This document is contained within the Visitor Use Management Toolbox on Wilderness.net. Since other related resources found in this toolbox may be of interest, you can visit this toolbox by visiting the following URL:

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• This document is contained within the Visitor Use
  Management Toolbox on Wilderness.net. Since other
  related resources found in this toolbox may be of
  interest, you can visit this toolbox by visiting
  the following URL http//www.wilderness.net/index
  .cfm?fusetoolboxessecvum. All toolboxes are
  products of the Arthur Carhart National
  Wilderness Training Center.

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Trail Design, Construction, Management

Jeff Marion, Unit Leader/Scientist Virginia Tech
Field Unit, USGS, Patuxent WRC jmarion_at_vt.edu,
540-231-6603
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Presentation Objectives

• Present a trail system assessment process for
  evaluating the sustainability of existing trails.
• Describe trail design and management strategies,
  including
• Selecting resistant alignments
• Constructing resistant trails
• Describe trail management strategies, including
• Maintaining trails to reduce impacts
• Managing visitors to reduce impact

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Trail System Assessment
Definition Identify trails that have a high
physical potential for sustainable use (i.e.,
appropriate soils, hydrology, and vegetation),
and also contribute to the overall recreation and
transportation needs of the entire protected
area. Requires initial identification of
potential trails and further site-specific
evaluation of trail conditions by trained
personnel. Purpose To provide a
decision-making framework for selecting a trail
system that is compatible with the landscape and
provides recreation opportunities that fit within
the stated agency mission.
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Trail System Assessment Summary
Administrative Public Roads
Field assessment of trail suitability
Connecting Destination Trails
Core Road Trail System
Optimal Trail System
Recreational Trails
Identify trails with poor soil, vegetation, and
topographic characteristics and/or conflicting
uses
Eliminate and/or identify alternative alignment
for problem trails
Trails used for Admin. Resource Management
Purposes
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Trail Design and Management Strategies

• Select resistant alignments most important
  factor (trail alignment relative to topography,
  resistant soils)
• Construct resistant trails
• Maintain trails to reduce impacts
• Manage visitors to reduce impacts

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Resistant Alignments
Trail Alignment Angle to the Prevailing Slope
Low Alignment angle
High Alignment angle
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Trail Alignment Angles
0-22 degrees Impossible to drain water, will erode except on low trail grades
23-45 degrees Poor difficult to drain water, will erode on steep trail grades
46-67 degrees Good easy to drain water while still gaining elevation
68-90 degrees Excellent - easy to drain water, trail doesnt gain elevation very fast
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Trail Profiles with Different Topographic
Positions and Trail Alignment Angles
Upper Slope
Upper Slope
Mid-slope
Lower Slope
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Trail Grade
Trail Grade Remarks Drainage Spacing
0-2 Avoid difficult to drain Not possible
3-6 Ideal for general uses 500 ft
7-10 OK in places if maintained 300 ft
11-15 OK for short segments if well-maintained or in rocky soils 100
gt15 Avoid unless steps are constructed lt50
Horse Motorized Use Trails Grades should not
exceed 10 due to their higher potential for
erosion. Gravel is also recommended unless soils
are rocky.
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Construct Resistant Trails
Side-hill trails, outsloped treads
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Construct Resistant Trails
Crossing wet terrain
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Construct Resistant Trails
Tread design
Rolling Grade Dip
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Construct Resistant Trails
Wood surfacing
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Gravel Surfacing
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Construct Resistant Trails
Rock surfacing
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Construct Resistant Trails
Rot resistant wood
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Construct Resistant Trails
Gravel, concrete block, cement surfacing
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Construct Trails to Reduce Impacts
Geotextiles
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Construct Trails to Reduce Impacts
Geotextiles
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Maintain Trails to Reduce Impacts
Relocations Needed
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Maintain Trails to Reduce Impacts
Relocations Needed
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Maintain Trails to Reduce Impacts
Maintenance Features Stream Crossing Impacts
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Maintain Trails to Reduce Impacts
Maintenance Features Stream Crossing Solutions
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Maintenance Features Stream Crossing Solutions
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Maintenance Features Stream Crossing Solutions
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Maintain Trails to Reduce Impacts
Graveling
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Maintain Trails to Reduce Impacts
Tread Drainage
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Manage Visitors to Reduce Impacts

• Educate Visitors
• Regulate Visitors

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Leave No Trace Travel and Camp on Durable
Surfaces

• Stay on formal trails when possible, walk single
  file in the center of the tread. Dont create
  new trails.

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Visitor Regulations
Regulate the Type, Amount, Behavior of
Visitation