Trail Design Skills and Competencies

Specific skills used in trails and greenways work: layout of trails; design for different trail activities; types of trails.

by American Trails Staff

The goal of trail design is to create a good user experience within limitations of the resource, sustainability, and appropriate development

Skills for Natural Surface Trail Design

Basic trail design
Sustainable trail design
Layout of trails, design for different trail activites,
Assessing soils, geology, slope, and vegetation of trail corridor
Tying routes together into a trail system
Design for shared-use trails
Design for off-highway vehicle use
Design of off-highway vehicle parks and use areas

Skills for Trail-related Facility Design

Designing elements for drainage and water control

Skills for Accessible Trail Design

Using universal design guidelines to design and lay out (or retrofit) accessible trails and trail facilities
Identifying varieties of users including families and the elderly as well as the disabled

Skills for Urban Trail and Bike/Ped Facility Design

Basic urban trail design
Design of intermodal bicycle/pedestrian facilities

Skills for Trailhead Facility Design

Laying out parking and unloading areas
Designing signs and information structures
Designing related facility placement

Skills for Design of Structures

Trail bridge types, selection and design
Boardwalk materials and design
Restrooms for trail use

Published December 2019

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