Whipple Creek dirt trails closing to horses

For the first time ever, Clark County Parks is applying trail use restrictions at Whipple Creek Regional Park in Ridgefield. 

Starting Wednesday, Nov. 1, the park’s dirt trails will only be open to hikers and runners. Equestrians and mountain bikers will not be allowed to use the dirt trails during the wet season but can continue to use gravel trails year-round. A date when natural-surface trails will reopen to all users has yet to be determined.

Whipple Creek Regional Park is one of the most valued resources for horseback riders but in recent years it has gained a significant popularity increase from hikers and joggers thanks to trail improvements by volunteers. In 2015 there were 33,000 visits to the park.

According to park officials, the park’s trails have been plagued by persistent, heavy mud because of poor drainage, clay soils and steep slopes. Volunteers have donated 7,600 hours over the past six years to build reroutes, improve drainage and spread gravel across the park's main trails, making them accessible year-round. Volunteers also realigned and restored a series of natural surface, or primitive, trails. 

"A lot of time, effort and money have gone into these trails," said Karen Llewellyn, volunteer program coordinator for Clark County Public Works in a news release. "Volunteers worked hard to create a trail system that offers varied experiences to users. Some people prefer gravel trails, some enjoy natural trails. But the fact is, primitive trails get muddy in the rainy season.”

Clark County Parks will post signs at the main entrances to Whipple Creek explaining the seasonal closures. A map of the park's gravel and primitive trails will also be displayed. Additionally, signs will be posted at each primitive trail entrance reminding users that the trail is only open to foot traffic during wet weather. 

To view a map showing of the park's gravel and primitive trails visit the county's website clark.wa.gov/parks.