Page 1 ... Accessibility concerns. ⢠Reality Check: Proper layout & design & construction can mitigate these.
Understanding user expectations And planning for long term sustainability
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Urban Natural Surface Trails What is a natural surface trail? It can be as simple has a mineral soil, mulched or graveled pathway, or as developed as elevated or raised boardwalks and bridges
Natural surface trails are increasingly emerging throughout neighborhoods, private lands, and other developments. These trails are becoming more and more of an accepted or desired amenity. 2
Elements of Urban & Wilderness Natural Surface Trails & Their Users Rural/Wilderness/Back Country Settings (Non-urban)
Urban Trails
• Planned Excursion
• Typically less planned or spur of moment
• Potential unknown conditions
• Controlled environment
• Multi mile or multi day excursions or long day hikes
• Convenient opportunity for recreation. Shorter time requirement – minutes to hours
• Specialized Equipment/gear more likely to be needed
• Typically less gear required (exception specialized recreation)
• Higher cost to use (user fees , transportation etc.)
• Typically little to no user fees 3
Common Concerns & Misconceptions of Soil Trails • Mud - A natural surface trail will be a muddy mess Are you going to gravel or mulch trail??” • Erosion • Vegetation & Wildlife concerns
• Archeological • Long Term Maintenance • Safety: Tripping hazards, getting lost in woods, crime • Maintenance & Construction Costs • Accessibility concerns
• Reality Check: Proper layout & design & construction can mitigate these 4
Common User Groups for Urban Natural Surface Trails Families Dog Walkers Neighborhood Children (unsupervised) Recreationists (trail runners, casual walkers, bicyclists, fishermen etc.) Nature Observers Schools (field trips, environmental education)
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What are User Perception & Expectations for Urban Natural Surface Trails Trail conditions are favorable for user groups Not muddy Smooth trail textures Few hazards (poison ivy, trip hazards) Sense of discovery Safe Convenient
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Personal Values Ascribed to Trails
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Design & Construction Elements Uses & Impact on Trail Stability & Sustainability
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Design & Construction Elements
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Design & Construction Elements
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Typical Trails Widths for Natural Surface TrailsNon-motorized Uses
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Case Study Carolina Thread Trail Gaston County, NC Seven Oaks Preserve
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Seven Oaks Overview Trail Uses - Walking / Hiking / Running/Mountain Biking Place- Belmont Difficulty- Easy Length- 2.8 miles, One Way Surface- Natural surface Fees -No Pets Permitted on leash Motorized vehicles Not Permitted ADA Compliant- No Number of parking spaces -Several Restrooms -No Has terminus at South New Hope Rd with side trail connection to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Hours of operation, Sunrise-Sunset
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Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Quick Facts • Major Wetland Attraction
• Trail connects to private botanical garden (Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden) • Portions will be surrounded in the future by large scale developments
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Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Anticipated User Groups Trail runners & walkers Bicyclists
Fishermen Families
Dog walkers School groups Nature Observers
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Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County ,NC Site Characteristics • Short 50’ wide corridor
• Constrained to 300’ corridor • 30’ lakeshore buffer • Flat to moderately side sloped terrain • Numerous drainage crossings
• Corridor comprised of woodland & open meadow 16
Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Construction Techniques Site required various methods of construction
Full bench trail construction
Forest road to trail conversion
Wetland Crossings Trail through meadow
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Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve, Gaston County, NC Trail through meadow
• Evaluation of existing micro- topography • Evaluation of site watershed • Determine the meadows lowest spots below trail and shape trail segments to drain
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Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve, Gaston County, NC Trail through meadow •
Identifying suitable fill from on-site borrow
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Rough fill placement and mechanical compaction
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Hand crews groom to fine tune tread angles
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Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve, Gaston County, NC Surfaced Trail Through Open Meadow •
Create trail tread elevations & slopes with imported fill based on existing micro-topography
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Carefully adjust as needed throughout flatter areas
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Example illustrates three shaped tread segments within a 100’ section:insloped, outsloped & crowned
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Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve, Gaston County, NC Full Bench Cut Trail -3’ wide • 0.4 miles of 2.8 miles required fully excavating the trail into side slope • Mechanically compacted • Hand finished trail tread angles such as back slope angle, trail out slope angles, critical point rounding, spoil reduction • Naturalized corridor with existing leaf litter done as segments become finished 21
Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Trail Placement On Forest Roads
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Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Trail Placement On Forest Roads
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Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Trail Placement On Forest Roads
• Thread trail parallels scour line on road shoulder
• Tread drains to center of old road
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Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Trail Placement On Forest Roads
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Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Trail Placement On Forest Roads
• Trail critical point, highlighted in black is placed on outside edge of old roadbed • Trail tread sheet drains to left • Corridor vegetation managed to break feeling of being on roadbed
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Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Wetland Crossings
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Carolina Thread Trail at Seven Oaks Preserve Gaston County, NC Wetland Crossings
• Broad low flow drainage • Note: Curvilinear layout to emphasis curve of trail • Low impact Helical pier foundation system to minimize land disturbance • Longer life span than pressure treated lumber & no leaching into water & soils 28
Case Study Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve
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Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve
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West Branch Overview Trail Uses - Walking / Hiking / Running Place- Davidson Difficulty- Easy Length- 0.9 miles, One Way Surface- Natural surface
• 0.9 natural surface trail, • Has termini in Summer Walk Subdivision and the River Run Country Club Community
Fees -No Pets Permitted on leash Motorized vehicles Not Permitted ADA Compliant- No Number of parking spaces -None Restrooms -No Hours of operation, Sunrise-Sunset
• Trail connects to paved Rocky Branch River Greenway. • Most biologically diverse wetland in Mecklenberg County is located in the West Branch Nature Preserve.
• Close to River Farm Subdivision
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Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve Quick Facts • Significant wetland feature
• Provides neighborhood connections • Preserve located in area heavily developed with future development phases coming
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Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve Main User Groups • Trail runners & walkers • Families • Dog walkers • School groups
• Nature Observers • Children (poss. Unsupervised)
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Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve Site Characteristics • Mature hardwood stands • Recently logged portions • Flat to moderately side sloped terrain • Numerous drainage crossings • Trail placement on utility right of way • Mix of sand, clay & loam • Heavy beaver activity
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Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve Construction Techniques Site required various methods of construction
Full bench construction
Wetland Crossings
Trail placement on bog bridging on Utility line corridor
Wetland Observation Platform 35
Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve Full Bench Cut Trail -4’ wide • 0. 6 miles of 0.9 miles required fully excavating the trail into side slope • Mechanically compacted • Hand finished trail tread angles such as back slope angle, trail out slope angles, critical point rounding, spoil reduction • Naturalized corridor with existing leaf litter done as segments become finished 36
Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve Full Bench Cut Trail -4’ wide
• Trail bench cuts were deliberately shaped around many of the significant hardwood trees • Care was taken to avoid root damage by covering with soil
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Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve Trail Placement on Utility Line Corridor
• Careful attention to microtopography when available • Minimizing conflict with utility corridor maintenance through trail placement
• Utility easement surrounded by floodplain & heavy beaver activity created challenges
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Carolina Thread Trail Mecklenburg County, NC West Branch Nature Preserve Wetland Crossings • Trail near stream and floodplains required multiple structures, most of which were supported on helical piers • Benefit of helical piers is stability, durability and low land disturbance • Wetland observation deck has its own dedicated access trail off the main trail
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Planning & Constructing Urban Natural Surface Trails Final Thoughts
• Know your anticipated user group • Know site - its opportunities & constraints • Plan your trail accordingly • Establish trail construction standards and stick to them • Maintain regularly – volunteers, friends groups, staff
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Benchmark Trails, Inc. Building & Designing Sustainable Trails since 2001
www.benchmarktrails.com 41
