Trails Resources
The federal government began building trails on our forests in the 1890s, over a decade before the USDA Forest Service came into existence. Those original paths were built not for the public’s enjoyment, but to allow easier access to forestland for management and fire fighting purposes. It took a few more decades for recreational trails to come into vogue. Now, countless volunteers help build and maintain these paths to ensure that the public can access them to reap the benefits of time spent in nature for generations to come.
While many aspects of trail work are dictated by the conditions in each region, the following resources are more broadly applicable, and may be useful to any volunteer working on our trails.
General Training Materials
Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook
This publication serves as a comprehensive overview of trail work for the Forest Service, covering a range of topics including, but not limited to trail planning and design, surface water control, trail tread, and tools. You can access this publication here.
Foundations of Sustainable Trails course
This five-part online course, developed by American Trails, covers the basics of sustainable trail design. You can access the course on the American Trails website here.
Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails
The Forest Service strives to make our national forests and grasslands as accessible as possible, so that all people may benefit from time spent outdoors on public lands. This guidebook covers a wide range of accessibility guidelines for trails and forests. You can access this publication here.
National Environmental Policy Act
Since 1970 when it was enacted, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) has served as the guiding principle for environmental impact assessments on federal land, including trails. Learn more about the Forest Service’s NEPA procedures, policy, and guidance here.
Skills & Safety
Forest Service Saw Program
Trained sawyers are an integral part of trail maintenance, fire fighting, and other types of work on our forests. Volunteer sawyers must complete saw-specific training, receive certification, and abide by the agency’s Saw Policy, including use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Learn more about saw policy and training here and here.
Other Skills & Safety
For more Forest Service publications related to trail work, visit the interactive Forest Service Publications List, which covers a variety of topics including, but not limited to tree climbing and rigging, hand tools, and trail bridges.