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Cool Trail Solutions

Wood walkways: low boardwalks for accessible trails and nature walks

Planked walks that are only slightly raised off the ground provide a smooth surface. These paths are essentially boardwalks without the elaborate piers or other footings. Others are built like bridges where wet soil, rather than flowing water. Planed walks are also commonly used to cross sand dunes to avoid disturbing the vegetation as well as to provide a firm surface. For wheelchairs and other use, the surface would qualify as "firm and stable" for accessibility. Like other boardwalks, this surfacing is often used for interpretive facilities in wet habitat areas. Also see the Cool Trail Solutions gallery of Boardwalks. More examples of accessible boardwalk trails are 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:

(Commentary by Stuart Macdonald)

Wood boardwalk is a multi-use trail on the Ohio to Erie Trail

Downtown Lakewalk in Duluth, MN, board surface adjacent to paved bikeway; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Sept. 8, 2007

The planked walk is laid directly on the asphalt surface of Downtown Lakewalk in Duluth, MN, adjacent to paved bikeway; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Sept. 8, 2007

Planked walk provides dry surface adjacent to crushed rock trail along the Duluth, MN, harbor; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Sept. 8, 2007

"This "bridge" in a park in Asheville, NC is really a planked walk with handrails; photo by Stuart Macdonald, March 18 2009

Planks hold up crushed rock surface over seasonal wet area in Elk Meadow Park, Jefferson County Open Space, Colorado; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 17 Oct 09

Planked walk is almost a bridge crossing a small wetland adjacent to Little Dry Creek Trail, Arvada, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Aug. 19, 2007

Lakewood, CO, Greenbelt Wetland Boardwalk; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 10 Nov 09

Eisen Gross led restoration efforts on the trail in 2009 as an Eagle Scout project; Greenbelt Wetland Boardwalk; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 10 Nov 09

Concrete round piers support the joists in places; Greenbelt Wetland Boardwalk, Lakewood, Colorado; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 10 Nov 09

Planked walk in Bible Park, Denver, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 4 Dec 09

Laminated beams support boardwalk in Bible Park, Denver, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 4 Dec 09

Planked walk laid on soil surface, Mill Creek Canyon, Salt Lake City, UT; photo by Stuart Macdonald, June 2002

Grass finding its way through wood planks, Mill Creek Canyon, Salt Lake City, UT; photo by Stuart Macdonald, June 2002

Two steps connect planked walk to crushed rock trail, Mill Creek Canyon, Salt Lake City, UT; photo by Stuart Macdonald, June 2002

Woodpecker Loop National Recreation Trail, Finley National Wildlife Refuge; photo by Stuart Macdonald, August 28, 2008

Woodpecker Loop National Recreation Trail, Finley National Wildlife Refuge; photo by Stuart Macdonald, August 28, 2008.

Non-skid metal surface on "boardwalk" anchors wood chip trails, Arboretum Waterfront Trail in Seattle, WA; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Sept. 2008

Non-skid metal surface on "boardwalk" keeps trail dry along water's edge, Marsh Island, Arboretum Waterfront Trail in Seattle, WA; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Sept. 2008

Planked pathway crosses lakefront dunes, Duluth, Minnesota; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Sept. 8, 2007