UMBA Trail Care
Corridor Page

Corridor

A trail's "corridor" is the physical space surrounding the path along which users travel. The "trailway" is the open space running through the middle of the "corridor". The "tread" is the actual ground surface upon which users ride or trek.

Portions of the Wood Run Trails follow the route of old and new logging roads. These old roads offer a ready-made "corridor" that is usually free of large trees and other obstacles, but they do present a few unique maintenance challenges not found on singletrack trails.

The "trailway" should generally extend 2-3 feet to either side of the center of the trail and 8 feet above it. Keeping the "trailway" free of hazardous obstacles and vegetation is one of the trail maintainers' jobs.

The major tasks involved with maintaining a trail's corridor are:

• Vegetation control - This includes trimming back limbs, small sapings, briars, and grassy growth.
• Obstacle removal - This includes removing large limbs and trees that have fallen into the trailway, as well as removing loosened rocks and other unnecessarily hazardous objects.
• Tread stabilizing - This includes armouring a trail surface with rock, gravel or other means. Usually some form of drainage control is also needed if the tread is too wet.
• Signage - Although trails are part of a "wilderness" experience, it is wise to provide some guidance to visitors who may not be familiar with the layout of the trails.

More to come!