Pennsylvania Trail Design & Development Principles
A compilation of best practices and guidelines for the planning, design, construction, and management of your trail employing sustainable design.
Trail Sustainability Principles
Skill Definition
Understand and apply principles of trail sustainability to all components of trail maintenance
Entry Level Performance
- Demonstrate understanding of trail sustainability as it relates to physical durability, resource conservation, user expectations and experience, and ongoing management
Full Performance Level
- Apply trail sustainability principles to trail maintenance projects (i.e. drainage, sheet flow, slope, soil types, users, maintainability)
Expert Level Performance
- Assess and integrate local conditions and situations into the application of sustainability principles (i.e. trail users types/skill levels, soil type, localized weather trends, resource concerns, management regimes, stewardship capacity, etc.)
Resources for Trail Sustainability Principles
Documents and
Media
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• Training Programs
• Calendar
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Documents and Media for Trail Sustainability Principles
Introduction to Foundations of Sustainable Trails: A Trail from Start to Finish
A Trail from Start to Finish is an introductory, short "micro-learning" targeted to developing trail workers. Anticipated to take about 15 minutes to complete, this microlearning discusses what it means for a trail to be sustainable and describes…
Sustaining Wildlife With Recreation on Public Lands
A Synthesis of Research Findings, Management Practices, and Research Needs
The Art of Sustainable Trail Management
Learn the basics of developing and managing natural surface, share-used trail systems.The webinar is geared primarily towards beginning and intermediate level trailbuilders: including volunteers, agency staff, and professional trail crews.
Introduction to Trail Maintenance
An online PCTA training covering the fundamentals of trail maintenance.
Foundations of Sustainable Trails: Tread and Alignment
Explore foundational concepts related to the principles and applications of trail tread and alignment—all through the lens of developing and maintaining a sustainable trail. This course will introduce basic trail design elements as well as processes…
Trail Skills Training Library
Recorded Trainings for Trail Sustainability Principles
IMBA’s Trail Development Process: Building Community-Driven Trails
International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) experts will guide you through an overview of the seven critical steps of the Trail Development Process, from initial access and community engagement to long-term stewardship.
Sustainable Equestrian Trails From Grant Funding to Project Success
This webinar aims to introduce you to the fundamentals of managing a sustainable horse farm. This is part two of a two-part series related to sustainability.
Barn to Trail: Managing Sustainability on Equine Properties
Hosted in partnership with the Equine Land Conservation Resource, this webinar aims to introduce you to the fundamentals of managing a sustainable horse farm. This is part one of a two-part series related to sustainability.
Trail Assessment for Accessibility and Sustainability
This webinar will explore the process of assessing natural surface pedestrian trails for accessibility and sustainability and will focus on developing new trails as well as conversion of existing trails.
The Science of Sustainable Trail Design and Management
This webinar will describe the three most common forms of trail impact, identify the most influential factors to develop and maintain sustainable trail networks, and discuss methods for rating trail sustainability.
Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Trails: Crawford Path Case Study
This webinar will discuss new, innovative approaches for a more sustainable future on trails.
Further Education
Training Programs for Trail Sustainability Principles
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…
Foundations of Sustainable Trails e-Course Series
This five-part series of online micro-learning courses is intended to provide those new to the trails workforce with a baseline understanding of terminology and concepts that give them a solid foundation to support future trails education and…
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…
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 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…
Skill Library
Trail Maintenance
Trail Sustainability Principles
Safety/Site Management
Maintenance Specifications
Corridor Clearing/Site Preparation
Corridor Clearing: Pruning/ Side-Cutting/ Brushing
Corridor Clearing: Bucking, Felling/ Hazard Tree Removal; Chainsaw/ Crosscut
Corridor Clearing: Material and Debris Management
Tread Maintenance - Hand tools
Tread Maintenance - Mechanized Equipment
Drainage Features/Water Management
Training Calendar
Upcoming Trainings for Trail Sustainability Principles
Custom Trainings
There are 52 trainers on TrailSkills
with Trail Sustainability Principles experience
Rick Landenberger
Morgantown, WV
Service Associate Professor and Science & Management Specialist for the West Virginia Land Trust
West Virginia University
Nicholas Burns
Taos, NM
URG Conservation Program Coordinator
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps - New Mexico
Walt Bready
Blairsville, GA
Hire Workers
There are 276 workers on TrailSkills
with Trail Sustainability Principles experience
John Simkins
Woodbridge, VA
Trail Maintenance Supervisor
Prince William County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
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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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