Red Hill Council
Public Service Announcement
Before you take your next step on Red Hill, look down. That bumpy, dark crust beneath your feet might be thousands of years old.
It’s called biological soil crust, or “biocrust” for short, and it’s a living skin over the soil made of cyanobacteria, lichen, moss and fungi working together. Cyanobacteria, one of the oldest life forms on Earth, lie dormant when dry, but, when wet, they move through the soil and leave behind sticky fibers that bind sand and dirt into a tough, cohesive layer. Over time, lichen and moss join in, and the whole community knits the ground into a continuous living crust.
To spot it, look for spongy, bumpy patches darker than the surrounding soil, often rising in small pinnacles. It’s easiest to find along Sutey Ranch’s trails, where foot traffic has historically been lower, but you can also find great examples along all of Red Hill’s trails, including Mushroom Rock.
Handle with care
Biocrust is tough against wind and drought, but fragile against feet, paws and tires. A single footprint can kill it. A thin veneer can take five to seven years to return. Mature crust takes up to 50 years to strengthen, and the addition of lichens and moss can take centuries.
At a recent meeting, longtime Carbondale locals reminisced about the crypto gardens that once covered parts of Red Hill decades ago, before they were disturbed — evidence of just how long recovery really takes.
The rule is simple: Human and pet footprints belong only ON the trail and nowhere else. Stay on the established path and keep your dog on it, too.
Why it matters
Biocrust does more than sit there. It locks soil in place against wind and rain, which is a big part of why the Colorado Plateau’s high desert is a landscape of stone and crust rather than shifting sand dunes. It also holds and traps water and adds nutrients that desert plants depend on to survive. Without it, this landscape would look very different.
Thank you, volunteers
During our recent trail work sessions, volunteers scattered branches to make short-cutting our trails more difficult for off-leash dogs. Keeping your dog on-leash for your whole hike is the best way to prevent dogs from creating their own social trails through sensitive soils.
If you are biking alongside your dog, remember to slow or stop frequently so that your dog won’t be tempted to take short-cuts off the trails in order to catch up with you. This will be a big help in protecting the crust.