Why are the Trails Closed?

You see it all the time online after a big rain, people flood social media asking if the trails are open or complaining about why they’re closed. For people used to the trails in other parts of the countryy, there is alot of confusion and anger because where they were from, the trails don’t close like they do here.

So why do trails in North Texas close after rain—even just a relatively light one? And why should you stay off them when they’re closed?

Black Gumbo – Not a Cajun Dish

You’ve probably heard the term black gumbo used to describe the kind of soil found throughout much of North Texas. Much of the region here is part of the Backland Prarie ecoregion, known for its very fertile soils composed of alkaline clays. Much of the region was covered in tall prarie grasses, and was perfect for agriculture and growing livestock due to its rich organic matter. While much of this ecoregion has been lost due to construction, only 1% of the original ecoregion still exists, the black gumbo soil does.

Fun fact: this soil exists thanks to the calcium and sediments left behind by ancient seas that covered this land millions of years ago.

This clay based soil retains moisture extremely well, and is very thick and sticky when wet. The water content in the soil drains slowly, retaining that moisture for quite some time. This is why it expands after rains, that moisture content is just sucked up by the ground, and can remain wet long after a rain if we’ve had sufficient quantities of it. It’s also why in the summer we get such deep cracks and the soils recede from our homes’ foundations, also responsible for all the foundation repair commercials that run in the summer.

Unlike sandier soils that drain quickly, trails built in areas with clay-rich black gumbo soil can take days or even weeks to dry out before they’re suitable for outdoor recreation. Not all the trails in the DFW area are on black gumbo soil, if you’ve lived here long enough and checked on the conditions, some of our trails like North Share at Lake Grapevine or Cedar Ridge Preserve open up earlier than others. Trails built on sandier or rockier soils tend to open faster than others, and you’ll notice those trends over time.

Do I have to follow the closure notices?

In a word: YES! There are a couple of important reasons, and even if you think the rules don’t apply to you, some of the consequences will directly affect you.

Why should you follow the closure notices?

• Erosion Control: Tracks left by hikers or bikers on wet trails create deep ruts that remain long after the trail dries. Those ruts do a few bad things. One, it makes them unpleasant to walk or ride on for future users. Over time, the ruts deepen, collect water, and become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other pests. They will also cause permanent changes to the trails unless corrected. Ever wonder why some of the trails seem so deep and narrow compared to the surrounding ground? Those can be unpleasant to ride on, and that is a direct result of erosion on the trails. So protect the trails.
• Land Use Agreements: Another important consideration: damage caused by ignoring closure notices can jeopardize our continued access to these trails. Not all our trails are public, some are made available to us by public landowners. Trail users who don’t respect the rules put in place by the land owners, could find access to those trails are removed entirely. Recently, unauthorized use at Lake Benbrook led to the closure of a bike bypass.. Access to land near Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso was also suspended after repeated rule violations frustrated the landowner.
• Respect the Volunteers: Many people don’t realize these trails are often built and maintained by volunteers who dedicate countless hours to hands-on trail work or fundraising for equipment and repairs. Damage done by using closed trails often needs to be repaired, so by respecting the rules, you reduce the negative impacts to the volunteers making sure these resources exist for us in the first place.
• Flooding: Many of the trails in this area are built near lakes, rivers, and creeks—which means they’re prone to flooding. That can quickly become a safety issue if you head out and, quite literally, get in over your head. Even after the rain stops, lakes may still be full, or water may be released from dams, causing trails to flood days later. That happened to me last year when I went to check out the Colony Shoreline Trail, which was closed due to high lake levels. After extensive flooding, those trails may be damaged and impassable due to fallen trees.
• Wet Trails Aren’t Fun: If all that isn’t enough to convince you, wet trails just aren’t fun—especially with our sticky black gumbo soil. Your shoes will pick up huge globs of it, and before long you’re lugging around five extra pounds on each foot. I’ve known people who tossed their shoes afterward because they couldn’t get the mud out. And don’t even think about mountain biking through it. One time, Rowlett Creek Preserve reopened (probably too early), and while I followed the rules, I still ended up spending forever cleaning thick clay out of my gears. Total mess. Honestly, unless you have a really good reason to be out there, it’s just not worth the hassle.

Ok, I’m convinced. Now how do I know?

So after a period of rain, how do you know whether a trail is closed or not? Nothing is more frustrating than going out someplace, often with a decent time spent in the car, and finding a closed sign. Which is a great example that sometimes trails can close, even after a long stretch of dry weather.

Here’s some tips:

• DORBA App: If you are going out to a DORBA managed trail, their app is your new best friend, to check out trail statuses. If you click on the trail name, it will take you to a TrailForks site page about the trail, and even tell you the last time the trail status was updated. That’s always a good tip, if you see that Goat Island is open after a huge storm, I’d check to see if it’s been checked since the storm. Once the trails turn green, you can also check to see how green it is. Some trails like River Legacy can take a while to dry out, and maybe some of the trail is open and other parts closed.
• Social Media / Websites: Other sites like Cedar Ridge Preserve or Clear Creek Preserve have social media accounts that will post trail status. LLELA will often post whether the trails are closed on their website.
• Call them: For local state parks, they also offer trail status via phone. Same with other managed sites like the Herd Museum. You can easily call to see how the trails are doing. Some of the state parks have automated messaging about whether the trails are open or closed, or you can speak to someone directly.
• All Trails: Not every trail has info readily available, so another option I’ve found is to look at recent reviews on All Trails for a place I want to explore. Not perfect, but it’s helped me a few times figure out if I wanted to go, or find something more fun to do

And just because most of the dirt trails are closed, doesn’t mean you are stuck indoors. There are lots of paved and gravel trails to enjoy. In fact here’s an article about where you can go when the trails are all wet.