Resources

• Complete Guide to Trail Building and Maintenance

  Appalacian Mountain Club

  http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Building-Maintenance-Appalachian-Mountain/dp/1934028169/ref=pd_sim_b_15

  Anyone can learn to build and maintain a durable hiking trail with the right teacher. Based on the AMC’s experience in building and maintaining over 1,500 miles of trails in the Northeast, our manual is used by both the U.S. Forest and Park Services, and has been thoroughly updated to include new photographs and expanded content. Whether you are a hiker, volunteer trail maintainer, or land manager, here are all the essentials for creating environmentally sound trails.

• Backcountry Horsemen Guide Book

  http://www.extendinc.com/twohorse/books.htm

  44-page pocket size publication printed by the Backcountry Horsemen of America. Includes planning, training, horse care, trail courtesy, grazing, camp sanitation and other topics.

• Complete Guide to Trail Building and Maintenance

  http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Trail-Building-Maintenance/dp/1878239546

  AMC's classic manual for trail building, used by both Forest and Park Services, has been updated and expanded to fine-tune the skills of professionals and beginners alike. You'll learn new techniques and be introduced to new tools, environmentally sound erosion control, and naturalizing trails with minimum impact on the backcountry. This is the how-to-do-it reference book, intended for anyone, anywhere who is responsible for trail work.

• Equestrian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads and Campgrounds

  http://www.extendinc.com/twohorse/books.htm

  This is a must-have book for clubs, associations, groups, or individuals working on design, development and just 'keeping' trails, trailheads and camps open for equestrian uses! Completed in 2007 this National Forest Service edition includes the LATEST nuts and bolts on how to do it, planning and keeping things open. Chapters include 'Understanding Horses and Mules', 'Planning', Designs', 'Trail Etiquette', 'Crossings and Bridges', 'Horse-Friendly Surface Materials', 'Roads and Parking areas', 'Designing Camp and Picnic Units' (including ADA facilities with ramps, mounting blocks, etc.) and much more. Over 300 pages.

• Lightly on the Land: The SCA Trail Building and Maintenance Manual

  http://www.imba.com/resources/trail_building/lotl.html

  Lightly on the Land focuses on crew leadership and the nuts and bolts of trail construction and maintenance. It contains detailed instructions on many technical skills such as building with rock, felling and bucking, building with timber, bridge construction, transplanting, and environmental restoration. It gets down and dirty with tools, tool repair, knots, and rigging. New chapters focus on arid lands restoration and involving conservation volunteers.

  Instead of photos, it uses hundreds of fine illustrations to depict specialized techniques such as surveying, rigging, stonework, chainsaw skills, timber joinery, and bridge building. These techniques are perfect for replacing your rickety freeride stunts with sturdy log rides and durable timber and rock structures.

• National Trails Training Partnership

  http://www.americantrails.org/nttp/default.htm

  Goals of NTTP include:

  • Identifying important trail training programs available around the country through organizations, agencies, universities, and businesses.
  • Exploring ways to enhance cooperation on training efforts
  • Developing a clearinghouse of training and resources at TrailsTraining.com
  • Studying target audiences, delivery methods, and special needs
  • Identifying needs and gaps in existing trail training
  • Publicizing model statewide programs for trails training cooperation
  • Creating individual state pages in the Web site to highlight training providers and resources in all 50 States.

  As the lead trail organization for the Partnership, American Trails is also providing on-line details of businesses, products, and services that support trail planning, improvement, and education. We're also doing research to identify needs as well as resources in priority areas such as accessible trails, volunteer development, funding, trail design, construction, and maintenance, nonprofit management, strategic planning, and liability. American Trails is also seeking grants to support the program and develop new training materials and curricula. We're eager to promote your trails training and publications in our featured training opportunities pages and resources & library area.

• Natural Surface Trails by Design: Physical and Human Design Essentials of Sustainable, Enjoyable Trails

  http://www.natureshape.com/pubs/nstbd.html

  This groundbreaking new book explores trail design from a theoretical perspective, covering the physical and human forces and relationships that govern trails - how we perceive nature, how trails make us feel, how trail use changes trails, how soils and trail materials behave, and how water, drainage, and erosion act. This resource focuses on the 'why' of trails more than the 'how.' Land managers, mountain bike clubs, and trail builders of all levels will benefit from the models described in Natural Surface Trails by Design.

• Recreational Horse Trails in Rural & Wildland Areas: Design, Construction and Maintenance

  http://www.americantrails.org/views/woodhorsetrails.html

  This theme of creating sustainable trails that are sensitive to the environment and habitats through which they pass runs throughout the book. In the opening chapter the author acknowledges that "Among non-motorized uses of trails, recreational horse use if the most frequently criticized for ecosystem damage." His goal is for trail planners and activists to become proficient in natural ecosystem components and processes. To this end the first chapter is not about trail planning, or design, but about soils, watersheds, and habitats.

  The book goes into detail on all the major topics of trail work, including design, structures, facilities, with an emphasis on horse-specific issues. Contributing authors from several agencies and organizations provide material on topics such as bridges, Geographic Information Systems, and trail management. Many photos and graphics illustrate the topics.

• Recreational Trail Design and Construction

  http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/DD6371.html

  This publication is a guide for private woodland owners, organizations, and businesses (including nature centers, youth groups, schools, conservation clubs, and resorts) that are interested in designing and constructing trails. It describes step-by-step construction methods, ways to handle trail obstacles, and recommended standards for the most common types of trails. Also provides recommended trail standards for specialized trails – including horseback riding trails.

• Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook

  http://www.extendinc.com/twohorse/books.htm

  Trail riders not only enjoy trails, but have an obligation to get off and help with trail work, construction and maintenance. This Forest Service notebook with help with all those chores and answer questions such as 'Trail Planning', 'Surface Water Control', 'Trail Design', 'Trail Foundations', 'Tread' and more including the best tools to use for what task!

• Trail Planning, Design & Development

  Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

  http://www.americantrailsstore.org/items/MNguide.html

  The result of several years of research, this manual contains guidelines for creating both motorized and non-motorized trails. This is a best practices guide for any local, county, regional or state government agency or private organization. It is one of the most comprehensive trail how-to guides available today.

  This technical manual covers all you need to know about designing and building trails. Inside are extensive diagrams, photos and detailed specifications and references that can help your organization successfully build and maintain sustainable recreation trails of all types.

• Trails for the 21st Century: Planning, Design and Management Manual for Multi-Use Trails

  http://www.amazon.com/Trails-Twenty-First-Century-Management-Multi-Use/dp/1559638192/ref=pd_sim_b_5

  Trails for the Twenty-first Century is a step-by-step guide to all aspects of the planning, design, and management of multi-use trails. Originally published in 1993, this completely revised and updated edition offers a wealth of new information including.

  • Discussions of recent regulations and federal programs, including ADA and TEA-21
  • Recently revised design standards from AASHTO
  • Current research on topics ranging from trail surfacing to conflict resolution
  • Information about designing and building trails in brownfields and other
  • Environmentally troubled landscapes

  Also included is a new introduction that describes the importance of rail-trails to the sustainable communities movement, and an expanded discussion of maintenance costs. Enhanced with a wealth of illustrations, Trails for the Twenty-first Century provides detailed guidance on topics such as: taking a physical inventory and assessment of a site; involving the public and meeting the needs of adjacent landowners; understanding and complying with existing legislation; designing, managing, and promoting a trail; and where to go for more information. It is the only comprehensive guidebook available for planners, landscape architects, local officials, and community activists interested in creating a multi-use trail.

• Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook

  USDA Forest Service – Technology & Development Program

  http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/07232806/index.htm

  A must-have back-packable manual (144 pp., 3.5x7.5" size) for natural surface trail construction and maintenance. The Table of Contents lists Natural Forces at Work, Trail Corridor, Trail Foundation, Tread, Surface Water Control, Trails in Wet Areas, Crossing Streams and Rivers, Special Structures, Signing, Naturalizing Abandoned Trails, Tools, and References as major subject areas. Written from years of experience and even some humor, it concisely records what to do—and what NOT to do—with natural surface trails. Excellent for all basic work and for volunteer trail crews with many line drawings (and much friendlier and better than most government publications).