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MANAGEMENT of Visitors and Trails - skills and training topics

Specific skills used in maintenance of trails and greenways: maintenance of trails; repair of various trail elements; maintenance of trailheads and related facilities. See below for training and resources links for MANAGEMENT of visitors and trails.

The following is a list of skills and competencies for this category of trails work.

Skills for Natural Surface Trail Management

• Manage trails for a variety of uses and visitor experiences while meeting trail objectives
• Monitoring activities and their impacts on natural, historic, and cultural resources
• Managing off-highway vehicle routes and trails
• Managing use of on-snow routes for skiers, snowmobilers, and other winter activities

Skills for Management of Trail-related Facilities

• Identifying problem areas for drainage and water impacts
• Tracking use and potential problems at parking areas and trailheads

Skills for Urban Trail and Bike/Ped Facility Management

• Determining visitor satisfaction with materials and surfacing
• Surveying trail users and adjacent land uses for satisfaction and impacts
• Creating benchmarks and standards to assess trail use, condition, and potential problems

Skills for Visitor Management

• Identifying conflicts among users and concerns with various trail activities
• Using facilitation skills to lead meetings and resolve disputes
• Analyzing the economic and social impacts of trails on local and regional scales
• Developing policy and guidelines for events, commercial services, and permits
• Distributing information on trail conditions, permit requirements, and trip planning
• Developing Adopt-a-Trail programs for volunteers and clubs

TRAINING and RESOURCES for management

Links will take you to specific training opportunities, training providers, and other educational resources for both urban and backcountry trails. See the Online Training Calendar for current opportunities, featured training providers, and resources in each state.

Courses on Trail and Visitor Management

See providers of training on trail design below
Check the online Calendar for current scheduled training
Search the NTTP training database by keyword, state, or provider

• Appalachian Trail Conservancy Volunteer Trail Skills workshops cover Trail Maintenance, Corridor Monitoring, and tool and construction skills
• Carhart National Wilderness Training Center provides courses in Managing Visitor Use in Wilderness, Resource Monitoring, Wilderness Stewardship, and Site Restoration
• Outdoor Stewardship Institute (formerly COTI): trail crew leadership, Trail Maintenance Skills Workshop, and course in "Sustainable Mountain Trails: Assessment, Planning & Design"
• IMBA Trailbuilding Schools: sponsored by Subaru of America and directed by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, to teach sustainable trailbuilding
• Leave No Trace Trainer Course teaches principles of low impact recreation and techniques for disseminating these skills
• Marshall University Park and Recreation Resources program of Huntington, WV, has developed and is teaching an off-highway vehicle trail design course via the internet
• Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society provides a variety of courses on Trail Design, Construction, and Maintenance
• National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council provides statewide workshops on motorized recreation management and planning
• Professional Trailbuilders Association sponsors the annual Trailbuilders Conference with workshops on technical aspects of planning, development, and management
• Student Conservation Association teaches skills in trail design, construction, and maintenance
• Tread Lightly! sponsors the Tread Trainer program to train visitors and instructors in responsible trail use
• Trail Management: Plans, Projects and People: week-long interagency training for trail planning, design, development, and management
• Universal Trail Assessment Process training teaches trail assessments for accessibility maintenance, and visitor management
• See more training providers
• Check for training providers in your state

Resources for Management of Trails and Visitors

The Trail Building Index provides a wealth of articles, projects, and resources on design and construction issues.

BOOKS on Backcountry and Natural Surface Trail Management

The following books are available from the American Trails Store. Also see the American Trails Bibliography.

• Managing Mountain Biking: IMBA's Guide to Providing Great Riding; by the International Mountain Bicycling Association
• Lightly On The Land : The SCA Trail Building and Maintenance Manual, 2nd Edition; the trail building and maintenance "Bible," updated and expanded to meet new techniques and new realities of the 21st century
• Natural Surface Trails by Design: Physical and Human Design Essentials of Sustainable, Enjoyable Trails; by Troy Scott Parker

BOOKS on Greenways and Urban Trail Management

The following books are available from the American Trails Store:

• Trails for the Twenty-First Century: Planning, Design, and Management Manual for Multi-Use Trails; by Charles Flink , Kristine Olka , Robert Searns; focus on urban and rail trails
• Greenways: A Guide to Planning, Design and Development; by Charles A. Flink, Robert M. Searns, Loring LaB Schwarz

BOOKS on Off-Highway Vehicle Trail and Facility Management

• Management Guidelines for OHV Recreation; by Tom Crimmins; from the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council
• Park guidelines for off-highway vehicles: A resource guide to assist in the planning, development, enhancement, and operation of OHV recreation facilities; by the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council

TOOLS for Trail Maintenance and Management

An illustrated compendium of many of the tools commonly used for trail maintenance; compiled by Jim Schmid. Includes drawings, uses, and safety tips.

The National Trails Training Partnership is an alliance of Federal agencies, training providers, nationwide supporters, and providers of products and services. Visit the online calendar of training opportunities, access hundreds of trail-related resources, read the news, learn how you can help, and see training resources in your state.

RESOURCES and TRAINING for trail construction:

Courses
Books
Articles & projects
Bibliography
Glossary
Calendar
Products & services

CATEGORIES of SKILLS for trails and greenways work:

1. Trail Design
2. Construction
3. Maintenance
4. Management
5. Policies
6. Planning
7. Administration
8. Organizations
9. Partnerships
10. Resources
11. Information
12. Outreach

National
Trails Training Partnership:

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Training by state
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Are you a trails expert who can teach trail skills to others?
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