My way or the highway: negotiating trail etiquette

By Stephen Hlawaty
Outdoors Columnist

It's no surprise that our trails are getting ever more crowded. As a result, we're seeing more and more multi-use trails popping up to accommodate the demand.

Such trails allow for a variety of user groups: equestrians, mountain bikers, hikers and off-highway vehicle (OHV) users. And whenever concerns about overcrowded trails and various users arise among outdoor enthusiasts in their generally good-natured conversations, they are often fueled in the rhetoric of blame.

Inevitably, someone is going to blame another for having too much impact on the trails in question. Equestrians may take mountain bikers to task for tearing up a trail while skidding through mud puddles. Mountain bikers may hammer equestrians for leaving their horse piles in the middle of the trail. Hikers may badmouth OHV users for rutting trails, while hikers, themselves, generally take comfort in the belief that theirs is a recreation that doesn't impact trails at all.

Typically, such rhetoric is most obvious when new recreational vehicles are introduced into the outdoor world. We heard it when mountain bikes first took to the trails. We heard it when snowboards first took to the slopes. And most recently, while writing last month's outdoors column, I heard it when Airboards floated their way onto Keystone Resort.

In the end, while certain outdoor pursuits may have varying degrees of impact on our trails, the fact remains that all outdoor activity has impact, whether it's a 1,100-pound horse plodding its way along a narrow trail or a 5-ounce squirrel scurrying up a tree. Recognizing this fact is one of the first steps we lovers of the outdoors can take in diluting the rhetoric of blame.

The next step is simple. Know the rules and etiquette for multi-use trails. As a general rule, livestock have the right of way. Many trailheads will show triangular signs describing who has the right-of-way. Any of the aforementioned user groups must first yield to equestrians and horses while on the trail. It's common courtesy to stop and dismount (if you are riding a bike) and let equestrians pass. Following equestrians, mountain bikers and off-highway vehicle users must yield to hikers, and OHV users must yield to mountain bikers.

Such an arrangement makes sense, since all of the other user groups can get out of the way more easily than horses can. On the other hand, if equestrians are approaching another trail user, it is always considerate to pass on the outside of that user, with you and your horse keeping closer to the fall line.

When approaching equestrians from behind, etiquette dictates that you try to make your presence known in a clear but not in an alarming manner. Hikers may try whistling. Mountain bikers may ring a bell, and OHV users must cut their engines and coast past.

For the equestrian's part, it is a good idea to coach other user groups when meeting and passing. Equestrians may choose to inform other users that it is safe to pass, suggest that they keep a safe distance from the horse, or maintain a calm and reserved demeanor. Ultimately, equestrians and other trail users must communicate with and be considerate of each other.

Of course, rules wouldn't be rules without their exceptions. While etiquette may dictate one thing, common sense may dictate something entirely different. For example, should an equestrian hear an OHV approaching, it makes sense to find a safe spot from the trail, turn in the direction of the rider, and wait for him or her to pass. Similarly, if a hiker notices a mountain biker laboring up a steep hill, common courtesy would dictate that the hiker step aside, so the mountain biker won't lose momentum.

One rule, however, has no exception. Trail user groups should always obey signs that mark trails as being off limits to those user groups.

In the end, respect for one's environment and others will go a long way in providing a safe and enjoyable time on the trails. By following proper multi-use trail etiquette, trail users make a positive effort toward minimizing impact and creating a responsible and effective dialogue among an outdoor community that is often identified by its differences.