More Trailbuilding Resources

Resources and Library:

Trailbuilding

Resources for building trails and greenways: design guidelines, construction techniques, materials, trail paving and surfacing, and trailhead signs and facilities.

Optimizing trail grade: the key to creating sought-after trails by Randy Martin
Guide to Sustainable Mountain Trails: Trail Assessment, Planning, and Design Sketchbook
Two new trail design books cover "how to think" and "how to do it"
Building Sustainable Trails: designing sustainable contour trails
Park Guidelines for Off-Highway Vehicles covers OHV recreation area design
Emerging Trends in Pocket Bike Parks (pdf of PowerPoint 2.7 mb)
The How and Why of Trail Construction on the Appalachian Trail
Handbook for Trail Design, Construction, and Maintenance, North Country National Scenic Trail
Hiking Trail Design: Trailbuilders tell us how they lay the groundwork
Erosion Control Strategies for New Trails by Martha S. Mitchell, Erosion Control
Equestrian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads, and Campgrounds
Designing Shared-Use Trails to Include Equestrians, by Anne M. O'Dell (pdf 5.3mb)
Shared-Use Path Design (pdf 1 mb); from FHWA
Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access
Conservation Ethics Guiding The Goethe Trail
Trail Design and Construction Standards from Northern Bonneville Shoreline Trail (pdf 577 kb)
Trail Guide: Building multiuse trails and bridges by Kyle Ryan
Westchester RiverWalk Design Guidelines (pdf 8.9mb)
Guidelines for Trail Development Within Montgomery County, PA, 2005 (pdf 1.2 MB)
Recreational Trail Design and Construction from University of Minnesota Extension
Wetland trail development -- From THE TRAIL FORUM
Wetland Trail Design and Construction: Steinholz and Vachowski, 2001
Four Simple Tasks to Do Prior to Trail Design by Jef Farland
How accessible recreation facilities benefit everyone
Back Country Trail Design and Management
How to Build Challenging Mountain Bike Trails: articles from International Mountain Bicycling Association
10 Most Common Trailbuilding Mistakes
Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook; USFS

Cattle Guards for Off-Highway Vehicle Trails: Selection and Installation Considerations
Accessible Picnic Tables: Requirements and Recommendations
Vault Evaporator Toilet System: An Innovative Alternative for Waste Disposal
Policy concerning the placement of signs along the Longleaf Trace rail trail
Art Enhances Western Greenways
Campground Accessibility: Issues and Recommendations
Bonneville Shoreline Trail Signage Documentation is a complete sign standards manual

Used steel well casings make better culverts
Know what's underground for safe trail construction and maintenance
Best Management Practices for Erosion Control During Trail Maintenance and Construction
Revegetation along trail corridors -- From THE TRAIL FORUM
The Slate Creek gabions: structures for a streamside trail
Crib Walls for Mountain Bike Trails
Armoring Trails, from Earth Riders Trails Assoc.
Building Contour Trails with Full Bench Cut and Outslope
Rolling Crown Switchbacks
Rolling Grade Dips
Trailbuilding Basics: International Mountain Bicycling Association's guide on trail design, construction and maintenance: download the pdf file

The art of building crushed stone trails by Tony Boone
Building crusher fines trails -- From THE TRAIL FORUM
Mowed grass and crusher fines surfaces on Cross Country Running Trail, Bettendorf, Iowa
National Trails Surface Study seeks best materials
Accessible Trail Surfaces: What Do I Need to Know? from National Center on Accessibility
Surfaces for accessible trails: tips and definitions
Soil Stabilizers On Universally Accessible Trails (pdf 164K)
Evaluation of "Road OYL" for trail Stabilization-- From THE TRAIL FORUM
Geosynthetics for Trails in Wet Areas: 2008 Edition
Permeable Paver Research Summary from Lake County Forest Preserves (pdf 335K)
Armoring: Using Rock to Harden Trails
Geosynthetics for Trails in Wet Areas (pdf 256K)
What's Under Foot? Multi-use Trail Surfacing Options, by George Hudson, Alta Planning + Design (pdf 1.0mb)
Pavement Discussion from Parks and Recreation, Vancouver, BC (pdf 144kb)
Use of Recycled Pavements study, San Jose
Recycled Asphalt Paving for Staged Construction and Recreation Trails
Building Better Asphalt Trails
A Guideline for the Design and Construction of Asphalt Pavements for Colorado Trails and Paths
Hot Mix Asphalt Pavements for Trails and Paths provides guidelines for design and construction of asphalt surfaces: contact publications@hotmix.org, (888) 468-6499, or order online at www.hotmix.org.

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More Trailbuilding Resources

Resources and Library:

Trailbuilding