Boise Outdoor Recreationists Provide Feedback On Trails

BOISE, ID — The 2021 Ridge to Rivers trail user survey closed on Wednesday, February 17 after being open for three weeks, and we received 4,437 responses – by far the most engagement on one of our surveys to date. Thank you for your participation and feedback. We appreciate your patience as Ridge to Rivers partners continue to read through all of the responses, in addition to analyzing the data collected related to proposed management strategies to pilot.

With more than one million visits and counting on the trails each year, we are committed to being stewards of Boise’s unique trail system. As you can imagine, Ridge to Rivers users have wide ranging opinions on how the system should be managed, and we are doing our best to make sure the trails are enjoyable for everyone no matter their age, background, or abilities. The year 2020 was the busiest year on our trail system to date. It takes understanding, compromise, and kindness to create an atmosphere that is welcoming to so many different people.

Live in Boise? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. You can also download our free Patch mobile app on Android or iPhone.

Due to the high level of support for piloting some management strategies, and taking into consideration survey data collected on a variety of scenarios, our team is suggesting implementation of the following pilot strategies starting as early as April 2021:

• Lower Hulls Gulch Trail #29 Proposal – On even numbered days of the month, the trail would be closed to all downhill bike travel (open to hikers, horseback riders and uphill mountain bikers) for the duration of the pilot. On odd numbered days of the month, the trail would only be open to downhill bike traffic (closed to all other users) for the duration of the pilot. *Please see link to follow up survey for additional input
• Polecat Loop Trail #81 Proposal – All trail users would be required to travel in one direction (counter-clockwise) throughout the duration of the pilot.
• Around the Mountain Trail #98 Proposal – All users would be required to travel in one direction (counter-clockwise) throughout the duration of the pilot.
• Bucktail Trail #20A Proposal – Separation of use for mountain bikers and pedestrians.

The partnership is seeking further feedback on the proposed pilot change to Lower Hulls Gulch Trail #29 and the creation of a pedestrian only route near Bucktail Trail #20A. *Click here to respond to a short follow-up survey related to these proposed management strategies. There is also a new survey question related to downhill mountain biking trails in the foothills. This updated survey will close on Monday, March 29. Results of the supplemental survey questions will be made available to the public after the feedback period closes.

The 2021 pilot program strategies outlined above, along with the overall survey results will be included in an upcoming report to the Boise City Council. As the City of Boise is the lead partner in the Ridge to Rivers partnership, city staff will be seeking council feedback and support before implementing any pilot strategies this year. We appreciate your patience as this process is completed and will continue to update the public as pilot management strategies are refined and a start date is set.

Other survey feedback, including data related to muddy trails enforcement and controlled dog off-leash trails, will continue to be analyzed and discussed with the Ridge to Rivers partnership as we work to propose new policies, trails and outline education efforts related to trail use.
If you have any questions or additional feedback related to the 2021 Ridge to Rivers survey results, please email the Ridge to Rivers team at ridgetorivers@cityofboise.org.

In the meantime, please be sure to take the Happy Trails pledge and join us in creating a positive outdoor experience for everyone on the trails. When you take the pledge, you can also sign up to join our email list for future updates from the Ridge to Rivers partnership.

Stay connected! Like Boise Patch on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Boise Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of our latest sponsors? Email any and all inquiries to me at john.braese@patch.com.