In the last issue, we discussed wildlife that you may meet on the trail which also included some critters known to be toxic. In this installment, we’ll touch on some of the poisonous plants you may encounter on your ride, and that you want to avoid. A plant is considered poisonous or toxic if it causes any negative symptoms, even a mild rash.

The Center for Disease Control recommends wearing long sleeves, pants, and socks, as well as gloves to avoid skin contact with poisonous plants. It is not recommended that you get close to the plants to take a picture, for instance. If you aren’t sure whether you’ve been exposed to any of these plants, wash your clothes immediately after your ride and scrub your body in the shower to be sure.

Trail crews and advocacy organizations like SDMBA do a good job of clearing overgrowth away from trails in their regions. Their work benefits us all in not having to carefully ride our way through woodlands. But even given the rigorous work of trail crews, these toxic plants are fast-growing weeds who’s seeds can stay dormant in the soil for many years.

The general rule of thumb for identifying toxic plants in the wild (and a catchy iteration of a rhyme you may have learned as a kid) is: “leaves of three, let it be.” If you’re not sure whether or not you’ll be encountering toxic plants, websites like iNaturalist can show you the exact location of reported observations by other hikers or riders on the trail. Remember, look but don’t touch and if you think you’re in need of medical attention, call your doctor right away.