Recommended Resources

Trail-Specific Recommended Resources

Recommended Webinars

More Resources


Sort: Most Viewed Date Published Title

published Feb 2020

What is the Typical Width of a Shared-Use Trail?

by American Trails Staff

The best answer that you will get for how wide a trail should be is “It depends.”


posted Feb 19, 2018

What Went Wrong?

What happens when things don’t go as planned?


published Aug 2019

Wildlife and Trails Checklist — Introduction

by American Trails Staff

The Wildlife and Trail Planning Checklist is a sequence of wildlife-related questions and possible steps to consider in planning a trail.


published Sep 2018

Wildlife and Trails Checklist — Step A: Getting the Whole Picture

by American Trails Staff

Planning Trails with Wildlife in Mind


published Sep 2018

Wildlife and Trails Checklist — Step B: Considering alternatives

by American Trails Staff

The checklist focuses specifically on wildlife issues of trail planning and is designed to mirror comprehensive planning processes.


published Sep 2018

Wildlife and Trails Checklist — Step C: Building & Managing the trail

by American Trails Staff

The checklist focuses specifically on wildlife issues of trail planning and is designed to mirror comprehensive planning processes.


published Sep 2018

Wildlife And Trails Primer - I. What happens to plants near trails

by American Trails Staff

Encouraging visitors to stay on the trail is the most important issue, and is made easier by providing attractive, well-designed trail systems. Managers should also identify populations of plants that have been designated as threatened, endangered, or sensitive.


published Sep 2018

Wildlife And Trails Primer - A. Trails and their zones of influence

by American Trails Staff

A trail’s area of influence should be planned and managed as an integral part of the trail. This influence zone should provide recreationists with meaningful interactions with nature, without infringing on sensitive habitat.


published Sep 2018

Wildlife And Trails Primer - B. Avoiding large natural areas

by American Trails Staff

Protecting large, undisturbed areas of wildlife habitat should be a priority. Deciding whether or not to build a trail that may contribute to fragmentation is a tradeoff that the local community or land manager will have to make.


published Sep 2018

Wildlife And Trails Primer - C. Tools for a broader view

by American Trails Staff

Looking at resources from a regional or landscape-wide perspective helps identify where trails should go and which areas should be conserved for wildlife.


published Sep 2018

Wildlife And Trails Primer - How Wildlife Responds to Trails

by American Trails Staff

The construction of a trail is just one impact on the habitat it passes through. The activities of visitors and the response of wildlife are also components of the long-term trail impacts.


published Sep 2018

Wildlife And Trails Primer - J. Managing trails with wildlife in mind

by American Trails Staff

Offering wildlife interpretation and environmental education to trail users can play an important role in reducing impacts to wildlife. People more readily protect what they understand and appreciate.