United States Forest Service.

Pacific Southwest Region
1323 Club Drive
Vallejo, CA 94592
707.562.8737
TTY: 707.562.9240
FAX: 707.562.9130

Mountain Bicycle Planning

A photograph of a lone bicyclist in an aspen grove.

Improving trail recreation for all users is critical for success:

  • Reduce Use Conflicts
  • Protect Resources
  • Reduce occurrence of user created trails
  • Educate user groups
  • Develop Land and User Ethic
  • Develop volunteer opportunities

Mountain bicycling has become a major activity in many national forests, and clear management strategies are needed to ensure continued recreation opportunities and protection of natural resources. The goal of this project is to provide sustainable mountain biking recreation on the 18 national forests in California, which cover one-fifth of the state.

Current Status of Trails and Opportunities

  • Many managed trails have been adopted as the Forest Service acquired land or as use developed. Trails were not designed to receive substantial recreation use and some trails were simply not designed.
  • Trail studies by Cessford and others have indicated that mountain bikes are not the problem and poor trail design and lack of management are the problems.

Limitations on National Forest System (NFS) Lands

  • If opportunities can be provided on private lands, then they are not appropriate on NFS lands.
  • Local decision makers choose the makeup of their trail systems and where and when to add new trails.
  • Constructed features (i.e., teeter totters, jump parks, elevated boardwalks or ramps) are not appropriate except under special use permit.
  • Trails are generally multiple use.

Opportunities on NFS Lands

  • Design - Many trails on NFS lands are open to mountain bikes but lack design and development.
  • Partnership between trail users and land managers.
  • Collaboration between user groups, including mountain bicylists, horseback riders and hikers.
  • Public Involvement to shape future projects.
  • Management - While most trails allow mountain bike use, very few are managed for mountain bike use.
  • Increased Awareness by land managers will lead to improved opportunities for all trail managers.
  • Resource Protection - As trails are redesigned and constructed, designs to accommodate mountain bikes can be incorporated with best management practices to protect resources.

Management Issues

Liability/Risk

  • A risk management plan effectively reduces manager's risk if implemented properly.
  • Good plans address:
    • Signage
    • Inspection
    • Technical trail feature design
    • Emergency access
    • Trail rating

Use Conflicts

  • In some areas, use conflicts exist on National Forest System trails.
  • Studies indicate perception of user conflict is high but actual user conflict between mountain bikers and other groups is low.
  • There are cases of significant conflict between user groups that have "traumatized" users.
  • User conflicts occur between all trail users and within trail user groups.
  • Where user needs are not met, user conflicts are exacerbated.
  • Use Conflict Management
    • Trail design (i.e., sight lines, traffic calming, grade, trail flow, trail speed)
    • Trailhead education of other users and to refine users expectations
    • Peer pressure amongst user groups
    • Collaborative trail planning

User Created Trails

  • The Forest Service and International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) do not condone the creation of user trails. Valuable resources are damaged as a result of illegal trail building.
  • Where user needs are not addressed, users will make their own trails.
  • Steep trails that follow the fall line at up to 55% tend to be the most destructive.
  • Many user created trails may be considered for adoption with little on the ground work.
  • Some level of environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) would likely be required to adopt trails.

Trail Poaching

  • Wilderness trails
  • Special Designation Trails that cross into wilderness.
  • Similar to user created trails, where legitimate opportunities do not exist, poaching will occur.
  • Poaching will occur to some degree without adequate law enforcement.

Resource Impacts

  • Studies have indicated that lack of trail design is the major culprit for resource impacts and not specific non-motorized user groups.
  • Significant impacts to resources from user created trails.

Trail Design and Trail System Design

  • Universal Concepts for Successful Trail System Design
    • Stacked loops - Develop a progression of loop systems (easy, moderate, difficult) as the distance from entry points increase.
    • Spectrum of opportunities; 1) use levels - passing lanes, width, signage, 2) nonmotorized, 3) non-mechanized, 4) interpretive, 5) surface types, etc.
    • Connectivity to urban areas and within trail systems.
    • Collaborative Development with multiple user groups.
    • Trail Flow - Understanding the flow of users along a trail. Particularly for motorcycles, mountain bikes and even trail runners.
    • Trail Grade - Develop curvalinear alignments that contour across the landscape at appropriate grades to provide for stable tread conditions. All new designs establish rolling grade dips.
    • Consult with others - Soils, users, precipitation and vegetation can all dramatically affect trail design parameters. Seeking other educated opinions always improves a design.
    • Drainage Frequency - Understand local conditions and establish trail best management practices that hold up to storm events.
  • Universal Concepts for Successful Mountain Bike Trail Development
    • "Friends of Trails" collaborative working group made of multiple user groups.
    • Develop one project to take on and development to give users something to catalyze around.
    • Conceptual Trail Plan to identify long term goals, priorities, grant opportunities, and project planning.
    • Keep projects revolving to maintain momentum, interest, and to streamline projects. "Get more money to the ground."
    • Project Ownership - The Agency provides leadership and ownership to volunteer groups.
    • Trail Management Objectives define the who, what, when, why and where about the trail and are the 1st step in trail planning.

Funding

  • Volunteer groups are providing contributions from grant applications to maintenance.
  • Involve kids in volunteer group plans. Kids in the Woods, a Forest Service initiative - contact local Forest Service office.
  • Private, County, State and Federal Grants

Listening Sessions

The purpose of the listening sessions is to gather information to better understand:

  1. What is important to you?
  2. What are the untapped opportunities?
  3. What are your issues and concerns?

Additional comments? Email mtbplan@fs.fed.us.

Mountain Bike Trends

  • The 1st production mountain bike was sold in 1984.
  • Full suspension mountain bikes were developed in the mid 90's and had from 1.5 - 2 inches of suspension travel.
  • In 2003, 21% of Americans rode a mountain bike on a dirt road or trail during the year.
  • Today, mountain bikes have from 3 - 10 inches of suspension travel developed specifically for the various types of mountain bike use.
  • Lighter, more efficient mountain bikes will result in more riders, going farther on more challenging terrain.

Related Information

A National Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Forest Service and International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) was signed in August 2006 to develop and maintain mountain bike opportunities on National Forest Lands.