Mid-Summer Trail Update

Here’s the latest scoop on trail conditions throughout CIMBA, straight from our resident trail guru Dave Bingaman!

I just got back from the CITRA state ride and we should definitely ask folks to avoid the Loon, Bear Pete, 20 mile and trails around the Burgdorf area this weekend. There are a lot of motorized users gathered for the Idaho State Trail Machiners Association event. The good news is that CITRA has spent the last month clearing, and re-clearing trails in that area so other than the dust they will be riding good after this weekend.

After riding Loon, Bear Pete and a few others in the area, trails are getting REALLY dusty due to the lack of precipitation and amount of use. Bikers would be better off hitting trails closer in like EFLF, Bear, Rim/PLT, Tamarack and Jug this weekend. The Cloochman side of Bear Pete is in good shape and we saw hikers and bikers enjoying it yesterday. As always, CIMBA reminds bikers to be courteous to other users and yield the trail to help foster good relationships between cyclists and other users.

USFS trail crews and Montana Conservation Corps are doing a major reroute right now on Ruby Meadows/Willow Basket Trail which will eliminate the muddy meadow with all of the failing bridges, I scoped out their work yesterday and it looks RAD! CIMBA and CITRA will be partnering with the USFS in September to help them complete the route so stay tuned for an upcoming trail day announcement.

USFS and MCC are also rebuilding bridges on the Center Ridge Trail which is an interesting backcountry option to avoid the crowds. CIMBA and Payette Trails will be starting work with Great American Outdoors Act funding to do some trail stabilization on the south side of the Bear Pete Trail in mid-August as well as some much-needed rerouting and trail repair on the Jackson Creek Trail(this makes a HUGE adventure loop when combined with the southern portion of the Bear Pete Trail).

The 2 images below are the last berm on the PLT, it was one of the major projects on the PLT trail day last month. It came out perfect, hard, and fast and smooth as cement...a much-needed fix for the sandy mess that was there. We also recently completed the re-route on the upper section of single track and added 2 more beautiful berms as well as decommissioned about 400 feet of the older section of trail where it went through a wet area. 2 great reasons to ride the RIM PLT combo this weekend.

-Dave