Find YOUR path
Improved Natural Trails
Recognizing which natural trails approach accessibility standards can open up more of nature to more people
Thanks to Blue Hill Heritage Trust (BHHT) in Maine for sharing examples of trail improvements
Why natural trails? ..... These immerse people in nature at much less cost, so we can connect even more people to the outdoors. Read more.
Natural trails rated as B fall just short of specific UA standards . but can still meet the needs of some with disabilities. Read more.
Why natural trails?
Some rating systems span a very wide range of difficulty, and do not offer finer distinctions important to those with mobility challenges-
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In the 5-point Yosemite Decimal System, Level 3 involves steep and rocky terrain.
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Other rating systems not only span a very wide range of lengths, but they also confound length and difficulty.
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In the 5 point system described by the National Park Service, Level 5 includes hikes 5-8 miles long with steep inclines that would be "challenging for an unconditioned person".
Existing Trail difficulty ratings often do not work for pedestrians with mobility challenges
Some rating systems span a very wide range of difficulty, and do not offer finer distinctions important to those with mobility challenges-
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In the 5-point Yosemite Decimal System, Level 3 involves steep and rocky terrain.
​
Other rating systems not only span a very wide range of lengths, but they also confound length and difficulty.
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In the 5 point system described by the National Park Service, Level 5 includes hikes 5-8 miles long with steep inclines that would be "challenging for an unconditioned person".
Other ratings like those adopted by Pennsylvania (p. 12) and pictured to the right include more descriptors relevant to those with mobility challenges but may still be too vague.
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Our system
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Separates out Trail Effort and difficulty or Trail Stress,
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Adds two more levels of difficulty (A- and B) to capture those trails just exceeding accessibility standards that might be appropriate for users with disabilities interested in increasing their skills
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Suggest ways to improve natural trails to make them more useable by more people with disabilities
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Improved Natural Trails rated as A- meet all UA standards except for firmness
A- Tread Surface
A Running Grades, Cross-Grades, Width, and Obstacles
Effort
Stress
The UA Standard for Tread Surface
Technically, some conditions & users will cause virtually every unimproved dirt or grass trail (for an exception, see right) to fall short of the UA standard for Tread Surface, intended for example to withstand passage by multiple motorized wheelchairs after days of heavy rain.
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A- Rating for Tread Surface​
The key: The trail must be well-drained along its entire length, without any low spots that accumulate water and become soft even after a moderate rainstorm
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A well-mowed grass trail can provide a firm, level, and clear surface even after
a well-drained mowed trail - and even some dirt trails - would otherwise meet the firmness standard
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For most users AND
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Under typical conditions (e.g., except after sustained or especially heavy rainstorms or snow melts)
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These trails would otherwise have to also meet all other UA standards for running grade, cross-grades, width, and obstacles
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​This trail is one of the very few trails designed to meet UA standards with a grass surface.​​
Examples
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The Meadow Loop at the Chandler Mill Nature Preserve is a short trail with firmly packed dirt and mowed grass sections
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Width
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A trail does not have to be 10' or even 5' wide to meet UA standards. It just requires a clear tread surface as little as 3' wide (as long as there is a 5'x 5' passing space every 1000 feet).
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Trails can narrow to as little as 32" around specific obstacles, like on the Whitely Farms Trail (seen here), a UA Trail in White Clay Creek Preserve State Park in Delaware where it weaves between trees.
Obstacles
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Might include obstacles up to 2" high as long as these are separated by at least 48"
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In this example from the Penndell Trail in White Clay Creek Preserve, 1-2" high obstacles on the left are not separated by 48" BUT there is a path around these to the right...
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Improved Natural Trails rated as B have specific sections that fall just short of UA standards
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Some natural trails have specific sections that might barely exceed one UA standard. We describe these as approaching UA standards and rate them as an B. By describing these clearly and then mapping them on trails, users with mobility challenges can explore a wider range of trails and then choose to test their skills or just turn around. Note that, to be rated as B:
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A trail cannot include any 10' section that falls short on more than one standard (for example, both running and cross-grades), and;
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More than 90% of the trail must meet all UA standards - in many cases, more than 95% of the trail already meets standards.
Here is a summary of effort and stress rated as A and B, and then some examples of paths and trails rated as B.
Effort
Stress
Cross Grades / Grade C-B
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Might slightly exceed standards for short stretches (up to 10% for up to 10')
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Example coming soon!
Example coming soon!
Surface Grade S-B
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Might include sections that are a little slippery and soft (e.g., users leave a clearly outlined footprint up to 1/2"deep) over a length of up to 10'
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Easy Running Grades / Grade R-B
Our maps identify sections that exceed UA standards, and that approximate grades in 10' increments. A B for Running Grade includes a section that is either a bit
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Steeper (e.g., up to 20% for 10', up to 12.5% for 30', or up to 10% for 200'), or;
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Longer without resting spaces (e.g., up to 12.5% for up to 20', up to 10% for up to 60', or up to 8.33% for up to 400').
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The northern sections of East Branch Brandywine Trail (a shared use path) merit a B only because of several sections that barely exceed standards for Running Grades and that lack resting spaces. One section (on the right) has 5-8.33% uphill grades for about 250', as marked here in 10' increments. A user could choose to hike to this point and continue or turn back
Width Grade W-B
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Trails less than 5' wide lack clear passing spaces
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For example, the Whitely Farm Trail in White Clay Creek State Park meets all other UA standards but narrows to 3' in width for long stretches, without obvious passing spaces. As a result, someone approaching a wheelchair would have to step off of the path
Obstacles / Grade O-B
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Might include obstacles up to 2" high as long as these are separated by at least 48"
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In this example from the Penndell Trail in White Clay Creek Preserve, obstacles are not separated by 48" AND there is no path around these... without improvements, this could only be rated as O-B.
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This section would become challenging for a wheelchair user or others pushing a stroller.
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Progressively remove barriers on B and C trails to create improved trails that offer increasing useability
Once you identify a natural trail that is approaching UA standards, you can develop a plan to improve specific sections to meet UA standards. We refer to these as improved trails. When considering the examples listed below, note that
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You can progressively increase the length that a wheelchair user or others can travel before they need to turn around, by starting with barriers closest to the trailhead, and;
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Just bringing a trail closer to UA standards (e.g., from a C to a B rating) will increase its useability.
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Improve Running Grades - Consider
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Adjusting the route to avoid steeper grades OR
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Identify a portion that avoids steeper grades
For example, one could enjoy this view at the Howe Trail at Brinton Run Preserve (at the the westernmost point of the trail) while avoiding the steep grades that resulting in a Maximum Effort Rating of Hard for the entire loop. How? Walk halfway in a clockwise direction from the parking lot until you encounter the section rated as Easy to Hard and then retrace your steps.​
Add Resting Intervals - Break up long steep sections with a resting interval. This is what Blue Hill Heritage Trust did on their Peter Clapp Trail, pictured here.
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Improve Cross Grades - Consider
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An adjustment to the route
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A simple cut
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Example coming soon!
Improve the Surface - For a wet/muddy section, consider
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Addressing drainage issues
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Building a short section of boardwalk or filling it with stone/gravel
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This is what happened on the Little Jersey trail in Delaware's Lums Pond State Park... over the past several years, the park has filled in perennially wet or rutted sections (like the top picture) with gravel and stone to create a firm, stable trail (like the bottom picture).
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Before
After
Before
Before
After
After
Remove obstacles - Consider
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Removing rocks or roots
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Filling in and over obstacles with stone/gravel
In this example from BHHT's Hundred Acre Wood, a culvert (left) potentially blocking the trail was filled in and over with gravel (right)
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And you can always put in a boardwalk, with steps if needed
That is what happened at the Parker Point to South Street Trail at the same preserve, where the combination of rocks, roots, and grades made other options impracticable
Increase width - Consider widening the trail as needed.
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This section of overgrown trail at Flint Woods Preserve could be easily cut back to allow a wheelchair user to see potential obstacles, or allowing a partner to continue to walk beside to offer an arm for support
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This is especially important where access at the trailhead itself is limited. In the top example, posts set at the start of the Penndell trail are set slightly less than 32" apart. This blocks access to a trail that a wheelchair user might otherwise enjoy (we had to take one of the wheels off of Margot's stroller to fit). All that is needed is to move the post back by at least 1/2"!
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In the bottom example from Surry Forest in Maine, the opening to the right of the gate is too narrow for a wheelchair to pass
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Restrict other types of users on UA trails with natural surfaces
Properly designed natural surface trails are the most cost effective way top accommodate users with mobility challenges, but only if the surface remains smooth.
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Mountain bikers will eventually create ruts that render even a well-maintained mowed trail unusable, and a dirt trail even more so.
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Horses can churn up a mowed trail after only one storm
The solution?
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Plan on separate trails for other users whenever possible
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Make sure your trails are clearly signed.
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