The Spectrum of Paths and Trails

The Spectrum of Paths & Trails

A simple trail hierarchy

These 5 levels of paths and trails can help people with a wide range of disabilities to comfortably build their fitness, skills, and experience, depending upon their goals. Each of these types of paths and trails is described in the sections which follow, while details about the specific Grade and Stress ratings are described elsewhere.

Some general comments

In general, paths and trails rated as A or better (e.g., most Multi-Use and Walking Paths) are appropriate for most users with disabilities when they are first starting out
What does it mean for users with disabilities when ratings decrease (e.g., from A to A- to B and so on)?
- For Grades? Users with disabilities will have to increase their fitness?
- For Stress? Users with disabilities may have to increase their skills and confidence, depending on the particular source of stress and the user's particular disabilities?

Shared and Multi-Use Paths

Multi-Use Paths are designed for all users regardless of disabilities. They are at least 10’ wide to accommodate cyclists (a path may be narrowed to 8' for very short distances to accommodate an obstruction). Users should not encounter obstacles higher than 1/2".

Most are paved and so these get an overall Stress Rating of A+.
Some have a firmly packed gravel surface (like this beautiful section of the Schulkyll River Trail north of Manayunk). These get an overall Stress Rating of A.
Many of these are standalone paths (e.g. outside of a specific park or preserve).

The terms "Shared Use" and "Multi-Use" are used interchangeably, but the former is defined in federal regulations that require it be paved and have relatively flat grades (e.g., less than 5%). Most paths (like the Struble Trail Margot has enjoyed walking so many times) meet these standards, and so get a Grade rating of A+.

Some multi-use paths have short sections with steeper grades (like sections of the East Branch Brandywine Trail pictured left) that some people with disabilities just starting out may find hard. These get a Grade rating of A.

These paths are excellent for helping people with disabilities Start Moving and Get Fit

These wide, hardened, and usually flat paths rate at least A for Stress and Grade, and so are a great option for people with any type of disability to take their first walks. Some things to consider:

There are not as many of these paths, so they might be further away - if so, a Walking Path may be closer
Some paths, like the Chester Valley Trail (see right) can be busy during peak hours.
If you are thinking of trying a bike ride, these are DEFINITIELY one of the places to start

Chester Valley Trail - Exton Park to Exton Mall

Walking Paths

Walking Paths are designed to be appropriate for all users regardless of disability. Like Multi-Use Paths, they are relatively flat with a hardened surface (asphalt, concrete, or firmly packed gravel), and so get Grade and overall Stress Ratings of A+ or A.

The main difference? They are 3'-5' wide, and so do not accommodate cyclists.
Most national, state, and county parks have paved walking paths.
Many municipalities too, though for the Chester County Outdoor Access Guide we have so far only catalogued those that are at least 1 mile long.
Universal Access (UA) Trails must adhere to specific federal standards. For example, these allow obstacles up to 2" high on gravel paths.

These are excellent for helping people with any type of disability Start Moving and Get Fit

For those walking to improve their health or the quality of their life, these may be better than Multi-Use Paths

They can be less crowded. Multi-Use Paths can attract a lot of traffic, including bicycles that some might find stressful.
They can immerse you in nature, winding around and between trees like the path to the left in Rushton Woods. Multi-Use Paths often keep at least 2' clear on either side of the path , and so can feel like a highway to some.
There are a lot more of them - especially the kind of shorter ones needed to Get Moving, and so you may not have to drive too far!

Walking Paths like those in Anson B. Nixon Park (pictured right) also have advantages over Multi-Use Paths for those building them

They have less impact on the environment because they are narrower and do not necessarily require asphalt.
They are cheaper to build: They are at least half the width and so are at least half the price. Many Multi-Use Paths take years to build because of the high cost (starting at $1.5M/mile)
There is more flexibility in their design. A Universal Access (UA) Trail can accommodate steeper grades and use a stone dust surface.

Improved Natural Trails

Natural trails with a dirt or grass surface can be found in almost every medium to large park or preserve. From a short grass path through a meadow to the Appalachian Trail, these vary tremendously in length and difficulty. To capture this variability and help people with different types of disabilities find trails that match their skills and interests, we rate the Stress for each key characteristic (e.g., Cross-Grades, Width, Surface, and Obstacles) separately.

Natural Trails are special because they bring people to the most picturesque places, like this view over the Brandywine at Shaw's Bridge Park

We use the term Improved Natural Trails to capture those trails that are intentionally designed (or just happen!) to approach UA standards and so might be appropriate for some users with disabilities depending on their fitness, skills, experience, and/or goals.

Those that meet every Standard except Surface, may be suitable for many users with disabilities. The western half of the mowed Purple Loop at Cheslen Preserve (see left) meets UA Standards for

Running Grades and so gets a Grade Rating of A or even A+
Cross-Grades (e.g., do not exceed 5%) and so gets a Stress Rating of A
Width (e.g., are at least 3' wide) and so gets a Stress Rating of A
Obstacles (e.g., none higher than 2") and so gets a Stress Rating of A

While these can be firm, they can never be stable enough, however, to meet UA Standards for Surface, and so are rated A- for Stress

To rate A-, the trail must be well-drained - e.g., with no sections that remain soft except after very heavy or prolonged rain.
Users with disabilities who have begun to Get Fit on paths should become comfortable on these types of trails, as long as they avoid them after periods of excessive rain.
Some have a firm surface of mowed grass (like the Meadow Loop at the Chandler Mill Nature Preserve pictured here).

Others have a surface of dirt pounded firm by hundreds of feet (like sections of the PennDel Trail in White Clay Creek Preserve, pictured here)

Other Improved Natural Trails exceed other UA Standards and so may have specific features rated as A- or B (click here for more details)

When only 1 standard at a time is barely exceeded for a short distance, that feature is rated as A-
For example, this 5' wide well-drained mowed trail at Brinton Run Preserve has a short section with Cross-Grades between 5 and 10% and another short section with Running Grades exceeding 12.5%. This would be rated as: A- (for Surface, Running Grades, and Cross Grades) and A (Width and Obstacles).

When 1 standard is barely exceeded over longer stretches, or when one section has 2 or more features barely exceeding standards, those features are rated as B.
This 5' wide mowed trail on Stateline Woods Preserve (see left) has a long section that exceeds standards for Running Grades (e.g., rated B) and so is good for someone ready to build their confidence on steeper grades

This allows each user to build their skills and confidence gradually by choosing trails with ratings that match their unique disabilities and strengths.

A wheelchair user might be comfortable with higher obstacles (B) and steeper grades (B) but needs the trail to be at least 3' wide (A)
Someone with poor vision might tolerate a trail that narrows in sections to 18" (B) as long as obstacles remain less than 2" (A).

Improved Natural Trails have MANY advantages over multi-use or walking paths for those building them

They have virtually NO impact on the environment
They cost VERY LITTLE to improve: Once existing candidates have been identified, the trail might need minimal - if any - improvements.
They are rarely crowded.
They are even better at immersing you in nature
There are many of them, and so you may not have to drive too far!
They help you to expand your horizons, opening up even more trails to try!

Unimproved Natural Trails

Other trails clearly exceed UA Standards in one or more sections, and so may merit a C.

When a feature is a stressor and not a barrier for a user, an Unimproved Natural Trail can still help someone with a disability to explore their potential.

For example, a 200 yard narrow, steep, and rocky section at the beginning of this trail at Marshall Mill House Preserve is rated C for Running Grades, Width, and Obstacles.
Margot can walk it but only with our support, and even then she clearly finds it stressful BUT then it opens up into a beautiful wooded hillside.

But a feature that is a barrier will end a walk on an Unimproved Natural Trail early.

For example, Margot simply cannot traverse stream crossings like this (Rated C for Obstacles) within 200 yards of the beginning of the Lower Octararo Trail in Glenroy Preserve, forcing us to cut our visit short

Find YOUR path

A simple trail hierarchy

Shared and Multi-Use Paths

Walking Paths

Improved Natural Trails

Unimproved Natural Trails