Trail Design & Construction Resources

The links below will be useful to anyone looking to lay out new trails, assess trail problems, construct new sections of trail, or build trail structures. The reporting forms and other documents for assigned Trail Crew Leaders are available through the Dashboard, the Volunteer Forms page, or by contacting [email protected].

If you're looking to learn about blazing and maintaining trails instead, click here.

General Resources

• USDA Trail Fundamentals and Trail Management Objectives
  • This page contains the USFS Trail Class Matrix and other management resources
• USDA Hand Tools for Trail Work
• USDA Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook
  • Great reference overall, but simpler puncheon plans available elsewhere.
• USDA Wetland Trail Design and Construction
• NYNJTC Rigging Handbook
• The Science of Sustainable Trails Jeff Marion

Layout and Design 

• NYNJTC Trail Design Standards

• NYNJTC User Guide to the ‘Avenza Maps’ App
• Trail Layout and Design Webinar (from Online Learning Library)
• Natural Surface Trails by Design: Physical and Human Design Essentials of Sustainable, Enjoyable Trails

Trail Structures

• NYNJTC Natural Surface Trail Building: Common Structures and Techniques
• USFS Standard Trail Plans and Specifications
• Bridge Best Practices and Samples
• USDA Standard Bridge Plans
• USDA Locating Your Trail Bridge for Longevity

Accessibility

• USFS Accessibility Resources, in particular:
  • The Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG), construction standards for recreational trails
  • Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG), construction standards for trail-adjacent facilities
  • Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails, which provides guidance on applying the standards listed above
• U.S. Access Board guidance documents, in particular:
  • Outdoor Developed Areas: A Summary of Accessibility Standards for Federal Outdoor Developed Areas (PDF version)
• American Trails: Trail Accessibility Hub, in particular:
  • Inclusive Trail Design
  • National Trail Surfaces Study by National Center on Accessibility (NCA)
  • The Art of Building Crushed Stone Trails

Safety

• First Aid Kits
• Trail Crews Best Practices
• Outdoor Activity Safety Guidelines

Books

• Natural Surface Trails by Design: Physical and Human Essentials of Sustainable, Enjoyable Trails Troy Scott Parker, 2004. See http://www.natureshape.com/pubs/nstbd.html
• Lightly on the Land: The SCA Trail-Building and Maintenance Manual, Robert C. Birkby  Peter Lucchetti (Illustrator)  With Jenny Tempest, The Mountaineers, January 2006, ISBN 0-898868-48-3
• A.T. Design, Construction, and Maintenance by William Birchard, Jr., Robert D. Proudman, and the Regional Staff of the Appalachian Trail Conference, 2nd edition, March 2000, ISBN 0-917953-72-X
• A.T. Fieldbook: Maintenance & Rehabilitation Guidelines, A key supplement for volunteers to Appalachian Trail Design, Construction, and Maintenance. 
  • 96 pages, spiral-bound, and pocket-sized - made for field work
• The Complete Guide to Trail Building and Maintenance AMC Staff,  4th Edition, Publisher: Appalachian Mountain Club 2008, ISBN:978-1934028162
• Trail Solutions, 2004, IMBA's Guide to Building Sweet Singletrack. ISBN 0-9755023-0-1
• Crew Leader Manual, American Hiking Society, revised 10/1/2003, A comprehensive  step-by-step guide for leading a volunteer trail crew