Sustainable Trail Bridge Design
Designing trail bridges based on trail-specific Trail Management Objectives (TMOs) is essential for providing the desired trail experience, for ensuring user safety, and for maximizing bridge longevity.
Trail Plan Development
Skill Definition
Transfer field-delineated trail design (location, alignment, structures), along with construction process, materials, notes, and special conditions into a trail planning document that will guide the trail development process
Entry Level Performance
- Demonstrate understanding of the elements and purpose of the trail planning document
Full Performance Level
- Compile planning process, findings and recommendations
- Create/furnish supporting maps, GIS data, and other materials to accompany written report
- Explain process/findings and recommendations to diverse stakeholders
Expert Level Performance
- Draft, share, and revise a a trail plan document that includes items needed for trail development: background documentation and data; detailed trail design spatial data; trail specifications; cost estimations and sub-project/phase prioritization; implementation schedules and strategies
- Develop construction documentation (when needed) that builds on the trail plan with additional specifications, spatial data, and construction process notes for permit submittal and/or the contracting process
Resources for Trail Plan Development
Documents and
Media
• Video Trainings
• Training Programs
• Calendar
Find Trainers •
Find Workers
Learn More
Documents and Media for Trail Plan Development
USFS Standard Trail Plans and Specifications
The Standard Trail Plans and Specifications reflect current Forest Service trail management efforts and the agency’s Trails Data Dictionary for constructed features and tasks.
Trail Planning, Design & Development Guidelines
This 300-page spiral-bound publication, several years in the making, provides a first-ever comprehensive "how-to" guidebook for developing all types of recreational trails.
North Country Trail Handbook
The North Country National Scenic Trail (NST) extends for thousands of miles across seven states. Its layout, design, construction, and maintenance require the participation of a myriad of individuals and groups.
Equestrian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads, and Campgrounds
This guidebook provides practical guidelines for developing recreation environments that are sensitive to the needs of riders and their stock.
Introduction to Trail Planning
One part of a three-part series on the Introduction to Trail Planning, Design and Development, and Management. PART ONE: In the Introduction to Trail Planning we will discuss different types of trail plans including Master Plans Conceptual Plans,…
Trail Skills Training Library
Recorded Trainings for Trail Plan Development
Economic Benefits of High Impact, Destination Trails: Lessons Learned from Across the U.S.
This webinar will explore trail economic impact typologies using a case study of a developing trail.
Building Community Through Bike Repair and Placemaking
This session highlights how creative reuse and a robust multi-agency partnership cultivates local resilience.
The Third Mode: Connecting Greenways, Trails and Active Mobility
his webinar covers the latest issues and policies in planning and designing urban mobility networks, and how to integrate transportation with greenways and trails to create seamless metro-wide systems.
Trail Planning and Design: Foundations of Success
This webinar will review several common approaches and technologies for trail planning and design projects and provide attendees with real world examples.
Digital Transformation of Trail Management and Monitoring
Mike Linnane of Evolve Technologies and award-winning Trail Manager Eoin Hogan will present on the development path of the world’s first integrated digital trail management system. The webinar will outline the evolution from a paper-based trail…
Porous Flexible Pavement, Asphalt, or Porous Asphalt: Lessons Learned for Multi-Use Trails in the District of Columbia
This webinar will discuss the various types of materials used for paved, multi-use trails in the District of Columbia. We will discuss different projects where we used flexi-pave, asphalt, or porous asphalt and our experience with each material. How…
Further Education
Training Programs for Trail Plan Development
Advancing Trails Webinar Series
American Trails brings agencies, trail builders, planners, architects, advocates, and volunteers the latest in state-of-the-art information on all aspects of trails and greenways. Our webinars focus on a variety of trail topics, usually applicable…
Chinook Associates Trail Consulting
Chinook Associates offers stewardship skills workshops covering recreational trail planning, design, construction, maintenance, and visitor management. Courses are available either in-person, with fully customizable content combining classroom…
Jacksonville State University - Trail Science Institute (TSI)
The TSI focuses on the promotion of recreational trails, primarily in the State of Alabama, by providing educational experiences and providing services such as assessment, monitoring, management, planning, and construction. The TSI defines trails as…
The Harbinger Consultancy Timeline Institute Online Courses
The Harbinger Consultancy's Timeline Institute Online Courses combine instruction, coaching, group learning and step-by-step templates based on 30+ years of working with communities, regions and supporting organizations. They offer you guided access…
Trail Sustainability Institute
The Trail Sustainability Institute (TSI) is NWTA’s internal training classes for everything related to trail building. We want to make sure our trail builders are knowledgeable in not only how to build/maintain fun trails, but ensure those trails…
Trails Certificate
Gain insight into best practices related to the design, construction and maintenance of trails. Learn about and apply techniques that can enhance, rehabilitate and protect trails and greenways. Participants will also learn about trail…
Skill Library
Project Planning and Design
Trail Sustainability Principles
Define Purpose, Need, and Feasibility of Project
Stakeholder Engagement
Land Use Plan Alignment
Corridor Planning
Trail Specifications
Conceptual Trail Plan Development
Field Design: Trail Alignment Identification and Marking
Project Cost Estimation
Trail Plan Development
Compliance and Permitting
Implementation Plan
Interpretation
Trail Inventory and Assessment
Operations and Maintenance Plan Development
Training Calendar
Upcoming Trainings for Trail Plan Development
Custom Trainings
There are 86 trainers on TrailSkills
with Trail Plan Development experience
Alexander De Lucia
Bretton Woods, NH
Director of Trails & Recreation Management
Appalachian Mountain Club
Richard Edwards
Morgantown, WV
Assistant Director of Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure
West Virginia University
Leanna Joyner
Asheville, NC
Senior Director for Partnerships and Trail Operations
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Hire Workers
There are 356 workers on TrailSkills
with Trail Plan Development experience
Walt Bready
Blairsville, GA
Daisy O'conner
Asheville, NC
Transportation Planner II
French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization
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.
Let us knowTrail Skills Collaborators
