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

Back to the Table of Contents | Prev: Chapter 5 | Next: Chapter 7

Chapter 6: Guidelines for Trail Maintenace

Trail maintenance includes a wide variety of activities designed to return the trail tread and environment to its original or intended condition . Typically, trail maintenance activities include restoration of the trail tread (filling eroded sections, restoring outslope), removal of debris (branches, garbage), repair of facilities (replacement of bridge or boardwalk decking, benches, picnic tables) and the control of vegetation (brushing, clearing, removal of dead limbs). Maintenance activities are work that is required on an on-going basis . In contrast, restoration or re-construction work typically includes re-alignment, re-routing or upgrading of trails/trail sections and/or facilities to higher standards. The guidelines presented here address only trail and trail facility maintenance (i.e., keeping the trail or facility in its original or intended condition). The maintenance guidelines are presented under the following sub-headings:

Planning Maintenance Activities

  1. Create a maintenance plan during trail design and construction .
    A maintenance plan for the trail should be developed as the trail is designed and constructed. Take the time to anticipate maintenance needs and plan and construct the trail to minimize the work required. The initial trail inventory, completed before the trail is open for public use, should be used to finalize the planned maintenance activities.
  2. Consider all aspects of trail maintenance .
    Maintaining the trail tread and environment typically involves completing trail inspections, maintaining proper drainage, restoration of the tread, removal of debris, controlling vegetation and the repair of facilities.
  3. Protect species that are at risk .
    Work closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Parks and any other organizations responsible for protecting species that are of special concern, threatened or endangered. The timing, extent, methods and materials of all maintenance activities that may influence protected flora and fauna must be carefully considered and approved by all relevant organizations.
  4. Complete maintenance work promptly .
    Virtually all major trail repair projects start out as small maintenance tasks. Plan maintenance activities so that the work is completed promptly, before small problems grow into major concerns. If major work is required on the trail, provide that information to trail users so that the more difficult trail conditions in the interim do not affect the social sustainability of the trail.
  5. Organize work so that each trail section is completed as quickly as possible .
    When planning trail maintenance work, organize the work activities so that each section of trail is completed as quickly as possible. For example, plan to remove a downed tree, repair the damaged tread and restore the trampled area around the tree before sending crews to work on a downed tree in another area.
  6. Plan for and provide an alternative to a closed trail .
    If a trail or trail segment is to be closed, either temporarily or permanently, try to have an alternate route available for use before the trail section is closed. Use trail information sources to educate users about the reason for the closure, the location of the alternate route and any changes to trail use.
  7. Complete regular trail inspections and evaluations .
    Unless trails are very remote, formal evaluations should be completed at least once per year (or more often if required for insurance or risk management purposes), preferably prior to the busiest season of use and shortly after spring thaw or bad weather. Identify one contact person to collate maintenance information obtained from informal inspections and user comments. Ensure evaluation personnel are properly trained and knowledgeable about the needs of all permitted trail users. Base each evaluation on the results of previous assessments. Let users know about assessment results that are relative to their safety or enjoyment. Keep the assessment results on file as required for risk management purposes (typically at least 7 years).

Maintaining Drainage

  1. Plan maintenance work to match the natural drainage patterns .
    When trail maintenance activities are being planned and completed, design them so that the trail drainage matches the natural drainage patterns of the environment as closely as possible. Even trails that were not designed for sustainability can often be significantly improved through a series of planned maintenance work that re-establishes natural sheet drainage.
  2. Inspect and maintain drainage structures frequently .
    Drainage structures are used on trails that do not preserve the natural sheet drainage patterns of the environment. When drainage patterns are altered, there is an increased risk of erosion and deposition around the drainage structure. Monitor all drainage structures frequently and clear debris and repair the source of the erosion or deposition as quickly as possible.
  3. Minimize the need for drainage maintenance on existing trails .
    For existing trails that are not sustainably designed, minimize the need for drainage maintenance by re-routing sections of tread to drier ground or using drain dips to direct water off the tread.

Maintaining the Trail Tread

  1. Maintain the tread outslope .
    Outslope of the trail tread, so that sheet drainage flows naturally across and off the tread, is critically important for environmental sustainability. Mechanical compaction of the tread to the required outslope and regular monitoring and removal of material if a berm develops at the edge of the tread will prevent water, and therefore erosion, from occurring along the tread.
  2. Remove obstructions from the trail tread .
    Obstructions are items in the tread that could cause a trail user to trip or lose their balance. Maintain the trail tread so that it is free from rocks, ruts, or sharply irregular surfaces so that trail users do not have to concentrate all of their attention on negotiating the tread. The social sustainability and safety of the trail is enhanced if trail users, especially children, can safely negotiate the trail even when the primary focus of their attention is the trail environment.
  3. Clear vegetation from the trail tread corridor and buffer zone .
    Leafy vegetation should be removed from the trail tread corridor as well as from the buffer zone on each side and above the tread. For a hiking only trail, the buffer zone should be at least 0.3 m on each side and at least 0.5 m above the tread corridor. Vegetation that hangs in the way of trail users may be broken or stripped in a way that damages its health. The weight of rain or snow can put at risk vegetation that was well clear of the trail during maintenance work. Prune to the collar of any branch or stem to provide a clear, natural looking corridor for trail users.

Maintaining Trail Structures and Facilities

  1. Regularly inspect and maintain trail structures and facilities .
    Prompt maintenance of trail structures and facilities is essential not only for safety and liability, but also to maintain a high-quality public image. Monitor all structures and facilities on a regular basis. Make small surface repairs promptly and remove or replace structures or facilities with significant damage.
  2. Remove litter and repair vandalism promptly .
    Remove all litter and repair all vandalism as quickly as possible. Litter or vandalism damages the social sustainability of a trail because it makes the trail look like "no one cares".

Restoring the Trail Environment

  1. Utilize material removed from the trail in other areas .
    Soil and other materials removed from the trail in one location should be retained and used in areas that require tread repair or structures that require fill. Removal of the material from the trail environment or dispersion of excess material within the environment should be a tactic of last resort.
  2. Disguise removed vegetation .
    Make the effort to dispose of debris properly. Each cut branch should be touching the ground to encourage decomposition. Conceal debris by dragging branches under and around shrubs. Do not randomly toss debris into the surrounding environment or create piles of brush. If debris cannot be properly distributed through the environment, remove it for composting in an appropriate location.
  3. Repair environmental damage from trail use .
    Monitor the environment around the trail regularly to identify unanticipated negative impacts that may result from trail use (or inappropriate trail use). The risk of damage is highest for trails that were not initially designed for sustainability. Be sure to identify the underlying cause of the damage before developing plans for repair. Carefully plan to restore the damage through seeding, planting or transplanting vegetation. Re-design or close severely damaged trails as required.