Skills pages:

1. Trail Design
2. Construction
3. Maintenance
4. Management
5. Policies
6. Planning
7. Administration
8. Organizations
9. Partnerships
10. Resources
11. Information
12. Outreach

NTTP Homepage

SKILLS and COMPETENCIES for Trails Training

Hosted by AmericanTrails.org

Categories of skills used in trails and greenways work, along with links to classes and resources for training. Also see National Scenic and Historic Trails Training Needs Assessment

This area categorizes and defines the wide range of skills used in trails and greenways work. The goal is to comprehensively identify the range of competencies and knowledge used by staff and volunteers engaged in every kind of trail work. Web pages for the 12 topics provides a catalogue of skills, plus links to resources, publications, and training providers.

This area is compiled and maintained by Stuart Macdonald from resources provided by members of the National Trails Training Partnership. Many of the specific skills were identified by the task force for the National Scenic and Historic Trails Training Needs Assessment.

TRAIL DESIGN skills and competencies

Specific skills used in trails and greenways work: layout of trails; design for different trail activities; types of trails. See below for training and resources links for trail design.

The following is a list of skills and competencies for this category of trails work.

photo of people and posters

The goal of Trail design is to create a good user
experience within limitations of the resource,
sustainability, and appropriate development

Skills for Natural Surface Trail Design

Basic trail design
Sustainable trail design
Layout of trails, design for different trail activites,
Assessing soils, geology, slope, and vegetation of trail corridor
Tying routes together into a trail system
Design for shared-use trails
Design for off-highway vehicle use
Design of off-highway vehicle parks and use areas

Skills for Trail-related Facility Design

Designing elements for drainage and water control

Skills for Accessible Trail Design

Using universal design guidelines to design and lay out (or retrofit) accessible trails and trail facilities
Identifying varieties of users including families and the elderly as well as the disabled

Skills for Urban Trail and Bike/Ped Facility Design

Basic urban trail design
Design of intermodal bicycle/pedestrian facilities

Skills for Trailhead Facility Design

Laying out parking and unloading areas
Designing signs and information structures
Designing related facility placement

Skills for Design of Structures

Trail bridge types, selection and design
Boardwalk materials and design
Restrooms for trail use

TRAINING and RESOURCES for trail design

Links will take you to specific training opportunities, training providers, and other educational resources for both urban and backcountry trails. See the Online Training Calendar for current opportunities, featured training providers, and resources in each state.

Courses on Trail Design

See providers of training on trail design below
Check the online Calendar for current scheduled training
Search the NTTP training database by keyword, state, or provide

American Trails offer workshops on: Understanding Accessibility and Building Better Trails
Outdoor Stewardship Institute (formerly COTI): programs for basic trail building and maintenance skills as well as "Sustainable Mountain Trails: Assessment, Planning & Design" course
Federal Highway Administration has a University Course on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation, and courses on Pedestrian Facility Design and Bicycle Facility Design
Georgia Trails and Greenways and Gainesville State College provide classes in Trail Design and Layout, and Trail Construction
IMBA Trailbuilding Schools: sponsored by Subaru of America and directed by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, to teach sustainable trailbuilding
Marshall University Park and Recreation Resources program of Huntington, WV, has developed and is teaching an off-highway vehicle trail design course via the internet
Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society provides a variety of courses on Trail Design, Construction, and Maintenance
Professional Trailbuilders Association sponsors the annual Trailbuilders Conference with workshops on technical aspects of planning, development, and management
Student Conservation Association teaches skills in trail design, construction, and maintenance
Trail Management: Plans, Projects and People: week-long interagency training for trail planning, design, development, and management
University of Minnesota Center for Continuing Education teaches "Recreational Trails: Design, Construction, and Maintenance"
On-site trail design and training for both motorized and nonmotorized trails from Troy Scott Parker of Natureshape, Inc.
See more training providers
Check for training providers in your state

Resources for Trail Design

The Trail Building Index provides a wealth of articles, projects, and resources on design and construction issues.

Books on Backcountry and Natural Surface Trail Design

The following books are available from the American Trails Store. Also see the American Trails Bibliography.

Natural Surface Trails by Design Physical and Human Design Essentials of Sustainable, Enjoyable Trails; by Troy Scott Parker
Trail Solutions: IMBA's Guide to Building Sweet Singletrack; Cutting-edge trailbuilding techniques with proven fundamentals in a colorful, easy-to-read format
Lightly On The Land : The SCA Trail Building and Maintenance Manual, 2nd Edition; the trail building and maintenance "Bible," updated and expanded to meet new techniques and new realities of the 21st century.

More books on trail design:

Park guidelines for off-highway vehicles: A resource guide to assist in the planning, development, enhancement, and operation of OHV recreation facilities; by the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council
Wetland Trail Design and Construction Robert Steinholtz and Brian Vachowski, US Department of Transportation and the US Department of Agriculture - Forest Service, Missoula Technology and development Center, 2001

Books on Greenways and Urban Trail Design

The following books are available from the American Trails Store:

Trails for the Twenty-First Century: Planning, Design, and Management Manual for Multi-Use Trails; by Charles Flink , Kristine Olka , Robert Searns; focus on urban and rail trails
Greenways: A Guide to Planning, Design and Development; by Charles A. Flink, Robert M. Searns, Loring LaB Schwarz
Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access: Part I Review of Existing Guidelines and Practices and Part II: A Best Practices Design Guide, from Federal Highway Administration

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.