Project PackTrail Master Plan

Trail Master Plan

Trails have something for everyone. They are enjoyed by walkers, runners, hikers, bikers and skiers, and provide exploration, transportation, exercise and enjoyment. What’s not to love?

This Project Pack walks you through the process of developing a comprehensive plan for a system of local trails, including mapping current conditions, engaging the community, minimizing environmental impact, ensuring accessibility and identifying funding opportunities. Whether you already have trails in place or are looking to build a system from scratch, this Project Pack helps ensure that your trail system will be well connected, sustainable, and loved by community members.

Tools for Trail Master Plans

Recreation in Your Community

To create a master plan of your community’s comprehensive trail system, it is crucial to understand the locations, conditions, and uses of local trails, as well as the activities that they support. Mapping exercises and public engagement can help reveal this information.

Outdoor Recreation Activity and Asset Inventory

List the existing outdoor recreation assets and how they are used.

Maps of Outdoor Recreation

Identify local outdoor recreation assets using existing base maps and learn to create maps of your community with free or low-cost mapping tools.

Environmental Data on Maps

Map systems and surroundings of outdoor recreation assets, such as natural resources or businesses.

Local Tourism Economy

Extend mapping scope to consider businesses, accommodations, services, events, and other factors within the wider region.

Steering Committee Guidance

Create a steering committee and facilitate meetings.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement Guidance

Establish stakeholders, conduct public meetings, and develop the community vision for local outdoor recreation.

Survey Question Bank

Learn how to survey the community as a form of public outreach.

Time to Plan

Once you know what you are working with, you can begin to build out plans for improving, growing, and maintaining your trail system. Through minimizing environmental impacts, illuminating shared goals through iterative community feedback, guiding priorities through realistic cost estimations, and other planning initiatives, this step shapes the vision for your community's future trails.

Natural Resources Guide

Ensure the development and maintenance of outdoor recreation is environmentally responsible.

Model Project Proposal and Review

Complete the project application process and ensure that recreation opportunities are created in an environmentally responsible manner.

Interpretation, Education, and Programming Guidance

Explore opportunities for interpretation, education, and programming around natural and cultural assets.

Recreation Improvement Database

Identify the potential costs associated with outdoor recreation improvements.

Strategy and Planning Templates

Work with the steering committee to implement the visioning framework, set priorities, and choose an appropriate plan scale.

Tying it All Together

With plans in place and the community on board, it is time to implement improvements and maintenance for your local trail system. This process involves planning efforts such as marketing your trails, designing and building thoughtful trails, ensuring accessible transportation to trailheads, establishing funding opportunities, and hiring consultants.