How to Be a Trail Fairy

While there are thousands of kilometres of trails throughout the province, trail maintenance in British Columbia is largely managed by small volunteer groups. Hundreds of them, in fact, which doesn’t just include mountain biking and hiking groups, but ATV, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, off-roading, mountaineering, and snowmobile groups. The fact is, there are far more trails than there are volunteers to maintain them. That’s why it’s important for trail users to know how they can help to keep BC’s trails in good condition.

In British Columbia, many trails are on Crown land, which is managed by Recreation Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC). On these trails, all formal maintenance, such as cutting, digging, or rerouting trail sections, must be approved in advance by RSTBC. This helps protect sensitive ecosystems, ensures user safety, and avoids unintended damage to the trail system.

That said, there are still many things trail users can do to help keep BC’s trails tidy and free of obstruction.

The Seasonality of Trail Maintenance

Trail maintenance in BC is a year-round need, with different issues presenting themselves in each season.

Autumn

Fallen leaves clog trail drains, leading to overflowing water sources and erosion.
Even after leaves have fallen, rain can wash debris down, making multiple cleanings necessary.

Winter/Early Spring

Heavy rain and melting snow can cause erosion and washouts.
Muddy trails that are heavily used erode more quickly.
Major storms can drop multiple trees and obstruct the path, leaving a mess for volunteers.

Spring/Early Summer

Trails in brushy areas will see overgrowth very quickly in spring.
Brushing them out too early will usually see them needing it again within a few weeks.

Late Summer

The best time to brush out trails is later in the summer, when growth has slowed.
This is also beneficial so that heavy snow doesn’t push branches down across the trail in winter.

Who to Report Trail Issues to?

While BC’s trails are maintained by a hodgepodge of different groups, there are a few ways to find out who is looking after the trail you’re concerned about.

Google search your region + trail organizations.
Check to see if the trail is on Trailforks, and if it’s being managed on there by a group (good for mountain biking trails).
Check if the trail is on crown land.
Ask on one of your local outdoor activity groups on Facebook.
Check with your city.

Always check before doing anything major to a trail, such as brushing, cutting fallen trees, or fixing damage. Though issues can be there for months, that doesn’t mean they aren’t on the maintenance schedule of a local group. They will likely be pleased to have help, but make sure they know, because the issue may already be on their radar.

It’s also important to avoid doing any work with tools when there is a high risk of wildfire. Many groups shut down maintenance altogether during extended summer dry periods, as sparks from hand and power tools can accidentally ignite wildfires.

These are small, safe, and helpful tasks that any trail user can do. Even tossing a few sticks and rocks off your local trails on a casual walk can be a big help.

If you can safely do so:

Remove sticks
Kick off loose rocks
Clear fallen branches
Move small fallen trees that can be lifted, dragged, or cut with a hand saw
Unplug drains (A hiking pole is surprisingly useful for this.)
Pick up garbage
Dismantle fire pits
Scrub off water soluble-graffiti and report if permanent paints are used

Avoid:

Rerouting water or drainage
Altering the trail structure
Rerouting trails
Changing trail width
Harming sensitive habitat
Alternating features (especially on bike trails, where they’re deliberately built)

Report:

Downed trees
Washouts
Structural failures (bridges, trails, boardwalks)
Major erosion or sinkholes
Hazardous trees or unstable slopes

The Casual Trail Fairy’s Kit:

Gloves
Hand snips
Loppers
Folding hand saw
First aid kit
Garbage bags

Why it Matters

With climate change bringing more extreme weather, trails need more help than ever. Big, popular routes get attention fairly quickly, while others are often untouched or neglected, sometimes for years. At the same time, more people than ever are heading outside, putting pressure on already-stressed trail systems.

Small actions matter. Kicking a loose rock aside, moving a branch, clearing a drain, or packing out an extra piece of garbage might seem insignificant, but multiplied across thousands of trail users, these tiny acts make a huge difference.

Volunteer trail groups need support. While popular hiking apps profit from trail data, they don’t contribute funding or labour toward maintaining the trails they list. Meanwhile, volunteer groups struggle with limited budgets and rising maintenance needs. Supporting these clubs directly has a real, immediate impact on the trails you use.

If you want to do more, check out the member lists of these regional organizations and support your local trail group today: