Mountain Biking in Western Colorado - Fragile Soil & Trail EthicsWe hope you enjoy the incredible mountain biking in Western Colorado! However, before you do, please read on to understand the importance of trail ethics and protecting our area's incredibly fragile soil.
* Rain and melting snow leads to very muddy trails at certain times of the year. Please minimize trail damage and potential erosion by not using muddy trails. *
Don't Kill Microbiotic Crust Microbiotic crust (also called cryptogamic soil and cryptobiotic crust) is that black or brown stuff that makes crusty mounds on the ground. While it looks quite dead, it isn't. Microbiotic crust makes life possible in the desert by stabilizing sand and fixing nitrogen. It only takes a moment of careless riding off-trail to wipe out a cryptobiotic garden that took 50 to 100 years to develop.
Mountain Bike Ethics
1. STAY ON DESIGNATED TRAILS to avoid trampling native vegetation and fragile desert soil. Minimize potential erosion to trails by not using muddy trails or shortcutting switchbacks.
2. SHOW COURTESY AND RESPECT TO ALL TRAIL USERS. We're all members of the trail family seeking quality experiences. We must learn to share. Our motivations are not different than those of other trail users regardless of our mode of travel. Show concern for a clean, quiet backcountry experience.
Keep the trails as natural as possible.
3. YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY TO OTHER NON-MOTORIZED RECREATIONISTS, and allow adequate room for motorized vehicles that may need to pass you.
4. SLOW DOWN AND USE CAUTION when approaching or overtaking others and make your presence known well in advance.
5. MAINTAIN CONTROL of your bike at all times.
6. DO NOT DISTURB wildlife or livestock.
7. DO NOT LITTER. Pack out what you pack in, and pack out more than your share whenever possible.
8. RESPECT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY, including trail use signs, no trespassing signs, and leave gates as you found them.
9. BE SELF-SUFFICIENT. Destination and travel speed will be determined by your ability, iquipment, terrain, and the present and potential weather conditions.
10. DO NOT TRAVEL SOLO when bike packing in remote areas. Leave word of your destinatin and when you plan to return.
11. OBSERVE THE PRACTICE OF MINIMUM IMPACT BICYCLING by ”taking only pictures and memories and leaving only waffleprints.”
12. USE APPROPRIATE SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
Enjoy the trails and remember to keep the singletrack single!
Upcoming EventsWe are ready for a great 2016! The calendar is starting to fill up!
Check out the full calendar
Palisade Brews & Cruise Festival
May 06 @ 12:00AM
Use promo code COPMOBA when registering an d$10 will be dontated to the Palisade Plunge trail development project!
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Inaugural RAT Race!
Jun 10 @ 12:00AM
The inagural 'RAT RACE' is slated to take place on Saturday, June 10th. Permit pending, this race will be a two loop…
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Uncompahgre Trail BASH
Jun 24 @ 12:00AM
Time again for the annual trail maintenance BASH. DAMB is the host chapter again, but all are welcome. We will concentrate on the…
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