Condition reports are time-sensitive trail updates: closures, washouts, new obstacles, seasonal access changes. They’re among the most valuable contributions you can make — other wheelers planning trips will look at recent condition reports to decide whether a trail is currently doable.
How to submit
On any trail page, click Report condition (logged-in users only). The form asks for:
- Date observed — when you actually saw the condition. Defaults to today; change if you’re reporting from a recent trip
- Severity — Info, Caution, Closure [VERIFY exact options]
- Description — what you saw, in detail
- Photos (optional) — visual confirmation strongly helps
When to submit
- After driving a trail — if conditions are notably different from the trail’s baseline, report it
- If you saw a closure or hazard, even from a distance
- If seasonal conditions change (a trail becomes inaccessible due to snow, water level, etc.)
What makes a good report
- Specific. “Slick rock near mile marker 4 is dry” is more useful than “trail is in good shape.”
- Dated. The date you observed it, not the date you’re writing.
- Honest about uncertainty. “Looked closed from the trailhead but I didn’t verify” is fine.
- Includes photos when relevant. A washout report with a photo is 10x more credible than text alone.
Severity levels
- Info — general update, no impact on accessibility
- Caution — additional difficulty or hazard wheelers should be aware of
- Closure — trail is fully closed or inaccessible
The trail page sorts reports by recency, with Closure-severity reports shown prominently at the top regardless of age (until someone reports it open again).
Reports as a wheeler’s reputation
Wheelers who consistently submit accurate, useful condition reports earn the Trusted Reporter badge after a threshold of approved reports [VERIFY]. Reports flagged as inaccurate by other wheelers count negatively.