Overview Chart of the FSTAG Implementation Process

The FSTAG must be applied before initiating new construction or altering any National Forest System trail with a designed use of hiker/pedestrian. Table 4 distills the implementation process into a flow chart that provides easy reference as you work through the process.

Before applying the FSTAG, you'll need to:

• Analyze existing conditions, including potential opportunities and constraints (National Environmental Policy Act analysis).
  
  
• Identify and verify the desired trail class for the trail or trail segment.
  
  
• Identify and verify the designed use of the trail or trail segment.

Table 4—Overview of the FSTAG Implementation Process
Text version of table

Key Steps and Sequence
Step 1: Determine applicability of the FSTAG.	Designed use1 = hiker/pedestrian?	No	FSTAG does not apply.
		Yes	New construction or alteration?	No	FSTAG does not apply.
				Yes	Trail connects to a trailhead or accessible trail?	No	FSTAG does not apply.
						Yes	Proceed to Step 2: Identify presence of limiting factors.
Step 2: Identify Presence of Limiting Factors General Exception 1 (7.1.2.1)Note: Sequence for identifying limiting factors may vary and does not need to occur in the order illustrated here.	Trail Grade Trail grade exceeds 20% for 12 m (40') or more?	No								FSTAG may still apply. Proceed to limiting factor for surface.
		Yes Document length of trail that exceeds 20% and data source.	Does a condition for departure exist?	No
				Yes	Is limiting factor more than 152 m (500') from a trail terminus?		Yes			FSTAG applies between terminus and this limiting factor or prominent feature. Proceed to Step 3: Apply Technical Provisions.
							No	Prominent feature present?	Yes
									No	FSTAG does not apply. Document applicable condition for departure.
	Surface Surface NOT firm and stable for 14 m (45') or more?	No (The surface IS firm and stable)								FSTAG may still apply. Proceed to limiting factor for minimum trail width.
		Yes (Surface is NOT firm and stable) Document surface firmness and data source.	Does a condition for departure exist?	No
				Yes	Is limiting factor more than 152 m (500') from a trail terminus?		Yes			FSTAG applies between terminus and this limiting factor or prominent feature. Proceed to Step 3: Apply Technical Provisions.
							No	Prominent feature present?	Yes
									No	FSTAG does not apply. Document applicable condition for departure.
	Minimum Trail Width Minimum trail width less than 457 mm (18") for 6 m (20') or more?	No								FSTAG may still apply. Proceed to limiting factor for trail obstacle.
		Yes Document minimum trail width and data source.	Does a condition for departure exist?	No
				Yes	Is limiting factor more than 152 m (500') from a trail terminus?		Yes			FSTAG applies between terminus and this limiting factor or prominent feature. Proceed to Step 3: Apply Technical Provisions.
							No	Prominent feature present?	Yes
									No	FSTAG does not apply. Document applicable condition for departure.
	Trail Obstacle Trail obstacle 762 mm (30") or higher across width of trail?	No								FSTAG may still apply. Proceed to Step 3: Apply Technical Provisions.
		Yes Document obstacle type, dimensions, and data source.	Does a condition for departure exist?	No
				Yes	Is limiting factor more than 152 m (500') from a trail terminus?		Yes			FSTAG applies between terminus and this limiting factor or prominent feature. Proceed to Step 3: Apply Technical Provisions.
							No	Prominent feature present?	Yes
									No	FSTAG does not apply. Document applicable condition for departure.
Step 3: Apply Technical Provisions Technical Provisions (7.3.1 to 7.3.8)	Trail Grade Trail grade complies with 7.3.1.1?	Yes					Comply with trail grade technical provision 7.3.1.1.
		No	Does condition for departure exist?	Yes	Deviation permitted. Measure and record length of deviation.			Proceed to Step 4: Calculate cumulative deviation percentage.
				No	Deviation not permitted.		Comply with trail grade technical provision 7.3.1.1.
	Trail Cross Slope Trail cross slope complies with 7.3.1.2?	Yes					Comply with trail cross slope technical provision 7.3.1.2.
		No	Does condition for departure exist?	Yes	Deviation permitted.2 Measure and record length of deviation.			Proceed to Step 4: Calculate cumulative deviation percentage.
				No	Deviation not permitted.		Comply with trail cross slope technical provision 7.3.1.2.
	Resting Interval Resting intervals comply with 7.3.2?	Yes					Comply with resting interval technical provision 7.3.2.
		No	Does condition for departure exist?	Yes	Deviation permitted.2 Measure and record length of deviation.			Proceed to Step 4: Calculate cumulative deviation percentage.
				No	Deviation not permitted.		Comply with resting interval technical provision 7.3.2.
	Surface Surface complies with 7.3.3?	Yes					Comply with surface technical provision 7.3.3.
		No	Does condition for departure exist?	Yes	Deviation permitted.2 Measure and record length of deviation.			Proceed to Step 4: Calculate cumulative deviation percentage.
				No	Deviation not permitted.		Comply with surface technical provision 7.3.3.
	Clear Tread Width Clear tread width complies with 7.3.4?	Yes					Comply with clear tread width technical provision 7.3.4.
		No	Does condition for departure exist?	Yes	Deviation permitted.2 Measure and record length of deviation.			Proceed to Step 4: Calculate cumulative deviation percentage.
				No	Deviation not permitted.		Comply with clear tread width technical provision 7.3.4.
	Passing Space Passing spaces comply with 7.3.5?	Yes					Comply with passing space technical provision 7.3.5.
		No	Does condition for departure exist?	Yes	Deviation permitted.2 Measure and record length of deviation.			Proceed to Step 4: Calculate cumulative deviation percentage.
				No	Deviation not permitted.		Comply with passing space technical provision 7.3.5.
	Tread Obstacles Tread obstacles comply with 7.3.6?	Yes					Comply with tread obstacle technical provision 7.3.6.
		No	Does condition for departure exist?	Yes	Deviation permitted.2 Measure and record length of deviation.			Proceed to Step 4: Calculate cumulative deviation percentage.
				No	Deviation not permitted.		Comply with tread obstacle technical provision 7.3.6.
	Protruding Objects Protruding objects comply with 7.3.7?	Yes					Comply with protruding objects technical provision 7.3.7.
		No	Does condition for departure exist?	Yes	Deviation permitted.2 Measure and record length of deviation.			Proceed to Step 4: Calculate cumulative deviation percentage.
				No	Deviation not permitted.		Comply with protruding objects technical provision 7.3.7.
	Openings Openings comply with 7.3.8?	Yes					Comply with trail grade technical provision 7.3.8.
		No	Does condition for departure exist?	Yes	Deviation permitted.2 Measure and record length of deviation.			Proceed to Step 4: Calculate cumulative deviation percentage.
				No	Deviation not permitted.		Comply with trail grade technical provision 7.3.8.
Step 4: Calculate Cumulative Deviation Percentage General Exception 2 (7.1.2.2)	Cumulative Deviation Percentage Do permitted deviations occur on less than 15% of total trail length?	Yes						Apply FSTAG technical provisions to entire trail.3
		No, deviations occur on more than 15%.	Is first deviation more than 152 m (500') from a trail terminus?	Yes				Apply FSTAG technical provisions to the segment of trail between a terminus and the first point of deviation.3
				No	Prominent feature present?		Yes	Apply FSTAG technical provisions to the segment of trail between a terminus and the prominent feature.3
							No	FSTAG does not apply. Document cumulative deviation percentage.

¹Excerpt from Forest Service Trail Fundamentals (http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/rhwr/ibsc/tr-standards.shtml)
Definition of Designed Use: "The intended use that controls the desired geometric design of the trail, and determines the subsequent maintenance parameters for the trail…. Of the actively Managed Uses that the trail is developed and managed for, the Designed Use is the single design driver that determines the technical specifications for the trail."

Excerpt from Access Board Recommendations for Accessibility Guidelines: Outdoor Developed Areas, Final Report (page 11):
" The accessibility guidelines for trails apply to those which are designed and constructed for pedestrian use. These guidelines are not applicable to trails primarily designed and constructed for recreational use by equestrians, mountain bicyclists, snowmobile users, or off-highway vehicle users, even if pedestrians may occasionally use the same trails. People use these categories of trails by means of transportation other than foot travel or personal mobility device. Design and constructed requirements for equestrians, mountain bikes, OHVs, and snowmobiles are based on the specific requirements for the intended mode of transportation. For the safety of trail users, pedestrian use may not always be permitted on these trails in order to minimize conflicts between motorized and non-motorized recreation. These trails do not preclude use by a person with a disability since it is planned that all trail users would be using the one or more alternative means of transportation for which the trail is designed and constructed. The design and construction of pedestrian trails without consideration of these proposed guidelines, by contrast, could present barriers to some trail users because the intended use is by foot or personal mobility device. For these reasons, the committee intentionally limited the application of the proposed guidelines to pedestrian use trails."

²If at any point during Step 3 the occurrence of one or more conditions of departure result in permitted deviations from technical provisions on more than 15% of the trail length, proceed to Step 4.

³Refer to the FSTAG for detailed instructions, definitions, and technical provisions 7.0 through 7.3.

It should be noted that the definition used in these proposed guidelines is not the only definition used by trail designers and manager. Rather, it was developed to specifically define the scope of these guidelines.

If you have questions about applying any of the above information, please contact your region's recreation accessibility coordinator. Current contact information is available on the world wide web at http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/toolbox/acc/documents/coord.htm.