Trail Skills College Course Curriculum
To help our volunteers succeed in their trail work, PCTA collaborated with many partners to develop a Trail Skills College curriculum.
Tread Hardening and Surfacing
Skill Definition
Install the appropriate treadway hardening technique for a trail given the slopes, soils, available material (e.g., wood, rock, gravel) and designed use, including advanced hardening techniques including but not limited to aggregate addition, various types of rock armoring, turnpiking, rock culverts, boulder causeway, rock drains and chemical additives
Entry Level Performance
- Demonstrate understanding of a variety of tread hardening treatments and the trail issues each technique addresses and when hardening is or is not needed
- Safely perform a variety of tasks to further basic tread hardening construction projects, such as materials quarrying, staging, and application with supervision
- Stabilize (set) rocks and wood and perform basic carpentry and rockwork with supervision
Full Performance Level
- Implement construction specifications for all types of tread hardening structures in identified location independently
- Manage crew safety and efficiency when hardening or surfacing trail
Expert Level Performance
- Interpret construction specification to be site specific (if provided) -Identify and implement the appropriate tools and techniques to efficiently and effectively harden trail tread, ranging from basic to complex techniques
Resources for Tread Hardening and Surfacing
Documents and Media
• Video Trainings
• Training Programs
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Documents and Media for Tread Hardening and Surfacing
North Country Trail Handbook
The North Country National Scenic Trail (NST) extends for thousands of miles across seven states. Its layout, design, construction, and maintenance require the participation of a myriad of individuals and groups.
Equestrian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads, and Campgrounds
This guidebook provides practical guidelines for developing recreation environments that are sensitive to the needs of riders and their stock.
Introduction to Foundations of Sustainable Trails: A Trail from Start to Finish
A Trail from Start to Finish is an introductory, short "micro-learning" targeted to developing trail workers. Anticipated to take about 15 minutes to complete, this microlearning discusses what it means for a trail to be sustainable and describes…
Tread Re-Construction
This course goes beyond a triage approach covered in Course 203 Waterbars and Checks because reconstruction indicates a more thorough restoration of damaged tread to ideal specifications. Review hillside hydrology and how trails should work.…
Foundations of Sustainable Trails: Hydrology
Learn the basics of constructing and maintaining sustainable trails that function within the hydrology of their environment. You will learn about hydrology as the behavior of water over, under, and through the land, and you will learn some best…
Trail Skills Training Library
Recorded Trainings for Tread Hardening and Surfacing
Fundamentals of Aggregate Surface Trails
This session will include a general introduction to various types of trail surfacing, this webinar will focus on design and construction factors specific to aggregate surfaced trails.
Basic Soil Mechanics for Trailbuilding
This session will provide applicable knowledge of soil including soil description, grain size distribution and its measurement, clay plasticity, and compaction curves and the importance of water.
Porous Flexible Pavement, Asphalt, or Porous Asphalt: Lessons Learned for Multi-Use Trails in the District of Columbia
This webinar will discuss the various types of materials used for paved, multi-use trails in the District of Columbia. We will discuss different projects where we used flexi-pave, asphalt, or porous asphalt and our experience with each material. How…
Further Education
Training Programs for Tread Hardening and Surfacing
IMBA Trail Management Schools
This school is typically two days in length with IMBA instructor(s) traveling to your location to deliver the class to staff or members. Instructors arrive the day before to assess the site and do any necessary preparations. Organizations, clubs, or…
IMBA Trail Care Schools
Trail Care Schools equip volunteers and organizations with the skills necessary to maintain modern mountain bike trails in partnership with the local land management. This course will begin with sustainable trail design principles, such as drainage…
Sustainable Trail Building One Year Certificate Program
In this one-year certificate program, you’ll have boots-on-the-ground at Northwoods Stewardship Center in East Charleston, VT for three individual week-long intensive classes. You will grow your knowledge base and connect with trail building…
Trail Academy
Trail Academy is our free class series that teaches students how to tackle any trail-related challenge. Courses are hosted both in the field and online, and are a great starting point for anyone looking to become a certified Trail Crew Leader or…
Trail Sustainability Institute
The Trail Sustainability Institute (TSI) is NWTA’s internal training classes for everything related to trail building. We want to make sure our trail builders are knowledgeable in not only how to build/maintain fun trails, but ensure those trails…
Trails Certificate
Gain insight into best practices related to the design, construction and maintenance of trails. Learn about and apply techniques that can enhance, rehabilitate and protect trails and greenways. Participants will also learn about trail…
Skill Library
Trail Construction
Trail Sustainability Principles
Safety/Site Management
Construction Specifications
Corridor Clearing/Site Preparation
Corridor Clearing: Pruning/ Side-Cutting/ Brushing
Corridor Clearing: Felling/tree removal; Chainsaw/ Crosscut
Corridor Clearing: Material and Debris Management
Hand-Built Trail Construction
Mechanized Trail Construction
Trail Finishwork
Water Management/Drainage Features
Water Crossing Structures
Retaining Walls
Tread Hardening and Surfacing
Decommissioning Trails
Custom Trainings
There are 78 trainers on TrailSkills
with Tread Hardening and Surfacing experience
Sylvia Boucher
Middlefield, CT
Assistant Trails Coordinator
Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA)
Rick Landenberger
Morgantown, WV
Service Associate Professor and Science & Management Specialist for the West Virginia Land Trust
West Virginia University
Hire Workers
There are 285 workers on TrailSkills
with Tread Hardening and Surfacing experience
Rick Landenberger
Morgantown, WV
Service Associate Professor and Science & Management Specialist for the West Virginia Land Trust
West Virginia University
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Know of a good resource for this skill? Let us know! From webinars, to workshops, to PDFs, we'd like to add them to our resource library.
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