Trail Corridor (continued)

A significant threat to trail integrity comes from plants growing into trail corridors, or from trees falling across them. Brush is a major culprit. Other encroaching plants such as thistles or dense ferns may make travel unpleasant or even completely hide the trail. If people have trouble traveling your tread, they'll move over, usually along the lower edge, or make their own "volunteer" trail. Cut this veggie stuff out! (Figure 6).

Figure 6—Vegetation before trail clearing.
Each type of trail has its own requirements for clearing.

In level terrain the corridor is cleared an equal distance on either side of the tread centerline. Using the hiking trail example, this means that the corridor is cleared for a distance of 1 m (3 ft) either side of center. Within 300 mm (1 ft) of the edge of the tread, plant material and debris should be cleared all the way to the ground. Farther than 500 mm (1.5 ft) from the trail edge, plants do not have to be cleared unless they are taller than 500 mm or so. Fallen logs usually are removed to the clearing limit.

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