Trail Design and Construction

Susanville Ranch Park trails feature a series of
 undulations but an average grade of only 4.5%

As published on AmericanTrails.org
By Randy Martin, Trailscape

Optimizing trail grade: the key to creating sought-after trails

Designers and land managers should consider the benefits of lengthening trails to lower the average grade while at the same time including short sections that are much steeper.

Designing trails that maximize the user’s delight while minimizing the drudgery may be the trail building community’s best way to help energize local economies. It may be a small contribution, but recovery is a process of people becoming confident and deciding to move forward, this could be our part.