Trailbuilding Resources

Featured are the premiere trailbuilding organizations in the country, each one offering a treasure-trove of information for professional and volunteer OHV trailbuilders

American Trails and
National Trails Training Partnership (NTTP)

American Trails is the only national, nonprofit organization working on behalf of all trail interests, including hiking, bicycling, mountain biking, horseback riding, water trails, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, trail motorcycling, ATVs, snowmobiling and four-wheeling. American Trails members want to create and protect America's network of interconnected trails. They support local, regional, and long-distance trails and greenways, whether they be in backcountry, rural or urban areas. Their goal is to support America's trails by finding common ground and promoting cooperation among all trail interests. They're involved in everything from training trails advocates to increasing accessible trail opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Their work includes:

• Coordinating the National Trails Symposium every two years: in 2008 in Little Rock, Arkansas; then in 2010 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
• Hosting the National Trails Awards program.
• Revitalizing the National Recreation Trails program with the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and other agencies and national organizations.
• Producing American Trails Magazine, the premier news publication for all trail advocates and managers.
• Providing technical assistance and resources for trails and greenways.
• Working with agencies and trail organizations to develop the National Trails Training Partnership.
• Maintaining a clearinghouse of trails training resources and an online calendar of training opportunities.
• Providing Universal Trail Assessment Process training and other trail skills workshops.
• Informing the trails community on agency guidelines, legal issues, and ways to improve the accessibility of trails.
• Sharing information and providing assistance to America's State Trails Programs.
• Bringing news of opportunities, jobs, and grant programs to trails activists.
• Supporting funding for trails through State, Federal, and private programs.
• Participating in hearings, and task forces on federal land management issues.
• Interpreting Congressional action and legislation for local trail supporters.
• Fostering cooperation and communication among all trail users.

Professional Trailbuilders Association

Founded in 1976 as the Western Trailbuilders Association and renamed in 2004, the Professional Trailbuilders Association (PTBA) is North America’s largest private sector group of trail specialists, professional trail contractors, designers, and consultants.
All of PTBA’s activities support quality trail design, construction, and maintenance for all types of trails in all types of locations. In its early years, PTBA served to define and nurture a new industry—private trail contracting for the federal government, primarily the USDA Forest Service. This was quite successful, and PTBA enjoys respect and a good reputation from federal agencies.

Now, with the ongoing loss of federal trail expertise through retirement and ever-increasing trail and greenway work in state, county, municipal, and special district governments, non-profits, and private landowners, PTBA’s services have grown to include the activities listed below:

• Promoting professional trail contracting and consulting as cost-effective ways to design, build, and maintain high-quality trails;
• Establishing the importance of sustainable trails realized through skillful trail design, construction, and maintenance;
• Helping trail contractors improve skills and abilities;
• Marketing the services of members to federal, state, and local governments, special districts, non-profit organizations, and private landowners;
• Providing networking opportunities between members and with the wider world;
• Serving as the organized voice of private trail contractors with governments and other organizations; and
• Hosting the annual, national-level Trailbuilders Conference to further the above goals

Trailbuilding Education; College-level OHV Recreation Management Courses

The only college-level course series of its kind is offered at Marshall University in West Virginia. It consists of four different classes which are available either on-line or at the University.
The objective of these courses is to provide both university students and professional employees of planning and land management agencies with state-of-the-art courses dealing with the general aspects of OHV recreation and the planning, construction, operation and management of OHV trails and facilities. Career employees can obtain academic credit after completing the courses and students attending other colleges and universities may have these credits transferred to their own institutions.

Click here to get all the info on the Marshall courses>>

Check out the following NOHVCC Library sections for a multitude of documents related to trailbuilding.

NOHVCC Library; OHV Management

NOHVCC Library; OHV Environmental Impact

One of our favorites is the classic A Guide to Off-Road Motorcycle Trail Design and Construction by Joe Wernex which was produced by the American Motorcyclist Association. This pamphlet is intended to assist in the design and construction of off-road motorcycle trails. It is aimed at developing trails and trail systems in forested, mountainous terrain. However, many of the techniques described can be used wherever trail bike recreation is planned for and managed.
To View as a PDF file click here>>

Another great resource for trailbuiding publications are the combined offerings from the USDA, US Forest Service, and the Missoula Technology and Development Center. You can find them by Clicking Here>>

In addition the US Forest Service offers an excellent  DVD called "Building Mountain Bike Trails: Sustainable Singletrack". Many of the applications will apply to off-highway motorcycle trails. It is available through FHWA's Recreational Trails Program Publications Order form: see www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/trailpub.htm

NOHVCC Publications

OHV Park Guidelines Manual

An extensive 200-page illustrated book with everything you need to know about planning, implementing and running an OHV riding park.

 Management Guidelines for OHV Recreation

Written primarily for OHV program and land managers, as well as OHV leaders and enthusiasts, this unique resource guide is designed to assist in the planning, development, operation, and maintenance of environmentally sustainable and quality OHV trails, trail systems and areas..

Minnesota DNR Publications

Trail Planning, Design, and Development Guidelines

This award-winning 300-page spiral-bound publication, several years in the making, provides a first-ever comprehensive how-to guidebook for developing all types of recreational trails. These best practices for professional trail builders are intended to aid Minnesota land managers in applying new, innovative and environmentally sustainable approaches to trail planning, design and construction.