In 2017 an effort was started to reach out to landowners at Earl's trails to start the process of legitimizing this popular trail system and suggest trail improvement projects.

As most of the trails in the valley, these trails were mostly built without approval from landowners. To start the legitimizing process communication channels were opened with Mass DCR.

Contact was made with Amherst College and Town of Hadley Conservation Commission. Communication was positive and gave soft approval of trail maintenance and projects on the properties owned or managed by these parties.

Note: Despite being a patchwork of Mass DCR, Town of Hadley, Amherst College, Hampshire College, and private landowners, common "knowledge" was that Mass DCR owned all of the land at Earl's.

Discussions about plans for bridges, boardwalks, signage, and informational kiosks were introduced to landowners and managers. These ideas shaped into ongoing conversations and planning.

One of the larger projects planned for completion at Earl's was replacing the pallet bridge referred to as the "swoopy bridge" on the approach trail at the bottom of the trail system. This project was proposed in 2017 to Hampshire College and Kestrel Land Trust, the conservation restriction holder for the Hampshire College property.

This particular bridge was at the bottom of a high sloped stream that had eroded majorly resulting in an ever changing ride experience but also dumping sediment into the stream opening the possibilities of ecological impact. The bridge was historically made of wooden pallets or widely spaced ladder bridges that were difficult to navigate on foot. These bridges also presented hazards as planks regularly snapped and the framing cracked or sagged until it was replaced by another pallet or equivalent "fix".

The partnership with Mass DCR grew as authorized work increased for for trail systems located on DCR properties across the valley. Discussion of work approval process for Mass DCR was fine tuned and planned for Earl's.

Further work was done to reach out to Hampshire and Amherst College to pursue a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize permission granted for maintaining the trails or building infrastructure as needed for these properties.

Basic trail maintenance of deadfall clearing, corridor trimming, and drainage clearing were ok'd and performed. Momentum was building from riders in the community and trail work enthusiasm was increasing.

2019 also marked bigger steps with Kestrel Land Trust to obtain a conservation restriction protecting 3 pieces of property across Earl's Trails. This land deal was part of a much larger land acquisition across the Holyoke Range involving large grants and partnerships with Mass DCR, Kestrel Land Trust, and local trail user groups. The 3 parcels at Earl's Trails were owned by Hadley and Amherst College. In November the town approved this conservation restriction guaranteeing protection of mountain bike access and trails maintenance approval at Earl's Trails.

This land deal benefitted the mountain bike community by not only protecting our access to these lands, but by simplifying the management process of these parcels. As mountain bike trail building standards were written in as a reference for the types of work allowed, completing projects on Hampshire College, Amherst College, or Town of Hadley land was now initially cleared. This step allows landowners to trust that the work we do will be done right as the CR lists it as approved.

One of the more surprising "controversial" projects completed at Earl's was the replacement of the historically sketchy pallet bridge at the bottom of a small stream ravine. Discussion with the landowners, land managers, trail builders, conservation commission showed overwhelming agreement to the replacement of this bridge and rerouting the trail. Keeping the bridge out of the stream slopes would stop the erosion and soil compaction problem and provide a more reasonable crossing experience. As this bridge was on an approach trail which connects the bottom of the system together, the technical nature of the previous crossing on such a basic access trail was unreasonable for some. The pallet bridge was also notably difficult for foot traffic, so if a rider was unable to commit, walking would prove even more sketchy. This project ensured that a consistent and safe trail experience would be waiting for trail users well into the future of Earl's.