BOISE, Idaho — The Table Rock Trails in Boise are a bit of a muddy mess. So muddy that the Ridge to Rivers organization, which manages the trails, said it’s the worst shape it has ever seen them in.
Current conditions on the trails have even forced Ridge to Rivers to partially close the trails.
“The soils on the Table Rock trails are some of the worst in the system,” said David Gordon, program manager for Ridge to Rivers. “They’re high clay content, very, very muddy. There’s times when they shouldn’t be used.”
Right now is one of those times.
Gordon said every day, Table Rock is closed after 10 a.m. because of the muddy conditions. He said before 10, the trails are still frozen so they are usable early in the morning. However, he said when it’s not frozen, people need to stay off.
KTVB talked to some hikers who frequent the Table Rock trails. They told us they are disappointed to see the trails have to close part-time.
“We were kind of bummed about it because we wanted to get a good workout in, and it’s a good view up there too so yeah, just kind of bummed out,” said Elise Parker, who has hiked Table Rock before.
Gordon said while hikers may be bummed about the closure, it’s necessary in order to preserve the trails for future generations.
“What happens when people are using trails when they’re muddy, they are walking to the side of the trail,” Gordon explained. “We have real fragile vegetation on the sides so they basically kill the vegetation and our trails get wider and wider. As they get wider, they become like little roads and they’re difficult to maintain so we see more erosion with a wider trail.”
“It’s a good way to hang out with friends, it’s a good way to see Boise - just look over the town because the town’s really beautiful and so it would be a bummer if it got ruined,” Parker continued.
Gordon said staff from Ridge to Rivers has been out off and on all winter to keep an eye on the trails and try to keep people out of the mud. He said it’s a tough job.
“We’re not overly successful,” Gordon said. “People read the signs and go anyway. Part of it is ignorance and part of it is lack of interest in doing the right thing. When I say ignorance, I think people don’t understand why it’s closed. I think, a lot of people, once they understand what we’re doing, won’t go beyond the closure.”
KTVB spoke with a woman who goes to school in the Horticultural campus next to the trails. She told us that on a daily basis, she sees a lot of people look at the signs, look around and then jump the fence to hike the trails anyway.
Gordon said that if the problem continues, they may look at making it a citable offense.
Ridge and Rivers is asking the public to obey the signs and check its website to see which trails are open, and which ones are under lock and key for the time being.
But, Gordon adds, even if Table Rock Trails are closed, there are plenty of other trails that people can still utilize.
He said users can also check the Ridge and Rivers Facebook page every day for updates on trail closures. He said they update it by 8 a.m. every day.