Mountain bikers: Cycling club wants you to avoid these trails

The president of the Sault Cycling Club is calling on mountain bike enthusiasts to refrain from using the trails in three popular riding areas as the snow finishes melting.

Jack Perrotta-Lewin says cyclists using the trails at Hiawatha, the Kinsmen Park pump track, and the Finn Hill Trail can damage the riding surface through rutting as the dirt is still soft.

“This damage takes time and money to fix,” he wrote in a release. “This time and money could be devoted to extending the trail network and other projects, rather than repairing what we have so it really does make a difference.”

While those trails dry up, Perrotta-Lewin encourages mountain bikers to visit other cycling areas, including The Hub Trail, Esposito Paved Pump Track, and Maki Road to Red Rock.

The Sault Cycling Club will share updates on its Facebook and Instagram accounts when the trails are ready for use.

Full details from the club are below:

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Help Protect Our Bike Trails!

We know it has been a challenging winter for those of us who enjoy outdoor recreation, and after a winter with not many opportunities with the lack of snow, we are all excited to get out and enjoy the springtime weather.

The mountain bike trails at Hiawatha, the Kinsmen Park pump track and the Finn Hill Trail need to be protected at this critical time of year and we are appealing to the public to stay off the trails while the remaining snow melts and the trails dry up.

Riding the trails right now while the dirt is soft will result in damage being done to the riding surface through rutting. This damage takes time and money to fix. This time and money could be devoted to extending the trail network and other projects, rather than repairing what we have so it really does make a difference. The newly constructed trails will be particularly fragile while they establish themselves over the coming riding seasons.

The City of Sault Ste Marie has invested millions of dollars in the construction of these trails over the last couple of years for which we are incredibly grateful; however, it now falls to the trail users and the Sault Cycling Club to care for them moving forward.

It's been incredible to see the explosion of the riding community in the City over the last couple of years and we are very excited for the future of trail riding here. As things evolve, it becomes more and more important to care for the trails and manage their use in order to protect the investment and ensure the trails are protected for the future generations.

Please follow the Sault Cycling Club through their social media channels here:

Facebook

Instagram

The club will post updates and let everyone know when the trails are open and ready to ride. If you are looking for a place to ride in the meantime, we recommend the following riding spots and routes:

• Esposito Paved Pump Track
• The Hub Trail
• Maki Road to Red Rock
• Old Highway 17 to the Loonie
• 2nd Line to Gros Cap
• Connor Road to Crystal Lake

More information on where to ride can be found here.

We thank you for your patience and understanding as well as continued responsible trail use.

Sault Cycling Club