ON THE TRAIL: Hints For Smooth Trails
Use your "horse sense!" It's easy to overlook, but your own or your animals' lives could be at risk in rough country. Let your stock pick their way through boggy places, slide zones, on slick and steep trails, and through deep water and snow. Or get off and lead them through treacherous stretches.

Please stay on trails. Cutting across switchbacks tramples plants and creates parallel paths which erode severely.

Although it's tricky, keep your stock from skirting shallow puddles, small rocks, and bushes. This helps prevent the creation of wide, deteriorating trails.

At rest stops--even short ones--tie your stock off the trail. This is courteous to other trail users and helps reduce wear and tear on the trail. Before you move on, scatter the manure.

Especially during fire season,
NO SMOKING WHILE TRAVELING!

TRAIL COURTESY: Making Friends in the Backcountry
In the backcountry, say hello! A little simple courtesy makes life more pleasant for everyone.

Observe the basics of trail courtesy:

In steep, rough country, down-hill traffic usually yields to uphill traffic. If you have a better place to pull off, do so, and let the other folks pass through.

People with llamas, on foot, or on mountain bikes should yield to stock traffic because it is easier for them to move off the trail. If they don't, smile and yield the way, or ask them to stand below the trail and wait quietly for your stock to pass.

In the backcounry, say hello!

IN STEEP COUNTRY,
DOWNHILL TRAFFIC YIELDS TO UPHILL TRAFFIC

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