Trail Description 1 – describing the experience of the trail

Summary – Provide potential users with the information to help them decide if a particular trail would meet their expectations.

Description – A description of the trail would start with the overall experience, but include some physical descriptions such as trail surface, width and grade.  Provide the trail length and distances between points of interest.  Challenging aspects of the trail, points of interest and features such as places to rest and shaded areas can be included in the description and located on a map. 

Importance/Purpose – Providing a trail description that includes aspects of the trail experience as well as its physical condition allows users to make a more informed and safe decision as to whether the experience would meet their individual expectations.  This knowledge is of great importance to those who use wheeled devices and those with walking, visual or hearing impairments. 

Examples

1. •Describe the experience of what one might hear along the trail (useful for people with visual impairments) and other features one will find (bridges, views, places to rest, water, wildlife, etc).
   

2. •Highlight the most difficult aspects of the hiking trail in the description and on maps.
   

3. •Describe obstacles and where they are located on the trail.
   

4. •Provide distances between features, to the trailhead and points of interest, including benches, shaded and covered areas, viewpoints and interpretive displays along the trail.
   

5. •Provide details about other uses - dogs, horses, and multi-use.
   

6. •Indicate what interpretive opportunities are available and in what format.