Trail Design for Small Properties

Trail Design for Small Properties provides simple, inexpensive solutions for designing, building, and maintaining sustainable trials—trails for hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, off-highway motorcycles (OHMs), and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).


Trail Design for Small Properties


Written by Mel Baughman and Terry Serres
Published by University of Minnesota Extension

If designed with sustainability in mind, a recreational trail can provide years of enjoyment. Sustainable trails require minimal maintenance because their design and materials hold up to intensive recreational use and severe weather conditions.

What kind of tread material is best for your trail? Do you need a bridge to cross open water or will stepping stones do? What tools do you need? We answer these questions and more, providing the information you need to make the right choices for your trail.

Published September 2006

More Articles in this Category

World’s Most Comprehensive Mountain Bike Trail Development Resource Made Possible by Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy Funds

Mountain Bike Trail Development: Guidelines for Successfully Managing the Process,” a 242-page “how to” manual covers modern trail development from trail types, to landscape analysis and design, to environmental and construction considerations, cost implications and more.

Equitable Access to Trails Discussed at 2023 International Trails Summit

If you will be joining us at the ITS in Reno NV April 17-20, 2023, don't miss these speakers and their sessions featuring topics related to equitable trails access.

Top 10 Requests for Trails and Outdoor Recreation Master Plans

Tony Boone and Jon Altschuld are both Board Members of the Professional TrailBuilders Association (PTBA), and both will be presenting at the 2023 American Trails/PTBA International Trails Summit. Their companies, Tony Boone Trails, and Chinook Landscape Architecture are Sierra-level sponsors for the conference.

County of Los Angeles Trails Manual

The purpose of this Trails Manual is to provide an accessible resource that can be used for trail planning, design, construction, and maintenance within the County of Los Angeles