Every year as the snow melts and the ground thaws, trails become soft and often muddy, making them vulnerable to damage. When people use soft and muddy trails, they can leave tracks and ruts. Unless they are repaired those tracks and ruts often dry, making the trails more difficult to use later in the year. Those tracks and ruts also keep water (snowmelt and rain) from draining off the trails, which causes two problems 1) it keeps water on the trails (increasing the time it takes for them to dry out) and 2) channels water down the trails (increasing water erosion).
Generally speaking, the heavier the trail user, the greater the damage. So, ATVs and horses usually cause more damage than people on foot. However, hikers and walkers can create significant damage, too.
The increasing warmth and light of spring increases the problem because people are chomping on the bit to get outside and have fun. The Interior Alaska Spring Trails Report is an attempt to guide people toward trails that are ready to use and away from trails that need more time to dry out. Information in the report is mainly collected from online reports and on-the-ground experience by Eric Troyer, editor of the Interior Alaska Trails Newsletter and, as of this writing, the Fairbanks Cycle Club president. Eric encourages others to contribute to the report either by directly writing in the report or by sending him updates at fbxtrails@gmail.com.
See the more 2026 Interior Alaska Spring Trails Report HERE.
Below are photos of damage done to some interior Alaska trails during recent springs.
