Can I build a mountain bike trail? Yes, you absolutely can build a mountain bike trail, but it requires careful planning, hard work, and an eye for detail to ensure it’s both fun and sustainable. This guide will walk you through the entire process, from the initial idea to the final touches.
Image Source: i.ytimg.com
Dreaming Up Your Trail: Vision and Planning
Before you even touch a shovel, you need a clear vision. What kind of trail do you want to build? Will it be a beginner mountain biking trails with gentle climbs and flowy descents, or an advanced mountain biking trails featuring technical obstacles and steep drops? Your target audience will shape every decision.
Site Selection: Finding the Perfect Spot
Choosing the right location is crucial for trail building. Look for:
- Suitable Terrain: Rolling hills with varied elevations offer more interesting riding than flat, featureless land.
- Soil Stability: Loam or clay soils generally hold up well to traffic. Avoid pure sand or areas with excessive loose rock.
- Drainage: Natural slopes that allow water to run off are ideal. Avoid swampy areas or low-lying zones prone to flooding.
- Minimal Environmental Impact: Consider existing vegetation, wildlife habitats, and potential erosion issues.
- Accessibility: How will riders get to the trailhead? Is there parking?
Trail Design: Mapping Your Route
This is where sustainable trail design principles come into play. A well-designed trail is fun to ride, minimizes environmental impact, and requires less trail maintenance.
Mapping and Layout
- Scouting: Walk the land thoroughly, identifying potential lines, obstacles, and challenging sections.
- Flagging: Use brightly colored flagging tape to mark your proposed route. Walk the flagged line on a bike to test its flow and feel.
- Consider Contours: Design the trail to follow the natural contours of the land as much as possible. This reduces erosion and creates a more enjoyable ride.
- Avoid Steep Climbs: If your trail has climbs, try to keep them manageable. Switchbacks are your friend for steeper sections.
- Embrace Natural Features: Incorporate rocks, roots, and dips into the trail design for added interest.
Key Design Elements
- Flow: The trail should feel natural and intuitive, guiding the rider smoothly from one section to the next.
- Variety: Mix up the terrain, including climbs, descents, flat sections, berms, and technical features.
- Sustainability: Design to prevent erosion and minimize water buildup.
Gathering Your Tools: What You’ll Need
Trail building is physically demanding work, and having the right equipment makes all the difference. You’ll need a mix of hand tools for trail building and potentially some power tools for trail building.
Essential Hand Tools
- Shovels: Flat-nosed shovels for digging and shaping earth, and round-nosed shovels for moving loose material.
- McLeod: A versatile tool with a rake on one side and a flat blade on the other, perfect for raking, scraping, and smoothing.
- Rake: For clearing debris and shaping the trail surface.
- Pulaski: A combination axe and adze, useful for chopping roots and clearing brush.
- Machete or Loppers: For cutting back vegetation.
- Hand Saw: For trimming smaller branches.
- Wheelbarrow or Garden Cart: To move soil, rocks, and debris.
- Buckets: For carrying smaller amounts of material.
- Water Bottles/Hydration Pack: Stay hydrated!
- Gloves: Protect your hands.
- Safety Glasses: Essential for protecting your eyes from flying debris.
Power Tools (Use with Caution and Knowledge)
- Power Wheelbarrow: For moving large amounts of material over longer distances.
- Brush Cutter: For clearing dense vegetation.
- Chainsaw: For clearing larger trees and fallen logs (requires training and certification).
- Plate Compactor: For compacting the trail surface for greater durability (often rented).
Safety First!
Always prioritize safety. Wear sturdy footwear, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, gloves, and eye protection. Work with a partner whenever possible. If you’re using power tools, ensure you have the proper training and safety equipment.
Bringing Your Trail to Life: Construction Techniques
This is where the sweat equity comes in. Trail building involves shaping the land to create a fun and durable riding experience.
Clearing the Path
- De-vegetation: Carefully remove any brush, small trees, and saplings that are directly in your flagged path. Try to preserve larger trees that contribute to the trail’s character.
- Root Removal: Cut and remove any roots that are large enough to be a tripping hazard or will compromise the trail’s structure. For larger roots, you might need to reroute slightly or incorporate them into the trail’s features.
- Rock Removal: Clear away any loose rocks that could be a hazard. Larger rocks can be strategically placed to form features or retaining walls.
Shaping the Trail Tread
The “tread” is the actual riding surface of the trail.
- Establishing the Grade: This is the slope of the trail. Aim for a consistent grade that isn’t too steep.
- Cutting and Filling: Use shovels and McLeods to cut into hillsides for flatter sections and use the excavated soil to fill low spots.
- Establishing Trail Width: For beginner mountain biking trails, a width of 3-4 feet is usually sufficient. For more advanced trails, you might go up to 6 feet.
- Outslope: Crucial for sustainable trail design. Create a slight outward slope (typically 5-10%) on the trail tread. This allows water to drain off the surface and prevents it from channeling down the trail, which causes erosion.
- Outsloping Tools: Your McLeod is excellent for shaping the outslope. Gently scrape from the inside edge of the trail to the outside.
Water Management: Essential for Sustainability
Drainage solutions are paramount for a long-lasting trail. Water is your biggest enemy when it comes to erosion.
Natural Drainage
- Outsloping: As mentioned, this is your primary defense.
- Dips and Rolling Grade Reversals: Create gentle dips that allow water to flow across the trail and away, rather than channeling down it. These are often called “rolling grade reversals” or “water bars” (though true water bars are more aggressive structures).
Engineered Drainage Structures
- Water Bars (or Roller Coaster Berms): These are essentially a raised section of the trail that forces water to go over them and off to the side. They are effective but can be jarring if not built smoothly.
- Drainage Ditches: Dig shallow ditches along the uphill side of the trail to intercept water and channel it away.
- Cross Drains (or Culverts): For wetter areas or where a lot of water needs to be moved, install culverts (typically plastic or metal pipes) under the trail to allow water to pass through. Ensure the culverts are properly installed and angled to facilitate flow.
Berm Construction: Adding Flow and Fun
Berm construction is an art form in trail building. Berms are banked turns that allow riders to maintain speed and flow through corners.
- Location: Berms are most effective in turns where riders need support to stay on the bike.
- Shaping: Use the soil you excavate from the trail tread to build up the outer edge of the turn.
- Compaction: Thoroughly compact the berm material as you build it. This is essential for stability. Use your feet, hands, and even a tamper if you have one.
- Outsloping the Berm: Ensure the berm itself has a slight outslope to prevent water from pooling on its surface.
- Riding Surface: The inside of the berm should be smooth and free of roots or rocks.
Incorporating Features (Optional)
For more advanced trails, you might consider adding features:
- Rock Gardens: Strategically place rocks to create a challenging but rideable section.
- Log Rides: Build up a supportive base to ride over a log.
- Wooden Features: Jumps, bridges, and drops. These require more specialized knowledge and materials, and often more intensive trail maintenance.
Building for Different Skill Levels
The principles of trail building are universal, but the application varies for different rider abilities.
Beginner Mountain Biking Trails
- Gentle Gradients: Avoid steep climbs and descents.
- Wide Tread: Easier for new riders to navigate.
- Smooth Surface: Minimize roots and rocks.
- Flowy Turns: Gradual, banked turns that are easy to ride.
- Minimal Technical Features: Focus on building confidence.
Advanced Mountain Biking Trails
- Steeper Gradients: More challenging climbs and descents.
- Narrower Tread: Requires more precision.
- Technical Obstacles: Rock gardens, drops, jumps, tight switchbacks.
- Challenging Berms: Tighter, steeper berms.
- Variable Surfaces: Incorporate natural elements like roots and rocks.
Trail Maintenance: Keeping it Flowing
Trail maintenance is an ongoing process. Even the best-built trails will degrade over time without regular attention.
Regular Tasks
- Clearing Debris: Remove fallen leaves, branches, and other natural debris.
- Checking Drainage: Ensure water is flowing freely through culverts and off the trail. Clear any blockages.
- Erosion Control: Repair any areas where erosion is occurring. This might involve adding more outsloping or reinforcing banks.
- Brushing Out: Trim back overhanging branches and encroaching vegetation.
Periodic Tasks
- Re-grading: In high-traffic areas, the tread may become rutted or worn. You might need to re-grade the trail surface and re-establish the outslope.
- Repairing Features: Check the stability of any constructed features like berms or wooden elements.
- Addressing Water Issues: If drainage problems persist, you may need to install additional drainage structures.
Working with Others: Volunteer Trail Building
Building a trail is a massive undertaking. Consider joining or organizing a volunteer trail building group.
Benefits of Volunteering
- Shared Workload: Many hands make light work.
- Knowledge Sharing: Learn from experienced trail builders.
- Community Building: Connect with other riders and outdoor enthusiasts.
- Advocacy: Demonstrate responsible trail use and support for trail access.
How to Get Involved
- Local Bike Clubs: Most areas have mountain biking clubs that organize trail work days.
- Land Management Agencies: Parks departments and forest services often have volunteer programs for trail maintenance.
- Online Forums and Social Media: Look for local trail advocacy groups online.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What permits do I need to build a mountain bike trail?
This varies greatly depending on your location and land ownership. You will likely need permits from local, county, or state land management agencies. Always research and secure the necessary permissions before you begin any trail building.
How long does it take to build a mountain bike trail?
Building a short, simple trail can take a few days of dedicated work. However, a longer, more complex trail with features can take weeks or months, especially if you’re working with a small team or relying on volunteer trail building.
What are the most common mistakes in trail building?
- Poor Drainage: Leading to erosion and muddy, unrideable sections.
- Too Steep Gradients: Making climbs and descents difficult or dangerous.
- Lack of Outsloping: Causing water to channel down the trail.
- Building on Sensitive Areas: Neglecting environmental impact.
- Not Enough Compaction: Resulting in a soft, unstable trail.
How can I make my trail more sustainable?
Focus on sustainable trail design principles: proper outsloping, avoiding excessively steep grades, using natural contours, and implementing effective drainage solutions. Regular trail maintenance is also key to long-term sustainability.
Can I build a trail on private property?
Yes, but you will still need to consider local zoning laws and potential environmental regulations. It’s always wise to consult with your local planning department.
Building a mountain bike trail is a rewarding experience that can bring immense joy to riders. By following these steps, prioritizing sustainable trail design, and putting in the hard work, you can create a fantastic trail that will be enjoyed for years to come. Remember to always work safely and respect the environment. Happy trail building!