We all know there is nothing better than a relaxing hiking trail. But what many people don’t know is that these trails don’t happen by accident.
Building hiking trails is difficult work. If you’re looking to create a trail of your own, you must know how to do it properly. Otherwise, you risk doing severe ecological damage and having poor, muddy trails.
Fortunately, the answers are right here. Follow this guide for everything you need to know about starting your trail project.
Know Your Land
First thing’s first–know what type of land you’re working. Start with these questions:
- Is the ground dry and dusty or is it clay and mud?
- Is there a creek or stream running through it?
- What kind of elevation gain are you working with?
- Is it heavily wooded or is there a strong undergrowth?
Answering these questions will help you decide where to cut your trail and what kind of tools you will need.
Gather Your Tools
The types of tools you will need may vary. More than likely, you are going to need to chop some things out of the way, and level out the ground. So it is great to start with at least a pair of shears/loppers and a pulaski (a combination of a hoe and axe). Also, a good pair of gloves is a must!
To find good gear for cutting your own paths, check out Tools for Trails. Their products are of high quality and will help you get the job done. Remember, the better the gear, the better the experience.
Start Charting Your Hiking Trail
It’s recommended to chart out your entire pathway before you start cutting. By now you might have figured out that isn’t always possible. Sometimes ferocious brush like blackberries can be hard to see through. Chart out as much as you can with the following things in mind.
“The Half Rule” is very important when it comes to building trails. The grade (incline or slope) of your trail cannot be any more than 50% of the grade of the land you’re cutting the trail on.
So if you’re building a trail on a hill with a 40% incline, your trail cannot have a slope of more than 20%. If it does, water will trickle down it. This means your trail will either get very muddy or washed away entirely.
You should also ask yourself how you can adapt to your trail’s natural features. Be flexible with your trail. If there’s a big tree in your way, go around the tree instead of through it. There’s nothing wrong with a meandering trail and it’s okay to make less work for yourself.
The Real Magic Begins
Now you’re at the fun part! Using your shears, start cutting things out of the way of your charted path. When making trails, aim to make your path at least 36 inches wide.
After you’ve cut things out of the way, you’ll want to address what’s on the ground. That’s where the hoe side of your pulaski becomes useful.
Depending on how you’ve charted your trail, you may have to take out a small tree or two. If you do, make sure you remove the entire stump and roots, even if you think they’re buried. Over time, any leaves and dirt will get packed in, resulting in the roots becoming exposed.
Once you cut everything away, you may have to do a little doctoring to the path. It depends on what type of dirt you are working with. If your terrain is dry and dusty, you might not have to do much at all.
However, if parts of your trail are marshy and are going to be muddy, you’ll want to build those up a little bit. You have a few options.
Muddy Trail Solutions
You can build a small footbridge to sit on top of the mud, held into place by four posts. This is called a puncheon. A puncheon will protect fragile plant life from human feet. This makes it an environmentally friendly option. You can even build the bridge using fallen logs you find nearby.
Your other option is to build a turnpike. Create a frame using large boulders or dead logs from the surrounding area. Fill in the box with smaller rocks and then add gravel fill on top.
As you’re laying your gravel, there are a couple of things you’re going to want to consider. Stand in front of your trail, and identify which side is on the downward slope. Make sure that side sits slightly lower than the uphill side.
It doesn’t have to be drastic, it likely won’t even be noticeable to the people walking on your trail. But if you don’t do it, you will definitely notice the water. If it can’t run off the downhill side of your trail, it will pool upon it.
Finishing Touches
Depending on the terrain, you may want to add gravel fill to the whole trail. If that’s the case, make sure you pack it in well. Here’s a tip: Start laying the gravel at the furthest point in the trail, and work your way backward. Otherwise, if you are using a wheelbarrow, it might tear up the gravel you just laid.
Trails help protect nature because they give people a clear place to be within the forest. Walk your trail. If you see places where people might be tempted to stray from the path, install a buffer. A fallen log or one of the stumps you dug up should suffice. This will help protect the nature surrounding you.
Happy Trails
Now you have a basis of knowledge for how to build a good trail. Following these guidelines will give you better, longer-lasting paths. It will also allow you to explore nature without harming it. There is no question about it, building trails responsibly is the way to go.
For more questions on landscaping, explore our other blog posts. Start on your “path” to success today!
