Trail Planning on MTB Trail Networks 🚵‍♂️🌲

Last August, I had the chance to participate in the Trail Network Planning Webinar organized by the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC and conducted by Magi Scallion from McElhanney.

I want to share some insights from the webinar and my conclusions about the essence of trail planning and what it involves. Although intuitively known and often put into practice, it was great to compile a list of considerations that should be taken into account every time we think about a trail network and how it should function.

There are many benefits to a well-structured and planned network of trails. Trail planning addresses many issues that may arise during the use of trail networks for recreational purposes.

How Does Trail Planning Help Us Manage a Trail Network? 🌐

1.- Identifies and Classifies Existing Trails 🗺️

2.- Identifies Types of Users on existing trails, from hikers to bikers to trail runners 🚶‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️

3.- Identifies Types of Soil in the area 🌱

4.- Identifies Sensitive Areas of Wildlife we shouldn’t disturb 🦉

5.- Identifies the Needs for New Trails and their types 🛤️

6.- Reduces User Conflicts and manages the flow of different types of users 🚦

7.- Creates a Cohesive Network where everyone can find the trail that suits them, how to get there, and how to maximize user satisfaction 😊

8.- Trail signage is assessed, designed, and maintained to enhance user navigation and safety 🪧

9.- Proposes Sustainability Actions for unsustainable trails, such as detouring, closing, and reclaiming some, while proposing the opening or building of new sections or trails in a sustainable way 🌍

10.- Helps Minimize Impact on Nature because any human action in nature has an impact. It’s our turn to make the impact meaningful and sustainable 🌿. Regardless of hiking on pure pristine grass on a backcountry trail, it causes an impact. Using machinery or tools to dig also causes an impact. It is our responsibility to make the impact meaningful and sustainable at least.

11.- Estimates the Budget required to build and create the whole network and manage the budget efficiently 💰

There are many more points of interest to take into account when planning a network of trails; these are just a few of them and can be extended and adjusted for the specific needs of a trail network.

Trail planning is a step before trail design, as trail design refers to the specific “design” of a future trail. Trail planning lies at a much earlier stage, where those future trails are already being considered, and make the guidelines for where to build them and how to connect them to the existing network of trails, or even build a whole new network on purpose and sense.

We can have a perfect design for a fantastic blue line flow trail, but it doesn’t pay off if we locate it at the top of a super long climb where kids or occasional riders who may enjoy it a lot won’t have any chance to reach it. Or having this exact blue line finishing in a place where you have to continue riding on a steep, narrow, or eroded line or slippery steep paved road. These kinds of things have to be taken into account in the planning stage.

I have participated in some projects where the desire to have these kinds of trails regardless of other aspects led to an unsuccessful outcome for everyone as the trails failed to be used as they should be and not enjoyed by as many as the type of trail should suggest. 

On the other hand, I also had the chance to take part in very well-planned projects, where every aspect is taken into account for years to come using existing trails, refurbishing them, and connecting them to new machine-built trails. 

Or just others, where the planning was done 5 years ago and the building is moving step by step to complete the whole project in a certain number of years to come with an engineered level of construction. 

Trail planning is the cornerstone of creating a sustainable, enjoyable, and efficient network of mountain biking trails. It ensures that trails are designed with the needs of all users in mind, from hikers to bikers to trail runners, and helps minimize conflicts and environmental impact. By identifying and classifying existing trails, understanding the types of soil and sensitive wildlife areas, and proposing sustainable actions, trail planning lays the groundwork for a cohesive and well-managed trail network.

Moreover, effective trail planning helps us anticipate future needs, manage budgets efficiently, and create trails that are accessible and enjoyable for everyone. It’s not just about building trails; it’s about building a community that respects and enjoys nature responsibly. In essence, trail planning is about making thoughtful decisions today to ensure that our trails can be enjoyed for generations to come. 🌍✨

Happy trails! 🚵‍♀️😊