Build Trails
A well-designed trail invites exploration, stirs a sense of wonder, and guides users through nature without overwhelming it.
Trail building is more than moving dirt—it’s shaping a path that connects people to the land in a lasting way. A well-designed trail invites exploration, stirs a sense of wonder, and guides users through nature without overwhelming it. Behind every graceful switchback and scenic overlook is a thoughtful balance of creativity and engineering. The art draws people in; the science keeps the trail alive. Good trails feel natural, but they don’t happen by accident. They’re built with vision, care, and respect—for the landscape, for the user, and for the future. Trail builders aren’t just constructing routes—they’re creating experiences that endure.
Choosing a trail surface is a balancing act between cost, durability, user experience, and environmental impact. Each surface type—natural, gravel, and paved—comes with its own tradeoffs that affect how the trail is built, maintained, and used. Ultimately, choosing the right surface depends on the trail’s purpose, the land manager’s preference, expected use, budget, and the character of the surrounding landscape.
Natural surface trails use minimal materials and blend seamlessly with the environment, offering an immersive outdoor experience. They’re often the most affordable in terms of materials but demand skilled labor, specialized tools, and a deep understanding of terrain and drainage. Because they’re vulnerable to erosion, sustainability depends heavily on careful attention to slope and alignment.
Gravel trails offer a step up in durability while still maintaining a natural feel. They’re less prone to erosion than bare soil but still require proper grading and drainage to stay intact over time. Construction is more involved, requiring base preparation and material transport, but they support a broader range of users, including cyclists and strollers, with less maintenance than natural surface trails.
Paved trails are the most durable and accessible, ideal for high-traffic areas and inclusive of all users, including those with mobility aids. However, they come with the highest construction costs, greater environmental impact during installation, and require long-term planning to ensure proper siting and stormwater management.
As with any specialty craft, trail builders use unique terms to describe elements of trail construction. A few of the basic terms are:
The basic steps in developing a natural surface trail are outlined below and more detailed guidelines may be found in the various links provided. Many of these guidelines apply to other surface types but are more critical for natural surface trails. Each trail presents unique geology, terrain, vegetation and features that may affect the design and construction. Our experienced trail team is always available to assist with any trail development challenges you encounter.
Obtain Permission
Building a new trail should be a collaborative effort between the land manager and the trail developer. Involving the trail manager from the outset ensures that the completed trail satisfies the manager’s requirements and goals. It is advisable to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) early in the project to specify the relationship between the Land Manager and the Trail Developer so that the responsibilities and expectations of each party are clearly stated.
Consider Manager’s Goals and Concerns
Trail designers are responsible for finding routes through the landscape that will inspire trail users for many generations. Trail design begins with scouting the location for interesting features and limiting factors like park boundaries. Winter is an optimal time to begin the process when most vegetation has gone dormant thus enabling better visibility of the terrain. Some features to discover include:
The necessary corridor width and height depends on the expected intended user.
Equestrians require the widest and highest opening, while hikers require the least
Clear the corridor of vegetation using loppers, hand saws, chain saws, brush mower being sure to preserve the location of flagging
Remove any debris with leaf blower, McLeods or rakes
Trail maintenance is an ongoing effort that ensures trail users are able to access and safely enjoy the established trail. A well maintained trail will enable a consistent user experience reflecting the trail builders original vision. Many factors contribute to the need for trail maintenance including:
A detailed, practical guide aimed at trail workers, covering concepts such as plotting trails, scouting, layout, tread construction, structures, and tool use. It provides step-by-step instructions and diagrams for both hand-built and machine-built trails.
A comprehensive 272-page book by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) covering the entire trail building process, from planning and design to construction and maintenance. It includes modern techniques and practical advice for sustainable, shared-use trails.
Referenced as a standard in the field, this book offers in-depth coverage of trail building and maintenance techniques for various environments.
An online resource hub with best practices for planning, funding, designing, constructing, and maintaining trails, including technical tips and case studies for community trail projects.
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