How trail designers build good hikes

The design secrets that make hiking trails feel “organic”
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Designing a hiking trail seems simple enough: It has to take a person from A to B, pass through scenic nature, and last through years of wear and tear. And for most of human history, trails did that without much intentional design at all.
But as trails shifted from essential transportation to a recreational destination, the way we make them did, too. Now, hidden in every trail is a carefully made design language of angles, alignment, and materials that keep them enjoyable for generations.
Watch our video to hear trail ecologist Jeffery Marion explain how these principles work - and why they’re more important now than ever.
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[@Vox]

Thanks for watching. This video is part of By Design, our series about the intersection of design and technology. For more videos like this, from playgrounds to font decisions, check out the playlist here: bit.ly/3PAav9U And if you're still reading, thread some of your favorite trails below!

[@samd7541]

Rostellan Woods, aghada Cork Republic of Ireland

[@jordandwiggins1026]

Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge

[@alaindellepiane2827]

Tamasakai to Mount Takao, Tokyo!

[@bentrepp3379]

Timp-Torne in Harriman and Bear Mountain New York state parks. I think a lot of the clips in the video are from that trail.

[@tahfy1615]

Shut up

[@Robin_Goodfellow]

As a former professional trailbuilder, it warms my heart to see such a large news outlet shining a light on a profession that often gets overlooked. You did a great job!

[@axelgranzini6797]

I live in Utah how can I get into trail building?

[@connormedberry4901]

Haha, "overlooked." I see what you did there

[@losfogo7149]

Even only cleaning trails and setting up way signers is an incredibly important thing

[@Robin_Goodfellow]

@@losfogo7149 definitely, and it's hard work often done by volunteers. Much respect to volunteer trail crews.

[@mabasamashazhu9333]

Thank you for your service :)

[@somerandomfella]

I always thought trails were made naturally through constant use of a certain path 🤦‍♂️

[@edisontesla3932]

That's how it is in my country. People have been using trails for ages and the only thing they considered was the path with the least resistance. I forgot to say that people in my country also avoided making trails in the vicinity of Banyan trees especially the old growths since they are believed to be haunted.

[@bigbunstudios7494]

Same 🤦‍♂️

[@Ghfvhvfg]

Depends on how much tourism is in the region the national parks or the regional forestry departments do it les used are just constant paths that how it is in Switzerland.

[@pepela8214]

Some are. Some aren't. Edit: also, he said a lot of the work they do is maintaining trails which existed before recreational hiking.

[@Kiwibirdman1701]

Yes this video definitely overthinks the topic

[@AmericanEnglishman]

As a trail planner, you guys did a FANTASTIC job giving a 5-minute overview! A few more things trail planners have to consider as they're designing trails: intended user, accessibility for all trail users, trail usage and long-term maintenance, feasibility of trail crews to get equipment to the site, flora and fauna impacts, trail surfaces, etc.

[@jonline8105]

how does one become a trail designer?

[@AmericanEnglishman]

@@jonline8105 Most have degrees in urban planning/design, construction project management, landscape architecture, or civil engineering. It's usually a team made up of people from all of those disciplines that help design the trails.

[@foff002]

I'm curious if the usage of trails by animals, for example the surface used and its comfort when dogs walk on it, but also, trying to keep wild animals from getting too close to people using the trails. Is that part of the considerations too?

[@AmericanEnglishman]

@@foff002 Yeah, impacts to wildlife and domestic animals is definitely a consideration when thinking about trail surfaces. Alternatives, like putting in culverts for animals only, is also very common.

[@THICCTHICCTHICC]

@@AmericanEnglishman Lol I've designed a few tracks and have no qualifications whatsoever. Always fun to just absolutely wing it.

[@Meg_A_Byte]

I would love to see the differences in trails in the US and in Europe. I feel they are very different and it might do something with the way people even perceive nature and their relationship to it.

[@r22gamer54]

Us trails are great, they are pure nature and great to get away from cities, where I live we have wayyyyyy more parks and trails than homes lol 😂 cuase I live in a master planned community in USA

[@fraquara7765]

I'm from Italy and I've never seen trails like the ones depicted in this video plus I've always thought trails are just what people back in the day used to move across mountain villages, farms and pastures, so it never even crossed my mind that people could make new trails from scratch, but you never stop learning.

[@KissTheGreat]

In the UK there aren’t many ‘designed’ specific trails. It’s often just fields through people’s farms and/or they put stuff in places where people go anyway to make it easier/less hazardous. We also have very little properly private property, there’s right of access for hikers on almost every single bit of property that’s not directly next to someone’s house.

[@Omnilatent]

Came here to ask for this. I think some modern ones might have been added (parts of existing) paths like this but assumed most of them just "happened" through centuries of usage.

[@abstractfacts]

@@r22gamer54 hope you dont mind me asking, what area is this?

[@HundredMillionViews]

Having worked on a trail crew, it gives you so much respect for the amount of WORK that goes into building steps, drainage mounds, moving boulders etc. An experienced trail crew may create 10-15ft of trail in an 8 hour day; absolutely mental!!

[@giuseppejones1554]

10-15 feet in a full day’s work is horrible even for a single person. This is of course barring special circumstances like extensive construction or having to carve trail through rock.

[@TrailsVonMudder]

@@giuseppejones1554 So have you ever walked a steep but well-maintained trail on a mountain? It doesn't sound like you have

[@jkmania7705]

@@giuseppejones1554 sir have you ever done trailbuilding?

[@thiccityd9773]

@@giuseppejones1554 Seriously. By my reckoning, at that pace, a trail would cost as much as a real, paved road in labor alone. I find it a bit hard to believe that the government is dropping millions into a few miles of dirt path.

[@flowerheit4512]

@@thiccityd9773 a lot of trail maintenance is done by volunteers or by underpaid/unpaid prison labor. That's why it doesn't cost millions. 10-15 ft is incredible when you consider that the crew has to carry all their tools and materials to the worksite on their backs over difficult terrain.

[@dancab124]

Trail worker here! Love to see vox show everyone on what makes a good trail and how important a good trail keeps the impact of humans concentrated to a set area. We have to put more love to our outdoors! Respect them!

[@forumfighter18]

Mountain bike trails have recently gotten really good with the up hill/downhill sections to force water off the trail. This keeps trails open more often in wet climates, and also end up being fun features like rollers and jumps.

[@leonvla]

When I was designing a mountain bike trail back in Russia, I used Australian “playbook” on how to build sustainable trails and this video covers a lot of it, actually. The thing that got me into designing trails is that not many trails in Russia live a long life. It is kinda sad… So I have found out that drainage is the part that most of the trail builders miss out on.

[@charleslambert3368]

I've seen a lot of paths up in Scotland (ones that are still very much used by the landowners) where they use a few feet of plastic piping to culvert water under the trail surface

[@wihatmi5510]

I never realised how highly designed trails are. I always thought they kind of emerge or are just created randomly with the minimal possible effort just to make hiking possible. That's fascinating.

[@cottonsheep2367]

well, some of them are created like that, especially outside of national parks between villages for example.

[@laurarockefeller7571]

Trail creation and trail maintenance are incredibly arduous tasks, and more technical than many assume. I worked on an AmeriCorps crew in backcountry Arizona and New Mexico recreating a trail that hadn't seen maintenance in 10+ years. When this happens, the trail becomes severely overgrown. Recreational hikers will either get confused or lazy. They stray off the official trail and create infinite "dogleg" trails off the sides until there's no distinguishable network anymore. This increases the danger that people will get lost. Plus, desert ecosystem and soil is INCREDIBLY fragile. The top layer of soil is ecologically crucial. When hikers spread their impact way off the trail, they are harming the environment. No matter where you are, it's important to stay on the trail! Minimize your impact while you're enjoying the nature around you.

[@benyoung8985]

As a former trail crew leader with the US forest service I really appreciate this video. With the maintenance backlog land management agencies face these kinds of pieces are helpful for driving more public support for this type of work

[@khalilahd.]

I love that they do such a good job that it looks natural. Definitely a cool job to have ❤

[@zinedinezethro9157]

i never thought designing trails is this complicated. i appreciate these amazing trails more now.

[@anthonyaddo]

Now that I am aware of this, I know I'll treasure trails even more. In addition to being able to enjoy the splendor of the natural features on the path, I will be also be able to appreciate the thought and care that went into designing the trail, and why it dips, moves, and gently guides people to beautiful sites of interest. Can I say I see trails as slow motion roller-coasters now? 😄 So cool.

[@kathleengrey5185]

Vox is back again with things I didn't know I want to learn.

[@christyoflaherty5967]

I was just in Glacier National Park and the Grinnell Glacier trail was one of my favorites I've ever done. The trailwork on that one is a thing of beauty. It hangs on a cliffside, with some heady exposure and big views, but never feels unsafe. As you hike up, you constantly think it must be about to evaporate into thin air, but then it finds a solid and surprising path. Good tread and easy walking the whole way. It's art.

[@anzebertoncelj4493]

With regards to alpine and subalpine trails in Europe, I can't really imagine them being designed. They were used for centuries by all sorts of people; traders, shephards, soldiers; etc., changing as needed.

[@minimooster7258]

Yeah, I can't count the number of paths I've walked through in the Alps that are 1) paths that run through farmers land, or 2) doubled with a million other little paths because of either said farmers or because there's just a few different obviously good lines to take up or down the mountain.

[@brianwhoreadsobjectiveinfo1122]

Never doubt the wisdom of the people whose efforts over the centuries led to those trails becoming what they are today. Imagine yourself thousands of years ago choosing a path to take in areas that had no pre-established trails, then think how you would have decided where to go as you walked. While you might call this decision making process organic, someone else would say that it is intentional because you were making decisions along the way. Imagine many other people used that trail as well since you created a convenient way to travel on foot from one point to another and you took it ofter, blazing a path for others to follow, or you guided them. Now imagine thousands of years later your exact trail is not completely followed, but much of it is followed because you chose wisely in determining your route, while some modifications were understandably made due to erosion, obstacles, and other factors. This may be the origin of an alpine or subalpine Trail in Europe. Now, with advances such as books and Computer based communication, trails could be designed even better. I learned how to build trails before the Internet, then later used the Internet to research communicate between trail builders.

[@ubvrox]

Yeah, they were designed for centuries by all sorts of people… Those people chose the best way looking at maps and natural features, maybe used a shovel here and there, went uphill on the easiest path, maintained it by removing fallen trees. How is that different?

[@Finnspin_unicycles]

It's often not a completely new trail, but they are still "designed" by choosing which trails receive signage, which are maintained and closing/rerouting sections. In touristic areas, you can often tell that the trails feel different than higher up and more remote - probably because they were more deliberately designed and planned. (Especially when they connect two touristic points, like a chairlift and a viewpoint)

[@THICCTHICCTHICC]

That's still a design though. There's a reason they walked a specific way - even if that reason is just decades of trial and error.

[@ShadyForest]

I built a potion of the Cumberland Trail system in Tennessee in spring 2018 with a group from my university. I wish they would’ve taught us this stuff while we were there.

[@sugarba1]

As someone who designs, builds and maintains trails for a living, this video is a great distillation in just 5 minutes. Going to Dr. Marion was a good choice, too.

[@UrbaneOracle]

I blazed a small trail for a Ranger award in Scouts years ago. Now this video makes me I want to go back and look at maps for fall lines to make it better haha. Great stuff!

[@ksbrook1430]

I was thinking the same thing about the trails on our 4-H property in our county. 🙂

[@tonejammin]

As a volunteer crew lead with The Colorado Trail Foundation I want to complement you for producing this spot-on video. A huge amount of work goes into planning and design before the first pick mattock is struck.

[@jarodbeukelman6893]

Wish this had touched on the logistics of how they move material in and out to create the trail. That’s something I have always been curious about.

[@jonathanbaxter6254]

Machinery (excavators, tracked buggies, skid steers, helicopters), mechanical advantage (rock bars, rigging with winches), or grunt labor and a keen awareness of body mechanics.

[@THICCTHICCTHICC]

My company does deliveries by helicopters, and everything else is by hand and crowbars

[@EminentCCapreolus]

Great video. On USFS/NPS trail crews we focus a lot on proper outsloping and frequent grade reversals when cutting new tread; doing that reduces the amount of maintenance a trail needs over the long run. We also try and put trails in places that minimize the amount of structures that need to be built. Think bridges, crib walls, turnpikes (a raised gravel bed), steps, etc. Those are all really cool to see on trail but are incredibly time consuming to build, and eventually need to be replaced or fixed. Most trail crews are operating on very minimal personel and any savings in efficiency is highly valued.

[@GonnaCaptcha]

In my current role as a Civil drafter in PA, I discussed with locals during a recent camping trip about ways that state departments and organizational functions could have in co-sponsorship with each other in raising awareness and revenue in the maintenance of the trails. I think it's important for people to help each other "pay it forward" so that the next person can experience your local scenery in a way that a book hopes to describe.

[@davestagner]

A couple of weeks ago, I hiked the Green Mountain West trail near Boulder, and as I hit the last quarter mile (the hard part - a rough and steep rock staircase leading to the mountain summit), I was overwhelmed with appreciation and admiration for what a fantastic job the trail designers did.

[@erinbugee1360]

Currently working on trail in RMNP on the North Inlet Route in Grand Lake, CO!

[@kalexambing2507]

As someone who has studied environmental resource management, I LOVE this.

[@SirNerrad]

This was fascinating. Never realized the depth of planning for trails and how important it is.

[@camy129able]

watched this while hiking!! finishing up my AT thru (filp-flopping) about a month left :)

[@boulderarchitect]

Ugh, love this video! I grew up in Boulder, Colorado and helped with trail work. I live in Los Angeles now, and it's not like there isn't good hiking here, there is, what is lacking is good trail design and maintenance.

[@superhikingbros]

This is very cool that so much work is going on behind the scenes. Definitely something we’ll be watching out for on trails in the future

[@kageisuke]

When I was using walking trails regularly I often wondered how they were maintained. I knew mother nature would reclaim areas and could see it on the parts that weren't traveled on as frequently. I never fully thought about how they were designed. This is a great video.

[@1337CodeMaster]

I would watch a whole series of these. There was so much left unsaid!

[@Fxpqasquier]

The sound design (probably using that term incorrectly) here is admirable. The soundtrack, the synchronisation with the voiceover and each cut. Great composition, great editing, great production.

[@hdrodic]

This video made me remember a trail I have been to. It looked and felt "natural" but it also had evidence that someone was taking care of it, but not too much care as it also has evidence of erosion.

[@Alchemist28]

Vox by design is absolutely unmatched in their content!

[@Zoomdak]

This makes me so thankful for all the trails I've hiked on.

[@laurabennettyoutube]

Next time you are on a trail, look for "water bars". These are small features added to the trail to redirect water, to prevent erosion. They are one of the small things you can notice while hiking, that show some of the design and maintenance involved in the trail.

[@ironichoneybadger5066]

I worked as a single track mountain biking trail builder, there's a GNARLY amount of work that goes into trailbuilding

[@SnewpTD]

Neat, love hiking. Appreciate the work I didn't realize went into it.

[@robertfindley921]

Nice, short, informative. I hike a lot and greatly appreciate the trail designers, builders and maintainers.

[@purvishshah5021]

One of the most informative videos I have seen. Amazing science and design involved in daily life things!

[@thaminduKavinda]

VOX doing a great job with these informative videos. Truly thankful for short running length.

[@globalfoodaction6748]

Just came back from the Appalachian trails in Quebec, Canada. They were amazing! A mix of rock, river crossings, forest paths, etc. Felt very natural but also easy to see. Gaspesie National Park was the highlight.

[@PG-3462]

In Québec, most trails are natural, in the sense that they got their shape from people simply using the same path during decades. However, in National Parks and some regional parks where there are a lot of tourists some trails are improved artificially (with bridges, stairs made of stone, etc.)

[@thetrentpete]

I’ve been hiking and camping for years and never thought about any of this. Great video!

[@Eggmancan]

As a hiker, I've always wondered about how trails are made/maintained, but I've never seen any information about it, so I'm happy to see this

[@adrienrenaux6211]

Trails in america: carefully crafted by skilled people Trails in Europe: the path smugglers and sheperds used to go up a mountain

[@plasma-5330]

Hey wait a minute, that's my uncle! This video includes basically what Jeff talks about at thanksgiving each year.

[@awesomebrotherhood7698]

This is one of the most surprising discoveries I did in ages. I did not expect this.

[@yaboijabbarowse2798]

I just started making trails in Australia and I really appreciate this video

[@shaanparol_]

Ive always wondered how trails were designed... Vox never ceases to amaze me

[@theweasel7222]

had no idea that so much went into a trail! I never really put much thought into it when hiking and its so interesting to learn that the paths were strategically planned out by someone.

[@icns01]

A really valuable education for a nature lover! Thank you!

[@tootheye]

I wish this video was longer!

[@nathanmark2579]

Nice concise overview of how good trails are made.

[@anastasiaf.4421]

Such important work for the souls of hikers 😊

[@cameron9832]

Love this! Spent 2 years working on AmeriCorps trail crews. It's fun work!

[@Girlmossy]

I spent two weeks building and repairing trails! I never actually plotted one out though, and just had to deal with water on the small scale, so it's cool learning about this stuff!

[@w15h0na5tar]

Thank you for this awesome video! I hike and trail run and it's so cool realizing my little landmarks were actually carefully thought out and designed! There's this one really big boulder I like to stand on as an overlook, and before now I thought it was a happy accident!

[@mattzaff679]

I recently visited Shenandoah NP and was impressed by the clever use of drainage swales to slow and spread water that would otherwise course through and erode away the paths. I wasn’t hoping to get a firsthand look at these swales in use, but we got caught in a sudden thunderstorm atop a mountain! Even in the heavy flow rate of rain, the path was able to shed enough water off the path so it didn’t accumulate and wash us away 😅

[@jaytok7]

Thank you to the trail designers and builders From a regular hiker 🤙🏼😁

[@victornoagbodji]

Learned quite a few things in this video!

[@Existinginthespace]

I always wanted to see a full-length documentary on trail making. Especially if it included historical footage and techniques.

[@JeremyChung]

wow this was up there with my favourite vox videos of all time

[@culturebreath369]

Used to do work for a forestry department. A program that taught people these skills. To build, maintain, fix up trails. Was only a few weeks but was awesome!

[@Mgbmax15]

Omg this was so interesting! I really appreciate the work of these people

[@goatmodegaming]

I live in Colorado so I’ve been wondering this. Thanks VOX!

[@EC-oj2zw]

I just got back from Switzerland and did lots of hiking. It really amazes me with this video how a trail is designed and the work behind it.

[@trago034]

I think trails in Swizerland are more natural than that

[@aurelspecker6740]

@@trago034 Depending where he was. I would say that in Switzerland stuff is rarely moved in to make it easy to walk. But also in Switzerland they have to design for water erosion. PS: I don't think many trail builders that actually make trails in nature, care a lot about "anchors". You build in nature, and you have to go around stuff, which automatically makes anchors everywhere XD

[@nicolasmarazuela1010]

When you see in Germany a street with the word "Weg" in it, there is a high possibility, that it was a former trail. Also there are some few trails, which are in so good positions that they were used for millenials. Like one trail in the mountains in my region was used for at least 1900 years.

[@jacksonvanmatre]

This is so cool! I had no idea this was even a thing!

[@rahulb.329]

So incredible for Americans to have access to such well thought out recreation places.

[@mila_da]

Beautifully explained. Thank you.

[@johnchessant3012]

Wow, I never knew there were so many considerations involved when designing a trail

[@BeaChapman]

Fascinating, In all those hours spent on trails I have never once thought about who put them there.

[@kjellruben]

"it's not rocket science, but it's challenging." I love that perspective and self awareness.

[@hippocampus6514]

Me too! Of course it's not rocket science, but it's way more sustainable than rocket science and more people benefit!

[@damongraham1398]

I did not know this. Great job VOX👍🏿

[@michael-lucanatt8009]

Can always count on Vox media to make a video on an extremely relatable and niche topic

[@ryen49]

yesss i wish we had more trail documentaries especially for the historic parks in my city

[@boluwatifeshopelu1054]

I love vox so much I'd love to learn how these videos are made and edited

[@ginopepinoo]

Watching this as I’m hiking

[@starwarsfamilyguy0]

I love Vox videos like this

[@vitonildo]

Great video. Thanks.

[@architecturesupport7386]

Great video :) There are quite a few things to learn for landscape architects and architects as well!

[@Q8Patriot]

Very Interesting, never knew it takes all these efforts

[@producersfanclub7747]

Fascinating! Was thinking about this as I hiked some trails in Acadia recently. They had different markers like Carins and I had some challenging ones that were flooded with water.

[@oliviasommerville4733]

Acadia has such beautiful trails, but it can definitely get confusing at times trying to follow the carins!

[@alexj6269]

Wow! I really had no idea all this planning took place.

[@gcason2]

Gosh I love videos like this

[@InfamousMS]

Great info - thank you!

[@broikeepclick]

Another interesting video from Vox 😀

[@billmanning8806]

Well done. Thanks!

[@edwinbrace4681]

Such a great video !

[@Lord_eBatts]

These people are literal trailblazers.

[@HouselessHooligan]

Definitely look into local hiking clubs where you live, many have volunteer days to do routine maintenance. Some groups also do larger scale projects (think staircases, bridges, retaining walls). Konnarock Volunteer Trail Crew out here in the eastern US is a great experience.

[@coderedblack]

wanted this to be 2-3x longer it was so interesting

[@abdelkhalik.aljuneidi]

❤❤❤❤ loving your videos again

[@cristi92ro]

Come to Romania, the trails are really wild and not planned, most of them. It's shoking to me to see how wide are the trails in US

[@suzylu333]

loved this!

[@Mathis218337]

Anchors are just another word for things we don’t wanna move lol

[@nateums]

this is amazing, fist video from vox I liked

[@mr.anderson70]

My wife and I hike oddball trails here in North Carolina and it's fun to do a bit of trail maintenance along the way. The weirdest litter we commonly find are those plastic toothpick-flossing things. I've got 20 or so pictures of them.