Trail damage, closures and uneven enforcement draw calls for maintenance and stronger policing

Participants at the Lewis County trails meeting described recent trail damage from heavy rides, called for repairs and discussed uneven law-enforcement presence at large events.

A staff member said Area J remained closed and warned that the county would likely shut down parts of other trails after the coming weekend if conditions did not improve. Multiple attendees described severe mud, blow-downs and rutted trails after recent events; one club leader urged that a washed-out hill near a parking lot needs stone or bulldozing.

Speakers contrasted enforcement at two recent events. They said the April ride had a robust law-enforcement presence (one attendee cited 11 officers and multiple tickets written), while a later May event had fewer officers and more site damage. Several participants called for more law-enforcement at big events and better pre-event planning to reduce damage and unsafe riding on state roads.

Club members offered volunteer resources and equipment to assist maintenance (dump trailers, stone-moving capability) and discussed scheduling more volunteer rides and maintenance days. Organizers also noted operational details — such as a misprinted phone number on trail maps — and announced community events including a flags-on-graves volunteer activity.

The meeting closed with no formal vote. Staff said they will inspect damaged sections and determine whether to keep gates closed until repairs are made; volunteers pledged to coordinate with staff on maintenance dates.