You’ve planned an epic hike or ride and come to find out that the trails are closed. That’s such a bummer. Many parks and preserves close trails based on hazardous conditions. These include: red-flag (high wind/high heat/low humidity) days, unsafe trail conditions, and after rain storms. Since we are in the rainy season, we thought we’d relay the thought process behind rain-related trail closures.

Many of the soils in the Puente-Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor include high clay concentrations. Clay causes two main problems. First, it limits the soil’s ability to drain leaving long-standing puddles. Second, if trails are still wet when used, then ruts form and the soil retains those ruts for a long period of time making trail use uneven, more challenging, and more dangerous. Area parks are really good about posting their status (open or closed) to social media. Be sure to check that out before you leave for an outdoor adventure. Respecting these closures helps keep trails safe and sound now with less maintenance needed in the future. Trail closures do offer the perfect opportunity to capture wildlife tracks in the mud, like the bunny tracks (in the upper right photo, above).