Welcome Spring! The snow is melting fast and conditions are extremely variable across the trail system. Expect freezing conditions in the morning and mud and slush by the afternoon! The bears are out across the trail system so please remember your bear spray and keep your dogs under voice control. Daylight Savings Time has added plenty of daylight to the late afternoon-evenings for after-work excursions. Though spring on the Whitefish Trail is exciting, here are some important reminders as the trail tread adjusts to increased use during the melt-freeze cycles:
Avoid muddy conditions.
Mornings are often ideal because the tread is often frozen. If you come across a muddy section of trail, stay in the tread. Walking on the sides of the trail to avoid mud can widen the tread and damage surrounding vegetation.
Respect private property.
Public access has been generously donated. Please respect all private lands and stay on the trail corridor. No hunting, shooting, or fires of any kind, including no smoking.
Be Bear Aware. Spring is a great time to brush up on being Bear Aware. Take bear spray (and know how to use it), recreate in groups, avoid using earbuds, and keep dogs under control to discourage wildlife conflicts. Brush up on your bear aware knowledge at one of our upcoming free WT Education events!
The weather forecast for the next few weeks shows freezing temperatures at night and a mixture of sun and clouds during warm days. Together, this means there will continue to be variability across the trail system. Get out and rediscover the world-class trail system that we are so fortunate to have in our community, and please remain aware and respectful of shifting trail conditions. Enjoy!
Send your spring trail reports and photos to info@whitefishlegacy.org!