Building and maintaining community dirt jumps

Dirt jumps are built by the people who ride them, often without permission and without support. Give that energy a proper home and you get a free, well used space looked after by its own crew. You don't need a big budget. You need a willing landowner, decent dirt and riders who feel it's theirs.

1. 01

   Turn secret spots into legal ones

   Most towns already have riders digging in the woods. Rather than flattening it, ask them to help build something legal. Approach the council or landowner with a small group of riders, a rough plan and photos of what they've built. A sanctioned site with a named group looking after it is safer, longer lasting and far easier to defend than an unofficial one.

2. 02

   Choose the site and the dirt

   Look for a gently sloping patch with good drainage, some shade and easy access for emergency vehicles. Clay rich soil holds shape best. Sandy or stony ground crumbles. Avoid flood plains, tree roots and nearby homes that might complain about noise. Check for underground services before anyone picks up a shovel.

3. 03

   Design for progression

   Build lines for different abilities. Start with a beginner line of rollers and small tabletops, then a medium line, then bigger doubles for experienced riders. Keep sightlines clear, run every line in one direction and leave room to roll out after landings. Get experienced local builders to shape the lips, because a badly shaped take off is the biggest safety risk.

4. 04

   Run community dig days

   Pick a regular day, ideally after rain when the dirt is workable. You'll need shovels, mattocks, wheelbarrows, rakes, tampers, a water source and tarps to cover jumps. Give newcomers simple jobs and pair them with experienced diggers. Dig days are where riders become a crew, and a crew is what keeps the site alive.

5. 05

   Signs, safety and etiquette

   Put up a clear sign with the site rules, line difficulty, direction of travel, an emergency contact and the nearest address for ambulances. Grade lines green, blue and black. Encourage helmets and gloves. Write a simple risk assessment with the landowner and agree who checks the site and how often.

6. 06

   Maintain it all year round

   Dirt changes with the weather. Cover lips and landings with tarps in heavy rain, keep drains clear, pack loose dirt back down after wet spells and fill ruts before they grow. Ask riders not to ride when it's soaked. A short monthly maintenance session prevents most of the big repairs.

7. 07

   Make the crew official

   Formalise the group as a club or volunteer association with a named contact. It makes insurance, funding bids and landowner agreements much easier. Log maintenance and incidents, share photos with the council and list jams and dig days on the HORNGRY events page so new riders can find you.

Common questions

Is a council liable if someone gets hurt on dirt jumps?

Liability rules vary by country, so take local advice. In general, a managed site with signage, a risk assessment, regular checks and a responsible group is in a much stronger position than an unmanaged one.

What's the difference between dirt jumps and a pump track?

Dirt jumps are lines of take offs and landings built for getting air. A pump track is a loop of rollers and berms you ride by pumping, without pedalling. Many sites include both to suit more riders.

What's the best soil for dirt jumps?

Clay rich soil packs hard and holds its shape. A mix of clay and loam is ideal. Sandy or stony soil breaks down quickly and needs much more maintenance.

How much maintenance do dirt jumps need?

Plan on a short session every month and extra work after heavy rain or frost. Covering jumps and keeping drains clear saves most of the hard repairs.