Clay Trail & Track Building Soil

In the Missoula Valley, certain areas are rich with dense, clay-heavy soil – often seen as a challenge when preparing sites for construction due to its poor drainage and tendency to shift, making it unsuitable for stable foundations. However, this same material can be incredibly valuable for recreational landscaping applications. Its high clay content allows it to compact tightly and hold shape well, making it ideal for building trails and features for mountain biking, motocross, or even remote-controlled car tracks. When shaped properly and maintained, clay soil forms smooth, durable surfaces with good cohesion, which riders appreciate for traction and flow. So while it may be excavated out of one project, this “problem” material can become the perfect base for another—especially where durability and sculpt-ability are key.