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Training & Education

See the complete list of current Featured Training Providers.

See currently scheduled training opportunities on the National Trails Training Partnership Calendar

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UDSA Forest Service Resources for Trails Training

photo of floating bridge

From Missoula Technology and Development
Center publication on Floating Trail Bridges

One of the goals of the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is to help distribute good technical information for trails and greenways planners. The RTP, which is administered by the Federal Highway Administration, is partnering with the USDA Forest Service's Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC) to develop products and to provide information for the public to improve trail construction and maintenance techniques.

Web Resources

Thanks to the Wood in Transportation Program, the Trail Bridge Catalog is now available to the public with funding by FHWA's Recreational Trails Program. The site includes drawings of all elements and types of trail bridges.

Some training courses are available onlilne. For example, Defensive Horse Safety, is an online training course on remaining safe while performing such tasks as catching, leading, tying, grooming, bridling, and saddling stock. Short video clips augment the text. From USDA Forest Service - Missoula Technology & Development.

Publications

FHWA has also worked with MTDC to provide several trail publications, such as the very popular Trails Construction and Maintenance Notebook. Two new publications are now available:

0223-2812-MTDC Floating Trail Bridges and Docks
0223-2821-MTDC Managing Degraded Off-Highway Vehicle Trails
0623-2340-MTDC Accessible Gates for Trails and Roads

Future Publications

In the future you can expect to see the following:

Universally Accessible Trails (from San Dimas T & D Center)
Composite Trail Bridge Study (using composite materials for trail bridges)
Trail Bike Use Study: Determining Concurrent Users on Trail Systems
Portable Rock Crusher for Trails (equipment to crush rocks on site for trail surfacing)
Mountain Bike Trail Design, Construction, and Maintenance
Visual Resources (this will be developed along with the International Mountain Bicycling Association)
Equestrian Trail Design, Construction, and Maintenance Guide (likelyÑ we're still working out how to do this with Equestrian organizations)
Liquid Sprayer for Dust Control (from San Dimas T & D Center, a sprayer that can be towed by an ATV to help settle dust or apply other trail tread additives)

If you would like copies of USFS publications that are currently available, please order them directly from the FHWA R & T Report Center. A form is posted on the Recreational Trails Program website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/index.htm

Federal Trail Training Websites

USFS Missoula Technology and Development Program: http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/techdev/mtdc.htm

USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station: http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/

BLM National Training Center: www.ntc.blm.gov

The National Trails Training Partnership

American Trails, P.O. Box 491797, Redding, CA 96049-1797 • (530) 547-2060 • Fax: (530) 547-2035 • nttp@americantrails.org • www.AmericanTrails.org

The National Trails Training Partnership is an alliance of Federal agencies, training providers, nationwide supporters, and providers of products and services. Visit the online calendar of training opportunities, access hundreds of trail-related resources, read the news, learn how you can help, and see training resources in your state.

This material is based upon work supported by the Federal Highway Administration under Cooperative Agreement DTFH61-06-H-00023. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the Author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Federal Highway Administration.

Related Pages:

Training & Education

UDSA Forest Service Resources for Trails Training

The National Trails Training Partnership