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Mile markers and distance signs along trails

How far have I gone? How far is it to the trailhead? Measuring distance along trails and greenways is important in urban areas as well as in the remote backcountry. Mileage can be marked off on signs, posts, stones, or stencils on the pavement. Being able to state more accurate locations along a trail can also help with emergency response. Maintenance needs can also be more readily identified where accurate mileage is measured. Some mile posts include the direction and distance to trailheads and access points. In some places such as trailheads, larger signs are used to convey distance and destination information. Presented here are a wide variety of solutions for conveying trail distances to trail users.

See sign and marker manufacturers in the American Trails Business Directory

Click on any photo to see it full size along with more information:

The classic mile post with logo on the White River Trail, Indianapolis; photo by Stuart Macdonald, September 2003

Mile post on the Cady Way Trail, Orlando,FL; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 8 July 2009

Cast concrete post on Big Dry Creek Trail, Westminster, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 1 December 2009

Wood mile post along Cherry Creek Greenway, Parker, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 31 Dec 2009

Timber mileage marker post on the Highline Canal Trail, Greenwood Village, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 18 October 2009

Standardized concrete trail marker in Denver's City Park; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 17 June 2010

Low milestone Los Gatos Creek Trail in the City of San Jose; photo by Yves Zsutty, Trail Manager

Thermoplastic mile marker applied to concrete trail surface, Willamette River Greenway, Eugene, OR; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 30 Aug 2008

Mile marker applied to asphalt trail surface, Willamette River Greenway, Eugene, OR; photo by Yves Zsutty

Mile marker made from a standard concrete block, Little Tennessee River Trail, Franklin, NC; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 11 Aug 2009

Sign listing distance to the trailhead; photo by Yves Zsutty

des-PA241353-Aurora-Reservoir Trail, Aurora, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 15 Sept 2008

Mile post includes destination information, Willamette River Greenway, Eugene, OR; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 30 Aug 2008

Trail signs include mileage between bridge access points, Schuylkill River Trail, Philadelphia; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 6 Oct 2008

Privately-funded direction and mileage marker along Rock Creek Trail, Washington, DC; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 9 July 2009

Trail signs include mileage to destinations, Schuylkill River Trail, Philadelphia; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 6 Oct 2008

Detailed list of access points with mileage on Clear Creek Trail,Wheat Ridge, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 1 August 2009

Beach-front trail lists distances for runners and walkers from Pacific Beach to South Mission Beach

Artistic mile markers along the Tennessee Riverway in Chattanooga; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 17 Nov 2010