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Boardwalks for accessible trails and nature walks

A common feature for crossing wetlands or river margins is the boardwalk. The difference in a boardwalk and a bridge is that the bridge generally crosses deep or moving water, while a boardwalk traverses very shallow water or even dry land. A boardwalk can be supported every few feet while a bridge needs longer clear spans and must be engineered to carry more weight. Boardwalks are often used for interpretive facilities in habitat areas such as swamps. Enabling access by wheelchairs, strollers, and people with difficulty walking is another benefit where the trail must cross wet or rough terrain. Also see boardwalk examples at Happy Creek Nature Trail and Boardwalks for Woodinville, WA.

See Docks and Boardwalks in the American Trails Business Directory

Click on any photo to see it full size:

(photos and commentary by Stuart Macdonald)

Wood boardwalk trail at Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Willamette Valley, OR; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Aug. 29, 2008.

Concrete accessible parking slab transitions to wood boardwalk trail at Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Willamette Valley, OR; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Aug. 29, 2008.

Wood boardwalk trail at Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Willamette Valley, OR; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Aug. 29, 2008.

Wood deck detail where boardwalk changes direction, Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Willamette Valley, OR; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Aug. 29, 2008.

"Underside of wood boardwalk trail at Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Willamette Valley, OR; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Aug. 29, 2008.

Boardwalk widens for seating and observation area, Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Willamette Valley, OR; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Aug. 29, 2008.

Boardwalk at Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Willamette Valley, OR; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Aug. 29, 2008.

Wood deck detail where boardwalk changes direction, Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Willamette Valley, OR; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Aug. 29, 2008.

Boardwalk section along river, Little Tennessee National Recreation Trail, Franklin, TN; photo by Stuart Macdonald, March 21, 2009.

Boardwalk widens for seating and observation area, Little Tennessee National Recreation Trail, Franklin, TN; photo by Stuart Macdonald, March 21, 2009.

Upper Roaring Brook Accessible Walkway and Fishing Pier; Arcadia Management Area, Richmond-Exeter, Rhode Island (2003)

Wetland crossing structure, Green Ridge State Forest and Rocky Gap State Park Trail in Flintstone, Maryland (2003)

Boardwalk along San Francisco Bay Trail, California

Typical nature trail boardwalk through seasonal wetlands supported on low pilings

Substantial boardwalk with concrete piers through Sacramento River flood plain; Turtle Bay Nature Center, Redding, CA; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Nov. 9, 2007.

Boardwalk is part of Chattanooga's Riverpark that runs along the Tennessee River; photo by Stuart Macdonald, June 18, 2006.

Boardwalk supported on concrete piers, Chattanooga, Tennessee; photo by Stuart Macdonald, June 18, 2006.

Boardwalk supports greenway trail on steep slope along the Tennessee River, Chattanooga, TN; photo by Stuart Macdonald, June 18, 2006.

Boardwalk supports trail between river and roadway in downtown Chattanooga, TN; photo by Stuart Macdonald, June 18, 2006.

Low boardwalk through wet meadow prevents damage on multi-use trail in a national forest in Colorado