Build Trails

The Art and Science of Trail Development

A well-designed trail invites exploration, stirs a sense of wonder, and guides users through nature without overwhelming it.

The Art & Science of Trail building

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.

Trail Surfaces

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

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

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

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.

Basic Trail Terms

As with any specialty craft, trail builders use unique terms to describe elements of trail construction. A few of the basic terms are:

Trail Tread: the path created for the user in the middle of the trail corridor
Trail Corridor: the wide clearing in which the trail tread is created
Grade: Rise over run; a 1 foot rise in elevation in 10 feet of distance = 10% grade
Side Slope Grade: the grade of the terrain adjacent to the trail tread
Trail Grade: the slope of the trail tread along the length of the trail
Outslope: the area below the trail tread
Backslope: the area above the trail tread
Tread Outslope: the slope of the tread toward the outslope (lower) edge
Benchcut: the excavated area on a slope to establish the usable trail tread
Grade Reversal: a feature changing the tread grade from up to down (or vice versa)
Fall Line: the vertical slope directly down a hillside

Trail Building Steps

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.

Consult the Land Manager

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

- The Manager may prefer specific trail users
- Find areas to showcase and others to avoid
- Consider expected maintenance requirements
- Possible permitted users
  - Hikers and runners
  - Bikers
  - Equestrians
  - Multiple user types
- Type of surface
  - Natural: trail tread is created on existing landscape without adding any surface materials
  - Gravel: limestone screening surface with larger rock base. This is the most common surface for rail-trails
  - Paved: concrete or asphalt surface

Scout the Landscape for Features

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:

Scenic viewpoints
Geologic formations
Historic sites
Sensitive areas
Property boundaries may be provided by the Land Manager and can also be researched online at ORKA (Online Resource for Kansas Appraisers)

Preliminary Trail Layout

Linear or Loop: linear trails are point to point like rail trails; loop trails return to the beginning point or join in a larger loop.
One-half Rule: trail grades should not exceed one-half of the adjacent sideslope
10% Rule: trail grades should not exceed 10%
Grade reversals: changing the grade controls water flow allowing water to leave the trail
Trailhead locations: explore various locations to provide the most logical access points
Mark proposed trail route with tape or pin flags
Tip: Walk both ways after flagging a potential trail route; it may look different from each direction
Tip: Sleep on it – Return to the flagged trail a day or two later to confirm your the preliminary design meets your expectations
Record a GPS track
Review with the land manager for approval prior to beginning construction

Clear the Corridor

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

Construct the Trail Tread

Flag the outslope edge of the trail tread; this may be on the left or right depending on the direction of travel along the slope being crossed.
Outsloped Tread: the slope across the tread should be 3% to 5% to shed water
Bench cutting: digging into the hillside to shape a tread that is usable with a slight outslope
Build in grade reversals to allow water to exit the trail tread

Trailhead and Signage

Record GPS track for trailhead, printed or online maps
A trailhead kiosk typically includes a trail map and other information including trail manager contact information, park hours, and permitted users
Responsible trail use signage encourages trail users to respect the trail and other users
Trail marking aids trail users in navigating a trail system and may include mile markers or directional information

Trail Tools

Trail Maintenance

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:

Erosion and storm water can damage the original trail tread and require reshaping or redesign
Trail use when muddy may destroy the carefully constructed trail tread. Trail signage should encourage users to let the trail dry out before use. Depending on the type of soils and the trail design, the trail may dry overnight in some locations and take many days in others.
Widening/Braiding of a trail occurs when users take alternate routes around obstacles, wet areas or damaged trail tread. This condition requires determining the reason for the widening then correcting the design to encourage trail use on a single path. Sometimes this requires adding barriers or rerouting the trail section to a better location.
Shortcuts and unauthorized trails alter the careful design of the trail and contribute to potential erosion, user conflict and increased maintenance. Solutions include adding barriers – like boulders or downed trees, planting vegetation on the unauthorized trail, and educating and informing trail users about the issue.
Removing seasonal vegetation is often a time consuming effort during the growing season. Lopping brush, trimming grasses and mowing along the trail edge is required on many trails. Seasonal growth is often maintained using chemicals like glyphosate. Responsible use of chemicals is generally a more efficient maintenance strategy than using mechanical methods on many trails.
Removal of downed trees requires the use of hand saws or chainsaws so that the trail is safe to use.
Trail watchers are invaluable resources for maintaining a trail. Few trail managers can cover an entire trail system every day, but many trail users are on the trail daily or many times a week. Trail managers who organize local, regular trail users can rely upon a team with eyes on the trail continuously. When a tree falls or other issues arise the trail manager can be alerted to the problem and can quickly go directly to the location to address the problem.

Online Guides

Trail Maintenance and Construction Notebook (USDA Forest Service)

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.

Trail Solutions (IMBA)

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.

Complete Guide to Trail Building and Maintenance (Appalachian Mountain Club)

Referenced as a standard in the field, this book offers in-depth coverage of trail building and maintenance techniques for various environments.

Trail-Building Toolbox (Rails-to-Trails Conservancy)

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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