Trails and greenways create an opportunity to teach visitors about history, the environment, and the community
by Stuart Macdonald, Trail Consultant, American Trails
One of the attractions of trails is that they provide a close look at natural areas, neighborhoods, or wild places. This "sense of place" is what brings people back to a pathway. Many trails are specifically designed as "nature trails" to teach school groups and the public about a particular habitat or ecosystem. Others, such as the examples here, are just typical trails where managers have provided one or a few displays on local topics of interest. Many different kinds of signs are in use, from the basic plaque to large gazebo-style exhibits.
Classic vertical display board on the Lomaki Trail, which accesses Pueblo ruins sites in Wupatki National Monument in northeast Arizona
Interpretive signs on a short trail near Leadville, CO overlooking the Sawatch mountain range
Metal structure creates a substantial interpretive display along the Platte River Greenway, Denver, CO
Interpretive sign celebrating the explorers and fur traders who travelled along what is now the Platte River Greenway
Artistic interpretive sign along the Wissahickon Valley Trail, Philadelphia
Sign teaching about the Battle of Germantown along the Wissahickon Valley Trail, Philadelphia
Several historic bridges along the Schuylkill River Trail in Philadelphia are described in signage
Interpreting narrow-gauge railroad history at the Colorado Trail on Kenosha Pass
Prehistoric interpretation along Box Canyon Trail, Wupatki National Monument, northeast Arizona
Interpreting salmon habitat and estuary restoration along the Olympic Discovery Trail, Washington
Another example of environmental education focused on the topic of Nature and community balance along The Colony Shoreline Trail, TX
Sign at Elk Meadow Park west of Denver tells visitors about the role their sales tax pays in preserving Jefferson County Open Space
The natural history of fire is the topic in Big Cypress Trail in Goethe State Forest, central Florida
The big bay is the topic of signs along San Diego's Harborside Trail
The Colony Shoreline Trail, Texas
Plaque set into brick pavers along the Schuykill River Greenway, Philadelphia
Stuart Macdonald spent 19 years as Colorado's State Trails Coordinator. He is the editor of American Trails Magazine. During 1998-99, he represented State Trail Administrators on the national committee that proposed regulations for accessible trails. He chaired the National Recreational Trails Committee, which advised the Federal Highway Administration in the first years of the Recreational Trails Program. Stuart grew up in San Diego and his main outdoor interest besides trails is surfing. He has a BA in English from San Francisco State and a Masters in Landscape Architecture from Utah State.
Proper Signage Makes a Trail Come Alive
From wayfinding signage that help the public navigate your trail, to informational signs that educate trail visitors about the area, promote conservation, and create a more interactive experience, proper signage can take trails to the next level.
Making the Trail Visible and Visitor Ready: A Plan for the James River Segment
The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail joined the National Trails System following designation by Congress in 2006. The trail helps visitors experience, envision, understand, and protect what the explorers and inhabitants of the region encountered 400 years ago.
Trail Tales Educational Outreach & Interpretive Plan
Trail Tales is a community-focused educational outreach and shoreline interpretive program centered in the City of Anacortes in Skagit County Washington.
Interpretive Planning Tools for Historic Areas, Historic Trails and Gateways
This toolkit was designed to assist managers in developing and implementing regional or site-specific interpretive plans. It describes each step in the process from the early planning stages through implementation to evaluation.
