Learning Library / Reference Guides
Trail Design & Construction Resources
Resources for volunteers and partners involved in planning, designing, and building sustainable trails.
Looking to blaze or maintain trails? Explore Trail Blazing & Maintenance Resources.
Jump to: General Resources | Layout & Design | Trail Structures | Accessibility-Resources | Safety | Books & Reference Manuals
General Resources
USDA Trail Fundamentals and Trail Management Objectives
This page contains the USFS Trail Class Matrix and other management resources
USDA Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook
Great reference overall, but simpler puncheon plans are available elsewhere.
Layout & Design
Natural Surface Trails by Design
Physical and Human Design Essentials of Sustainable, Enjoyable Trails
Trail Structures
Accessibility
USFS Accessibility Resources
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
Safety
Books & Reference Manuals
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 fieldwork
Coming Soon
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. IMBA provides the book as a free PDF.
Crew Leader Manual
American Hiking Society, revised 10/1/2003, A comprehensive step-by-step guide for leading a volunteer trail crew
For Assigned Trail Crew Leaders
Find reporting forms and additional documents through the Volunteer Dashboard or Volunteer Forms. Contact [email protected] for help.
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