What is an ADA Trail?

Hiking is an enjoyable activity that many people love to do. From trail running to mountain biking, Colorado has tons of trails for people to explore. According to the FSTAG (Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines) and the FSORAG (Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines) there are development processes that are taken into consideration when trail building. It’s important to be conscious of trail accessibility by making sure the trails comply to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards.

The FSTAG and the FSORAG consider that a trail is a pedestrian route developed primarily for outdoor recreational hiking purposes. A pedestrian route provided primarily to connect elements, spaces, or facilities within a site is not a trail; it is an outdoor recreation access route (ORAR). According to the 2010 ADA Standards, it is essential to set minimum requirements for newly designed and constructed or altered state and local government facilities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.

What is the ADA?

The ADA is the Americans with Disabilities Act. This act was passed in 1990 and it is America’s most important law regarding accessibility and guarantees rights for people with disabilities. These guidelines aim to build a better understanding about how land managers make decisions about trails, maintain trails and the development process of trails. Some of these requirements include hard packed natural surfaces, parking spaces that have the same elevation as the sidewalk, and paths that connect to restrooms and resting stops. These multi-use trails are important because it offers more recreational experiences that everyone can benefit from.

Why are ADA Trails important?

Trails can connect you to nature in many ways and offer unique experiences that can give feelings of solace, comfort and peace. Accessibility is an important part of trail development. Trails are designed to make outdoor adventures accessible to all groups, including the young, elderly and people with disabilities. It is vital to ensure that trails reflect the diversity of human needs in a sustainable way.

Examples of ADA trail features:

A pathway that is accessible and constructed under the FSTGA while protecting the unique characteristics of their natural environment.
Trailheads with access points to the trail.
Associated constructed features such as toilets, picnic tables, and tent pads.
Trail constructed features such as trail bridges, boardwalks and switchbacks.
Accessible parking.
Resting Intervals provided in certain distances.
Restrooms, picnic tables and benches.

There is a lot that goes into building a trail and every part counts. For example, slopes (running and crossing) play a big factor in the accessibility to a trail. A running slope, also referred to as grade, is the lengthwise slope of a trail, parallel to the direction of travel and a cross slope is the side-to-side (width) slope of a trail tread. These help provide drainage and keep water from ponding and damaging the trail surface, especially on unpaved or natural surfaces.

Other considerations to accommodate pedestrians are areas for openings and resting intervals. Openings are the gaps in the surface of a trail like a bridge or the slots in a drainage grate and are used for drainage purposes. Openings in passing spaces and resting intervals must be wide enough so that a sphere more than one-half inch in diameter cannot pass through and should be placed perpendicular to the dominant direction of travel to avoid safety hazards.

There are many outdoor constructed features such as picnic tables, trash receptacles and benches that must follow guidelines to ensure accessibility to each structure. Each structure must comply with the technical requirements for each feature which allows easy access to all pedestrians.

TRAIL MAINTENANCE

Trail maintenance can help keep pedestrians safe and preserve the surrounding ecosystems. Doing routine and periodic repair of trails will help restore them to the standards they were originally built and designed for. It will not change the original purpose or design of a trail. Some examples of trail maintenance:

Removing fallen trees or broken branches.
Maintaining the trail beds and repair the trail surface.
Repairing tread obstacles or vandalized trails.
Preforming erosion control and drainage work.

As you can see, there are many essential components and considerations that go into trail building. This is what makes the trails such unique experiences for all ages. If you or someone you know has a disability, it should not prevent anyone from enjoying the great outdoors. Below are a few ADA trails you can hike here in Colorado.

ADA Approved Trails built by Timberline TrailCraft

Logan County, Kansas – Lil Jerusalem Badlands State Park with The Overlook Trail

Colorado ADA Trails

Golden, CO – Molas Pass on the Colorado Trail with overlook
Denver, CO – Cherry Creek Trail
Colorado Springs, CO – Perkins Central Garden Trail (Garden of the Gods)

It is vital to research the trail you will be hiking before you go out – look into things such as parking, restroom access, and rest stops. If you need an ADA accessible trail, you may want to choose one with a wider path and hard surface. Being aware of your surroundings, protruding objects and the slopes on the trail can help prepare you for the hike ahead. To learn more on Timberline TrailCraft, please click below.

Trail Terms:

Alteration: A change in the original purpose, intent, or function of a trail.

Associated Constructed Feature examples: overnight shelters, toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, and tent pads.

Clear Tread Width: must be a minimum of 36 inches and maintained the entire distance of the trail.

Cross Slope: is the side-to-side slope of a trail tread. Cross slopes are necessary to provide drainage for water and prevent damage to the trail surface, especially on unpaved or natural surfaces.

Openings: are gaps in the surface of a trail such as spaces between the planks on a bridge or boardwalk. Must be less than one-half inch in diameter ensuring nothing can pass through.

Passing Space: a trail tread with a minimum of 60 inches will ensure greater access for people using mobility devices to turn around.

Protruding Objects: hazardous objects that protrude into the trail clear tread width, passing spaces, and resting areas.

Running Slope: is referred to as a grade and it the lengthwise slope of a trail, parallel to the direction of travel.

Resting Intervals: are level areas that provide a place for people to take a break and rest before continuing on the trail.

Slope: The incline of a surface.

Surface: trail surfaces, passing surfaces and resting intervals must be firm and stable.

Trail: For purposes of the FSTAG and FSORAG, a trail is a pedestrian route developed primarily for outdoor recreational hiking purposes.

Trailhead: an outdoor space that is designated by the entity responsible for administering or maintaining the trail to serve as a primary access point to the trail.

Trail Constructed Feature Examples: puncheon, trail bridges, boardwalks, waterbars, and switchbacks.

Tread Obstacle: is anything that interrupts the evenness of the tread surface.

What is an ADA Trail?

What is the ADA?

Why are ADA Trails important?

Examples of ADA trail features:

TRAIL MAINTENANCE

ADA Approved Trails built by Timberline TrailCraft

Colorado ADA Trails

Trail Terms:

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