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Trail Etiquette

Everyone deserves an outdoor experience free of negative impact by other users.

Share the trail

• Common-sense conventions have been established to prevent conflicts on multi-use trails:
  
• Hikers and bikers should stop and get off the trail when encountering horses to avoid spooking the animals, and bikers should yield to hikers.
• Motorized traffic should yield to other travelers
  
• Uphill travelers have the right-of-way (it's harder to go uphill, so downhill travelers should step aside so they don't impede uphill progress)
• Here are links for more information:  Horse & rider etiquette,  Biker etiquette, Hiker etiquette

Minimize your impact

• Respect designated trail use
• No mechanized equipment is allowed in Wilderness Areas (this include bicycles)
• ATVs and motorcycles must stay on specified trails - refer to the Off Highway Vehicles/Motorized Vehicle Use Map (pdf), available from the Logan Ranger District.
  • Trails for motorized equipment are designed and maintained to compensate for the additional wear and tear. Using motor vehicles on other trails can cause serious damage.
• Horses and bicycles are restricted from some trails (interpretive nature trails, for example).
• Help reduce trail erosion and damage
  
• NEVER "cut" switchbacks!  Short-cutting trail switchbacks causes erosion.
• Avoid riding horses or bicycles on muddy trails - water running down bicycle ruts can cause erosion, and horse hoofs can damage soft and muddy trails.
• Avoid walking on the "outside edge" (the downhill side) of trails.  Foot traffic can damage this weakest part of a trail.
  
• Stay on established trails when possible - "social trails" (user-created paths) cause erosion.
• Practice "Leave No Trace" principles
  
• "Pack In/Pack Out" - carry out everything you bring in
  
• Bury human waste and bury or carry out used toilet paper
• Do not build fires
  
• Keep the noise down - minimize shouting and leave the electronic audio equipment home
• If you must bring a dog, keep it on a leash or under strict control to avoid stressing wildlife and disturbing other trail users

Help make things better

• Gently encourage other users to practice good trail etiquette.
• Pick up and carry out trash.
• Report trail damage and unsafe conditions to the Logan Ranger District.
• Help with trail maintenance as a volunteer:
  • National Trails Day activities, often sponsored by the Logan Ranger District, are a good place to start.
  • Volunteer to help the Cache Hikers and other groups to help maintain the trails they have "adopted".
• Perform minor trail maintenance activities as you hike:
  • Move loose rocks from the trail - try giving them a push with your boot.
  • Carry a folding saw and use it to trim encroaching vegetation from the trailway:
    • Don't leave unsightly and dangerous "stobs" - cut woody material back to the ground or to a main stem.
  • Pull or dig out invasive trailside weeds
• Learn more about trail maintenance: