Become a Trail Reporter with Trailforks
Join the Trailforks Community with SCMTS
Welcome to Trailforks, your go-to tool for contributing to the care and upkeep of the beautiful trails in Santa Cruz County! At Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship (SCMTS), one of our key objectives is maintaining the area’s trails and pump tracks, and we invite you to be part of this effort. Whether you’re a seasoned trail expert or just passionate about the outdoors, using Trailforks is a great way to get involved.
Why Use Trailforks?
SCMTS uses Trailforks to track trail issues, record completed projects, and keep a close eye on the condition of our local trails. We also encourage all trail users to report on trail conditions—your input is invaluable in keeping our trails safe and enjoyable for everyone!
For those of you looking to take your involvement to the next level, we offer the opportunity to become an official 'SCMTS Trail Reporter.' As a Trail Reporter, you’ll be able to submit trail reports directly from the field, subscribe to specific trails or regions, and receive alerts when others report on them. Plus, SCMTS staff will review and update your reports to ensure that all the information stays current and accurate.
Creating a Trailforks Profile
Follow these simple steps to create your Trailforks account and become a Trail Reporter for SCMTS:
Step 1: Go to Trailforks.com on your desktop or laptop and click the ‘Login’ button in the upper right-hand corner.
Step 2: Already have an account? Great! Just log in. If not, click on ‘Join Now.’ (Trailforks is owned by Pinkbike, so your credentials will work across both platforms.)
Step 3: Fill in your account details, and be sure to link an email address that you check regularly.
Step 4: Once your account is set up, email your username and associated email to [email protected] so we can add you to the ‘SCMTS Trail Reporter Group’ on Trailforks. We’ll confirm once you’re added and schedule a quick orientation with a Trailforks representative.
Step 5: Congrats! You’re now an official Trail Reporter for SCMTS and ready to start submitting trail reports. Keep reading to learn more about how to use Trailforks effectively.
How to Make the Most of Trailforks
Adding a Region to Trailforks: Webpage - Expand your trail coverage by downloading new regions from the map.
Bookmark Santa Cruz Trail Report Dashboard: Webpage - Keep a pulse on local trails by checking the dashboard with all trail reports submitted to the Santa Cruz region.
Submitting a Trail Report: Webpage - While it’s helpful to peruse through the official Trailforks how-to guide, SCMTS has specific requests for your trail reports so we can best respond to them.
Here’s what to include in your trail reports:
Trail: Submit a separate report for each maintenance item. Remember, SCMTS only works on legal trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Make sure that ‘save current GPS location’ is on for each report you submit.
Status: If you notice a significant or dangerous issue, mark it as a ‘significant issue/amber’ or ‘closed or major issue/red’ to alert other users.
Condition: Use your best judgment to describe the current trail conditions.
Description: Provide a clear, concise description of the issue. Note the work needed and its location to include in your report after walking/riding the trail.
Photo: Photos are key. You don’t need to photograph every minor issue, but larger maintenance items needing staff review should be documented.
Pro Tip: If you’re out of cell range, your report will be processed once you’re back in coverage. Make sure your report is submitted before you wrap up your day. You can also submit reports from your desktop browser if you prefer.
If you have any questions or need help getting started, don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected].
Happy Trails!
