Introduction (continued)

Figure 2—A smooth trail with a gentle grade is
appropriate for an interpretive trail
designed for easy access.

Steepness or grade helps determine how difficult a trail is to use. The grade also has a direct bearing on how much design, construction, and maintenance work will be needed to establish solid tread and keep it that way. Grades range from 1 percent for wheelchair access to 50 percent or greater for scramble routes. Most high–use trails should probably be constructed in the 5– to 12–percent range. Trails of greater challenge or in more durable soils can be built at grades approaching 20 percent. Trails at grades over 20 percent become difficult to maintain in the original location without resorting to steps or hardened surfaces.

Specifications are important. You'll want to refer to the Forest Service Trails Management Handbook (FSH 2309.18) for guidelines for most any type of trail you'll have the opportunity to build.

Light on the Land

No discussion of trails is complete without talking straight to the topic of esthetics. We're talking scenic beauty here. Pleasing to the eye. The task is simple. An esthetically functional trail is one that fits the setting. It lays light on the land. It often looks like it just "happened."

This does not mean that land isn't disturbed during construction. Often terrain dictates that substantial construction is necessary. The final results can still be blended to fit the ground. Over time it will look like it lays gently.

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