Ontario's Best Trails

Guidelines and Best Practices for the Design, Construction and Maintenance of Sustainable Trails for All Ontarians - Trails for All Ontarians Collaborative 2006

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Chapter 4: Guidelines for Trail Construction

  1. Build the trail based on a detailed construction log.
    During the design phase, create a very detailed log describing all aspects of the trail design, location and construction. Include detailed information about all trail structures and facilities as well as specific information about the trail tread width, location and materials. The crew leader is responsible for ensuring that the trail is constructed as the designer intended.
  2. Construct the trail so that all permitted users have access to the trail .
    Trail designers will have considered the abilities of all potential trail users in designing the trail and any barriers (e.g., fence, railing, gate, bollard) that will be found on the trail. All permitted trail users, including those with movement limitations, must have access to the trail. Barriers should not be installed if they would limit use of the trail by some permitted trail users (e.g., children, older adults, unfit individuals, people with disabilities).

Trail Safety

  1. Ensure the construction crew uses safety equipment and correct procedures.
    All members of the construction crew should wear appropriate safety equipment and be trained in safe tool use and proper construction safety procedures. Choose the right tool for each job, and ensure a good grip and stable footing.
  2. Use proper lifting techniques.
    Construction crews often move very large and heavy materials (e.g., bridge stringers, large rocks). Ensure that there is sufficient manpower to lift by hand and that everyone is trained in proper lifting techniques (e.g., back straight, lift with legs). If possible, use mechanical advantage (e.g., levers, winches, pulleys) to reduce the individual effort required.
  3. Use the right tools .
    Make sure to use the correct tools for each task. Keep tools sharp and in good repair so that they assist rather than hinder your work.

Environmental Protection

  1. Minimize environmental impacts during construction .
    Trails constructed for sustainability will not result in on-going environmental damage because of trail use. Ninety percent of all environmental impacts will occur during trail construction . Construction crews that take care to minimize the impact of their construction work create the best opportunity to preserve the natural environment. Plan construction work so that each section of trail is completed as quickly as possible. Build the most difficult sections, install drainage structures and complete excavations first. This encourages proper hardening of fill soils, allows excavated material to be used in other areas and enables better trail finishing.
  2. Follow the natural contours and preserve natural drainage patterns.
    Carefully follow the designed layout for the trail. Ensure that the constructed tread follows the natural contours (i.e., stays closer to the contours than the fall line) and pulls up and into every naturally occurring swale or drainage feature so that natural sheet drainage patterns are maintained.
  3. Preserve and rehabilitate the trail environment .
    Actively seek to preserve the vegetation in the trail corridor to preserve the natural experience for trail users. During construction, look for opportunities to rehabilitate environmental damage and complete all rehabilitative work specified by the designer.
  4. Stay within the angle of repose.
    The angle of repose is the angle at which the soil or natural parent material will remain stable without additional support. The terrain uphill of the tread should be shaped so that it is naturally stable and vegetated. Retaining walls, if required, should be used to support the trail tread at a level that allows the uphill terrain to remain at or below the angle of repose.
  5. Use climbing turns and switchbacks sparingly .
    Climbing turns and switchbacks should only be used when there is very limited land area and very steep terrain. Trail designers who are unable to complete the trail layout using a sustainable, curvilinear alignment will incorporate climbing turns and/or switchbacks into the construction log. These tread structures must be very carefully designed and constructed in order to minimize the resulting environmental damage. When poorly designed or constructed, trail users will shortcut the turns causing significant environmental damage that will continually increase with trail use. Construction crews must carefully rehabilitate the trail environment to ensure that trail users will not be tempted to go off of the prepared tread.
  6. Construction is complete when rehabilitation work is finished .
    Many construction crews focus on the structure or tread that they are assigned to build and pay little attention to the restoration of the environment after construction. The construction work should be considered "in progress" until all construction scars have been removed from the trail environment, the growth of native vegetation has been encouraged and any work that would reduce future maintenance and resource rehabilitation needs has been completed. The ideal trail is one that looks like it has "always been there" from the minute that construction is completed. There should be no signs of fresh saw or axe marks, freshly cut stumps, raw banks or freshly broken rock. Cut limbs and brush should be scattered out of sight, not stacked. Cover cut banks and new tread sections with natural topsoil and a thin layer of duff. Ensure that the details of the planned restoration work are included in and approved by the local Conservation Authority or other governing agency (e.g., municipality, local office of the Ministry of Natural Resources).
  7. Use steps and ladders only when absolutely necessary.
    The use of steps and ladders are to be avoided and used only as a last alternative. Steps and ladders are costly, and require a great deal of effort, both during original construction and in on-going maintenance. Steps and ladders also make trail use very difficult for many trail users. Hikers, especially backpackers, will walk alongside steps at every opportunity. Steps can also be significant barriers or hazards for other trail users, such as cyclists, cross-country skiers, young children and people with limited mobility. Steps and ladders should only be considered when all other options are not suitable. If steps are required, try to also provide a ramped surface where strollers, wagons, wheelchairs or bicycles can be more easily pushed by those walking up the steps.

Construct a Sustainable Tread

  1. Compact a sustainable trail tread sized for all users.
    Constructing a compacted, sustainable trail tread is the best way to minimize impacts on the environment adjacent to the trail. Ensure that permitted trail users can stay on the tread that has been built for sustainability. Trails that are too narrow for users to pass or that have a tread that is soft or unstable encourage users to go off of the prepared tread, greatly increasing the trampling and compaction of areas adjacent to the tread. It is not necessary to use soil stabilizers or paving materials to create a hardened tread. In most areas of Ontario, the naturally occurring clay-based soils can be compacted into a sustainable tread without the need for any additional soil treatments.
  2. Construct the tread with a consistent outslope .
    The side-to-side slope of the tread should allow water to drain quickly across the tread and then continue down the adjacent slope. The steepness of the outslope will be determined by the tread material and surrounding terrain. Follow the designer's instructions regarding the amount of outslope. The designed outslope will represent the best compromise between providing adequate drainage and enhancing access for all trail users.
  3. Remove organic material from in, on and over the trail tread .
    All organic material (leaf debris, vegetation, loose top soil) should be removed from the trail tread. Organic material left in the trail tread will eventually rot, leaving depressions that will alter drainage across the tread and make the tread more difficult to negotiate safely. Vegetation should also be removed from above the trail tread to create a clear, vegetation-free corridor for all trail users. Vegetation that is in the way of trail users is at risk of being broken or stripped in a way that will damage its health. In areas with deep layers of topsoil, only the loose soils should be removed.
  4. Remove obstructions from in, on and over the trail tread .
    All obstructions (e.g., rocks, stumps, branches) should be removed from the trail tread. Obstructions left in the trail tread are a tripping hazard, particularly for those trail users (e.g., older adults, children) who may be less agile. Obstructions should also be removed from above the trail tread to create a clear, obstruction-free corridor for all trail users. Obstructions that hang in the way of trail users are a hazard for those whose attention is focused on the trail environment or individuals who are unable to see clearly. Bollards and other barriers constructed to prevent unauthorized use are not considered obstructions.
  5. Clear the trail tread area and the buffer zone .
    The designed tread area is determined by the width and height required by permitted trail users. It is the width of the tread up to a height above the tallest user. The buffer zone is outside of the trail tread area on both sides and above the top of the tread area. The buffer zone may contain soft foliage or ground cover but should be free of hazardous vegetation or substantial branches. The buffer zone should be at least 0.3 m (12 inches) on each side and at least 0.5 m (20 inches) above the tread corridor, with larger buffer zones required for larger trail users or on trails where maintenance is less frequent. The extent of vegetation removal should be developed by those knowledgeable about the local environmental and requirements of the landowner. Construction crews should follow the information specified in the construction log.
  6. Use drainage structures to separate the tread from natural drainage channels .
    Trails designed for sustainability will require few if any drainage structures (e.g., culverts). Drainage structures will only be required where it is necessary to separate the tread from a natural drainage channel. Drainage structures should always be aligned with the natural pattern of water flow. Drainage structures should never be used to collect or re-direct water flow within the environment. Within the trail tread, drainage structures should always be closed (i.e., the user cannot step into the structure). The proper construction of drainage structures is complex, so the crew should be lead by someone with the appropriate skills and experience. Construction of drainage structures must be approved by the land managing agency to ensure that it complies with requirements for construction within areas of water flow.
  7. Construct tread structures where the natural terrain is not sustainable .
    Tread structures, either intermittent or continuous contact, are used when the natural terrain cannot provide or should not be used for a sustainable tread. The structure raises the tread above the natural (i.e., difficult or sensitive) terrain. Typically, tread structures are built in areas with a lot of water (either visible water or saturated soil). Tread structures can also be used to protect areas with delicate plants or make the surface underfoot more even and stable. When constructing tread structures, work carefully to minimize the loosening of soil into bodies of water, trampling of wetland vegetation and the disturbance of habitat or bird/animal behaviour. Obtain all necessary approvals for the type, extent and timing of the work.
  8. Smoothly connect ground level and elevated treads .
    The approach to elevated trail treads should be ramped and free of steps or trip hazards. Approaches may be decked or built of earthen-gravel fill. If fill is used, a soil dam should be used to separate the approach material from any wood sections of the tread structure.
  9. Construct a firm, stable, dry and erosion-resistant tread .
    Soil that contains a significant amount of clay as well as a mixture of fractured rock (i.e., pieces with rough edges that vary in size) will generally provide the most sustainable trail tread. The naturally occurring materials along the trail route will have been considered by the designer in specifying the tread construction. Construction crews should follow the trail tread construction details as closely as possible because soil conditions (and therefore construction techniques) can change frequently within the trail corridor. If possible, the naturally occurring materials should be used in conjunction with stabilization materials or techniques to preserve the natural aesthetic of the tread.

Constructing with Wood

  1. Choose lumber carefully.
    Pressure treated wood is often the "building material of choice" because it is expected to last a long time. Until January 2004, wood was commonly treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA). CCA has been linked to health problems for many people. Since 2004, arsenic, a known cancer-causing agent, has been removed from the chemicals used to treat wood. H owever, building supply companies were, and still are, allowed to sell off existing stocks of CCA treated wood. Today pressure treated wood is typically created with chemicals such as amine copper quat ( ACQ ) or copper azole ( CA ). At the very least, these options are less toxic than CCA. However, some health concerns remain and it is still advisable to take precautionary measures when using wood treated with these chemicals.
  2. Minimize wood contact with water and soil.

    Use concrete, rock or rustproof metal for support structures (e.g., sill, crib, soil dam) that will be in contact with water or soil. In some cases, wood will be required for these structures. If wood is required, try to use species of wood (e.g., cedar) that is less likely to rot. Avoid using pressure treated lumber in contact with water or soil because the chemicals will leach into the surrounding environment.
  3. Use timber rather than logs for tread construction .
    Lumber should be used to construct all wood trail treads (e.g., boardwalk, bridge decking). The use of logs for the tread surface is not recommended because the rounded surface can be very hazardous for many trail users. If logs must be used in remote areas, they must be securely attached to the underlying support structure and the top surface should be shaved with a chain saw to provide a relatively flat surface on which trail users will stand.

Construct the Trail Information System

  1. Inventory and co-ordinate trail signs and information.
    It is important that trail users have access to information regarding the trails that they wish to use. Trailhead signs, brochures, web sites guidebooks, on-trail signs and blazes are just a few examples of the ways in which trail users can obtain information. A detailed inventory of all trail information sources should be created during trail design and construction. The inventory should be regularly reviewed to ensure that information sources are co-ordinated, that trail users of all abilities will have access to the information (even if they cannot read) and that the content is accurate and complete. GPS can be very helpful in recording the precise location of signs along the trail. It is also helpful on general information sources and trailhead signs to provide the user with a web site or contact person for obtaining additional information about the trail.
  2. Use standard symbols and simple text for trail information .
    Use standard icons and graphics to convey trail information. When written text is required, it should be suitable for a Grade 4 reading level. Use a matte finish, non-serif fonts, colours with contrast of 70% or greater and ensure that character size is appropriate to the distance between the user and the information source.

Bear Safety