National Trail Fundamentals and Design Standards

Trail Fundamentals ...
include five key concepts that are cornerstones of Forest Service trail management:  Trail Type, Trail Class, Managed Use, Designed Use, and Trail Design Parameters.

Trail Planning and Management Fundamentals
This document provides definitions and business rules for the five Trail Fundamentals: Trail Type, Trail Class, Managed Use, Designed Use and Design Parameters.

Trail Fundamentals Powerpoint
This PowerPoint slideshow provides an overview of the five Trail Fundamentals and also includes a discussion of two additional concepts: CASM and Productivity Factors.

National Trail Management Class Matrix
This document describes the five national Trail Classes applicable to all National Forest System Trails.

USFS Trail Classes - Photo Examples
This document provides photo examples to assist in the identification of the Trail Class that is representative of the management intent for a particular trail.

Trail Design Parameters
This document provides nationally standardized technical specifications for trail construction and maintenance, based on Designed Use and Trail Class.

CASM - Trail Condition Assessment Survey Matrix 
CASM outlines minimum survey accuracy guidelines for trail condition surveys. It recommends the appropriate survey accuracy needed for each Trail Class. These guidelines also apply to the amount and accuracy of corresponding data entered into the Infra Trails Module

Trail Management Objectives ...
are an essential tool for effective trail management. TMOs document, in one convenient place, the management intention for the trail and provide key reference information for subsequent trail management, design and construction, maintenance, condition assessment and prescriptions, and reporting.

Trail Management Objectives Overview
This document provides an overview of what Trail Management Objectives are, why they’re important, step-by-step instructions for documenting trail-specific TMOs, and examples of completed TMOs.

TMO Form
Use this blank copy of the TMO form to document trail-specific TMOs. 

TRACS ...
is the nationally required approach for conducting field inventory and condition assessment surveys. TRACS complements the Infra Trails Module and Forest Service deferred maintenance protocols by providing standardized terminology, data fields, and business rules.

TRACS Trail Management Objectives Form

More Information ...
IBS Website - Trail Web Page Updates