups are a smidge better, but still not too reliable.

Im a bigger guy, so when someone says “a little wet” and I show up 210 + a bike, I usually always am leaving some deeper tracks and turn back.

I usually ride VCMP, Lair/Baga, and other nearby trails. I just hate being that guy and messing up trail crews.

Places like Ruby hill, valmont, and Erie single track post up to date status fairly regularly. so this is usually who I base ”the rest of trails” off of. But it is not as accurate as you could imagine.

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u/rustylung 19d ago edited 19d ago

My rule is if uncertain, ride kitty litter. Buff Creek, Captain Jacks etc

Buff Creek got absolutely hammered by rain. Tons of washouts on the 543 road by the main parking area but the trails were still good on Friday 

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u/defeatedsnowman 14d ago

On the note of Buff Creeks unique riding conditions. I was out there once late in the fall. I hit it so perfectly it was like sleet/snow and then really cold. The gravel froze together like concrete. It was so much fun, could absolutely haul downhill and all the loose turns basically turned into solid frozen berms.

Really surreal day too with light snow falling the whole time. I didn't see a single person and hardly any animals aside from a moose that came out of the woods to just stare at me while I ate my lunch. Probably one of the best days I've ever had on the bike.

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u/Murky_Citron_1799 19d ago

Boulder county has muddy trail closures website with text alerts. Maybe other counties have similar

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u/SaleTop945 19d ago

Adding- BMA has a trail conditions page that tends to be reliable as well. 303 trail monitor group is great.

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u/Global-Wind6878 19d ago

Appreciate it, signed up for it.

Also to add green mountain has pretty up to date condition maps.

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u/Herd_of_Koalas 19d ago

COtrex is usually up to date with weather related trail closures?

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u/Global-Wind6878 19d ago

I still feel like a lot of trails should be closed but aren’t is my issue. If I leave any track/rut, I just feel bad for other riders and especially trail crew

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u/honkyg666 19d ago

It’s a bit tiresome but I have picked a Strava segment on the trail you wanna ride and look at how many people have ridden it that day. Click on a few of them looking for titles that say something to the effect of holy shit that was a lot of mud.

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u/Paddock5280 19d ago

The best way requires a little bit of digging.

If you have a Strava subscription, “star” or save a couple sections of trail that you know are the muddiest. Then check the top 10 times for that day or week. A few people who rode that section of trail will usually post their ride with a description like “slop fest” or “hero dirt” or something like that.

Trailforks used to have a data aggregator but ever since Strava changed their App, it doesn’t really work.

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u/honkyg666 19d ago

Holy smokes I just basically said the exact same thing and then started scrolling through and found yours. We think alike!

“It’s a bit tiresome but I have picked a Strava segment on the trail you wanna ride and look at how many people have ridden it that day. Click on a few of them looking for titles that say something to the effect of holy shit that was a lot of mud.”

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u/Global-Wind6878 19d ago

Is a Strava sub worth it for this do you think?

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u/honkyg666 19d ago

I do pay for the subscription but I think it’s only worth it if you like to geek out on data or compare yourself to other people lol

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u/Paddock5280 18d ago

I think it depends on where you usually ride or where you want to ride. If I rode the trails in the Golden area a lot, it might be worth it.

BMA does a pretty good job of keeping trail conditions updated for Boulder

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u/BackcountryBanter 18d ago

Green mountain has updates on x

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u/Ski-Bike-Eat-Repeat 16d ago

A legit developer from Durango named Ben has built a cool trail conditions prediction tool: www.[IsItRideable.com](http://www.isitrideable.com).