Trail Skills College Course Curriculum
To help our volunteers succeed in their trail work, PCTA collaborated with many partners to develop a Trail Skills College curriculum.
Decommissioning Trails
Skill Definition
Demonstrated ability to plan and implement the closure, reclamation, and revegetation of a trail segment
Entry Level Performance
- Demonstrate understanding of the basic techniques of trail decommissioning including stabilizing and revegetating
- Perform material management, staging, tread stabilization including recontouring old trail to original slope as appropriate, and revegetation with supervision
Full Performance Level
- Perform material management, staging, tread stabilization including recontouring old trail to original slope as appropriate, independently
Expert Level Performance
- Assess and plan the closure, reclamation, and revegetation toward natural hydrology, slope, and vegetation, along with planning management techniques to minimize further use.
Resources for Decommissioning Trails
Documents and
Media
• Training Programs
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Documents and Media for Decommissioning Trails
Trail Decommissioning & Wildland Restoration
Learn how to put a campsite and section of trail to bed so that it returns to nature without erosion. Some call this “trail magic,” or “Zen and the Art of Wilderness Gardening” because, if properly done, the old scars disappear, replaced by a…
Further Education
Training Programs for Decommissioning Trails
Trail Technician 1 Exam
The Trail Technician multiple-choice exam evaluates foundational knowledge in trail development, aligned with the progression from entry-level to full Trail Competency standards.
Trail Fundamentals Video Series
The Professional TrailBuilders Association (PTBA) has launched the development of the Trail Fundamentals Video Series—a free, entry-level educational resource designed to support sustainable trail development and trail trainings worldwide.
IMBA Trail Care Schools
Trail Care Schools equip volunteers and organizations with the skills necessary to maintain modern mountain bike trails in partnership with the local land management. This course will begin with sustainable trail design principles, such as drainage…
IMBA Trail Management Schools
This school is typically two days in length with IMBA instructor(s) traveling to your location to deliver the class to staff or members. Instructors arrive the day before to assess the site and do any necessary preparations. Organizations, clubs, or…
Sustainable Trail Building One Year Certificate Program
In this one-year certificate program, you’ll have boots-on-the-ground at Northwoods Stewardship Center in East Charleston, VT for three individual week-long intensive classes. You will grow your knowledge base and connect with trail building…
Trail Academy
Trail Academy is our free class series that teaches students how to tackle any trail-related challenge. Courses are hosted both in the field and online, and are a great starting point for anyone looking to become a certified Trail Crew Leader or…
Skill Library
Trail Construction
Trail Sustainability Principles
Safety/Site Management
Construction Specifications
Corridor Clearing/Site Preparation
Corridor Clearing: Pruning/ Side-Cutting/ Brushing
Corridor Clearing: Felling/tree removal; Chainsaw/ Crosscut
Corridor Clearing: Material and Debris Management
Hand-Built Trail Construction
Mechanized Trail Construction
Trail Finishwork
Water Management/Drainage Features
Water Crossing Structures
Retaining Walls
Tread Hardening and Surfacing
Decommissioning Trails
Custom Trainings
There are 74 trainers on TrailSkills
with Decommissioning Trails experience
Hire Workers
There are 280 workers on TrailSkills
with Decommissioning Trails experience
Matthew Davis
Detroit Lakes, MN
Regional Trail Coordinator for ND-MN-WI
North Country Trail Association
Amanda Lewis
Northampton, MA
MassTrails Program Director
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Alex Degrenier
Orcas, WA
Jonathan Drabek
Carrollton, TX
Arbor Hills MTB Trail Steward
Dallas Off-Road Bicycling Association (DORBA)
Suggest a Resource
Contact Us
Know of a good resource for this skill? Let us know! From webinars, to workshops, to PDFs, we'd like to add them to our resource library.
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