published Jan 1, 2005

Guidelines for Trail Development within Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

by Montgomery County Commissioners

The purpose of this document is to provide desirable and minimum trail design standards to municipalities applying for county open space funds to develop trail connections. The municipality’s open space plan must indicate connections to existing or proposed county trails, and county parks and historic sites to be eligible for county trail funding.

published Sep 1, 2006

Wake County, North Carolina, Trail Design Guidelines

​The Consolidated Open Space Plan (COSP) guides the work of Wake County's Open Space Program. The Plan presents policy recommendations, program guidelines and suggested methods that should be used by the County and its partners to conserve remaining open space.

published May 1, 2009

Trail Design Guidelines for Portland, Oregon’s Park System

by Portland Parks and Recreation

Trails are an integral part of our park and recreation system. They are used by people of all ages and abilities to exercise, relax, socialize, view wildlife, and travel to destinations such as school and work.

published May 19, 2003

The Benefits that Trails Provide to Communities

This planning effort directs the development of goals and action plans to meet the future needs in advance of their demand.

published Jul 23, 2001

More Physical Activity Leads to Less Cognitive Decline

A Prospective Study of Physical Activity and Cognitive Decline in Elderly Women: Women Who Walk

published Oct 31, 2014

Massachusetts Trails Guidelines and Best Practices Manual

by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

The health and happiness of people across Massachusetts depend on the accessibility and quality of our green infrastructure - our natural resources, recreational facilities, and great historic landscapes.

published Jan 1, 2007

Guide to Sustainable Mountain Trails

by National Park Service

This Guide to Sustainable Mountain Trails: Assessment, Planning & Design Sketchbook, 2007 Edition, has its roots in the foundational policies and ethics of federal conservation and preservation land management agencies such as the United States Forest Service and the National Park Service, and in the spirit of nonprofit agency partnership support for land management agency stewardship initiatives.

published May 1, 2012

Sustainability of Backcountry Trails

by National Park Service

A document providing the basis for the most sustainable backcountry trail for all trail types with the least impact to natural, historic, cultural and aesthetic resources.

published Dec 31, 2006

Guidelines for the Design, Construction and Maintenance of Sustainable Trails

by Trails for All Ontarians Collaborative

The Ontario Trails Strategy describes our vision for trails in Ontario and recognizes the many benefits of trails for health and prosperity and highlights the importance of environmental protection.

published Aug 3, 2017

Improving Public Health through Public Parks and Trails

by U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Parks and trail corridors have been important for public health in the United States for more than 100 years.