Trail Building - Community Involvement

Sustainable Trails

Team Dirt only supports the creation of sustainable trails. A sustainable trail is one which does not require constant maintenance under normal riding traffic. The best way to achieve this is through proper drainage of water. Building sustainable trails is part art and science. The science part is using the correct dirt (avoiding organic material, like buried rotten logs), bench cutting into hills with the proper slope gradient, planning for turn exits, berm height and angle, placing drain exits on straight away, reinforcing high impact areas, blocking alternative routes, etc. The art part is trying to add signature to an engineered trail, placement of features, flow, leaving specific roots and rocks, importing rocks, placing a trail cue, etc.

A trail starts with a general topographic route, approved by the land manager and championed by the Team Dirt area manager. However, as the trail is created different terra aspects are factored in as they are encountered. By showing up to build days and discussing your thoughts with other builders, you have the ability to add your own requirements to the trail, hence leaving a signature of your own.

In partnership with the BLM, IMBA has created a Mountain Bike Trail Guide Book, available for free here.