Trail Etiquette
Trail etiquette should be a major part of any trail users experience.
Trail etiquette can be described as the polite way to use trails. When traveling multi-use trails, you may encounter many different forms of trail use, such as hikers, bikers, horse back riders, snowmobilers, etc. Therefore the user must adjust to different regulations.
Basically, you must follow the same rules as on the road: stay on the right, pass on the left, don’t have your group hog the width of the trail and call out or ring your bell before passing so those ahead have fair warning.
Trail User’s Guide to Environmental Awareness
- Do not litter. What you carried in, you can carry out. And if you have room, pick up what others have carelessly left behind.
- Do not smoke while using the trail – or use designated areas. Be careful to butt out, completely. You don’t want to be responsible for a forest fire.
Simply Put:
- Give the right-of-way to smaller and slower users.
- Stay right when approaching oncoming users.
- Stay on the trail surface.
- Obey signs.
- Do not climb fences or take shortcuts.
- Respect the privacy of landowners bordering the trails.
- Leave wildlife and plants for others to enjoy.
- Take only memories – leave only footprints!
A Trail User’s Guide to Public Awareness
- Be friendly towards other trail users. Stop, speak, answer questions: whatever it takes to present a good image of all trail users.
- Consider the weather and type of trail you are trekking and make sure to wear the appropriate attire.
- Confine alcohol use to your camp area (if alcohol and drugs are not completely prohibited).
- Respect private property. Get permission from landowners to use their land. Leave gates as you find them and don’t bother livestock. Never cut fences.
- It is recommended that all equestrian and motorized trail users carry third party liability insurance.
- Any equestrian or motorized vehicle user under the age of 16 should be accompanied by an adult.
Trail Ambassadors
STA Trail Ambassadors are trail enthusiasts who represent the STA out on the trails by wearing our gear, promoting their adventures on social media and writing the occasional guest blog to be published on our website. If you would be interested in the possibility of becoming a trail ambassador and winning a free STA t-shirt, send an email to info@sasktrails.ca.
Meet our ambassadors:
Matthew Maurer
Matthew Maurer is a Métis Citizen born and raised in Northern Saskatchewan and currently residing in La Ronge. He developed a passion for exploring the outdoors in 2018 while living in Winnipeg.
When he moved back home to La Ronge in 2020 he began to share that passion with others through a Facebook group he created called “Northern Saskatchewan Adventures”.
In 2021 he was asked to guide trail hikes for a nationally ran community competition and since then has been doing guided trail walks in the community on his own time.
Paul Cutting
Paul is an active husband, and father who enjoys the Saskatchewan trail network with his family.
Paul can be found running, hiking, trail running, gravel cycling and mountain biking during the summer months.
As well, Paul has been a coach for the Regina women’s cycling team, Spoke n’ Hot for the last five years. As a part of the Saskatchewan Mountain Bike Club, Paul helped secure $40,000 for Wascana Trails! Paul also has a love for winter sports; he enjoys shoeing and fat-biking during the winter months If that doesn’t keep Paul busy enough, Paul also is an accomplished photographer and blogger.
Fletcher family
Kaiden, Brian, Darby-Jayne and Denise Fletcher.
The Fletchers live in Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park Cottages. Denise and Brian homeschool their children, which allows them a great deal of freedom to explore where they live and beyond. One of their favourite family activities is exploring the trails.
They love trail running, hiking, kayaking, fishing, ice fishing, riding bikes, metal detecting, tenting, shed hunting, boating, photography, golfing, swimming, playing board games, sitting around campfires and visiting with friends.