Trail Design
Trail Planning and Design
Sinuosity can help formulate your vision on a variety of scales from a small back yard trail to a large multi-use trail network or downhill mountain bike park.
Professional trail layout and design is a critical step in the process of creating enjoyable trails. Brooke and Mariah have four decades of combined experience interpreting landscapes and designing unique trails that weave together interesting features and fun lines. Careful trail design has the largest impact on the sustainability and future maintenance costs of the trail.
We have established the following process to achieve the most efficient trail design process for a wide range of projects.
Step 1: Background Information and Base Map
Our trail design process begins with collecting existing maps and other background information to define the project area, goals, and resources. A base map of your project area will be developed to help guide our discussion of your goals. We use a variety of mapping software at various stages of a project to efficiently analyze and portray this information.
Step 2: Initial Site Visit
Once an initial base map is created, it’s important to familiarize ourselves with the landscape conditions in the areas of proposed trails. Whenever possible, we enjoy getting a tour of properties from those already familiar with the land. We will explore some of the existing trails and begin to investigate the challenges and opportunities for new trail expansion.
Step 3: Conceptual Trail Planning
After familiarizing ourselves with the land we can begin to envision a trail network that fits your goals and landscape. A preliminary digital map of potential new trail routes will be prepared for your review.
Step 4: Trail Design and Corridor Marking
We will evolve the conceptual trail designs into a clearly defined trail layout. This step includes refining the trail designs and marking the corridor with flagging tape on trees and/or with pin flags in the ground. A GIS map and GPS data of the proposed new trail routes will be developed. A rough cost estimate will be calculated for the proposed work.
Step 5: Trail Construction
Sinuosity is experienced and skilled in a wide variety of trail construction methods. We are happy to discuss a range of construction styles that would be suitable for your project as the trail designs evolve and construction criteria are determined.
Planning and Design Portfolio 2010 - 2023
Horace Hill: Dover, VT (2023)
Design of a new 3 mile trail network for the Town of Dover, VT. Variety of trails including a dual direction/ climbing trail, downhill flow trail, downhill singletrack, hiking trails, snowmobile trail improvements, and a multi-use surfaced entrance trail.
Wolcott Community Forest: Wolcott, VT (2023)
Design of a new 5 mile trail network for the Trust for Public Land and the Town of Wolcott, VT. Wide range of trails designed, including bike optimized trails, hiking trails, and a multi-use entrance trail.
Hubbard Park: Montpelier, VT (2022)
Design of a new bike optimized downhill trail for the City of Montpelier.
Stratton Mountain Resort: South Londonderry, VT (2019 and ongoing)
Design for construction of a complete downhill bike park serving a diversity of mountain bike trail user abilities and interests. Trails designed range from Beginner level machine built, to Intermediate trails featuring jumps and rugged naturally featured Advanced trails.
Andrews Community Forest: Richmond, VT (2021)
Design of a mountain bike and multi-use trail network for the Town of Richmond. Design of 5 miles of new trail segments was planned in collaboration with a team of ecologists to minimize trail development impacts.
Hubbard Park: Montpelier, VT (2021)
Assessment of existing multi-use trails and design of new segments for inclusion in a mountain bike specific loop for the City of Montpelier.
Twin Farms: Barnard, VT (2021)
Design of a Beginner to Intermediate level enduro mountain bike trail network for Twin Farms on their private ski hill. Design and planning for two phases of construction with a total of 4 miles of new trail segments.
North Branch Nature Center/Montpelier Area Mountain Bike Association: Montpelier, VT (2020)
Assessment of existing trails and design for expansion of bike optimized trails with the addition of 3 miles of new intermediate/beginner trails.
Worcester Ridge: Elmore, VT (2020)
Design of a 9 mile Intermediate to Expert level enduro mountain bike trail network for a private landowner. The design and trail layout incorporated multiple route options and difficulty levels to enable riders to combine trails and customize each run down the slope.
Riverlands Trail Network Design: Sturbridge, MA (2019)
Conceptual design and preparation for construction of a 5 mile multi-use trail network, managed by the Sturbridge Trails Committee and in concert with the Conservation Commission.
Kimball Union Academy Conceptual Trail Network Design: Northfield, NH (2019)
Inventory and assessment of existing conditions of a trail network utilized for x-country running and skiing practice and races, with improvements and design of new trail to accommodate mountain bikes and expand the network.
Saskadena Six Ski Area: Pomfret, VT (2018)
Design of a Downhill Bike Park for Saskadena Six Ski Area and the Woodstock Inn. Trail layout incorporated multiple route options and difficulty levels to enable riders to choose a few trail combinations and customize each run down the mountain.
Trescott Water Supply Co. Lands: Hanover, NH (2018)
Trail Master Plan including assessment of current recreational trails and conceptual design of new trail opportunities on lands managed by the Trescott Water Supply Co. Sinuosity and the town of Hanover co-hosted a series of community forums to gather trail user input and identify priorities for new trail additions.
Belleayre Mountain/Shandaken: Shandaken, NY (2017)
Conceptual design and mapping of 17 miles of new mountain bike trails, 18 miles of new XC ski trails, and assessment of 20 miles of existing trails to plan a year-round multi-use trail network for the State of New York in partnership with our friend Eddie Walsh of Tahawus Trails.
Town of Weare: Weare, NH (2017)
Assessment of current opportunities for recreation on 7 of the Weare Town Forests. Conceptual designs for expansion, where appropriate as well as probable cost and maintenance/management recommendations.
Perry Hill, CC Putnam State Forest: Waterbury, VT (2016)
Consult on design and planning for reconstruction of multi-use trail section.
Vermont Technical College: Randolph, VT (2016-17)
Conceptual Design of a trail system to provide multi-use (including purpose built bike trails, as appropriate) recreational opportunities to students, faculty and public on the VTC campus.
Owl’s Head Golf Resort: Thornton, NH (2016)
Phased plan and design of a network of multi-use trails to accommodate a variety of non-motorized trail users at a diversity of skill levels. Design includes both identifying and highlighting previously unknown natural features to include in the trail system.
Delaney Woods: Wells, VT (2016-17)
Design of purpose built mountain bike trails to augment the beginnings of a trail network started earlier in 2016 by a new chapter of Vermont Mountain Bike Association.
Town of Killington, VT (2013-2016)
Trail Planning and Design of 15 miles of multi-use trails on State Park, USFS, and private land, with a goal of connecting existing commercial trails at Killington Resort with the town of Killington and nearby state and federal land. 6 miles (phases 1-3) have been constructed thus far.
Smuggler’s Notch: Jeffersonville, VT (2016)
Design of phased expansion to existing x-country mountain bike trail system.
Midland Trails: Jeffersonville, VT (2015)
Design of expansion to an existing entry level trail system for local VMBA chapter BRMBC.
Cranmore Ski Area: North Conway, NH (2015)
Conceptual design and plan for family oriented, lift serviced mountain bike trails.
Little River State Park Mountain Bike Trail Plan: Waterbury, VT (2015)
Purpose built mountain bike trail plan and design in Little River State Park.
Mad River Path Association: Fayston, VT (2015)
Multi-use Trail Plan and Design on the Tenney property, owned by the Vermont Land Trust.
Town of Claremont, NH (2014)
Moody Park Trail Assessment and Maintenance Management Plan of 6 miles of multi-use trails.
Friends of Northern Lake Champlain: St. Albans, VT (2014)
Hard’ack and Aldis Hill Trail Assessment and Maintenance Management Plan of 7 miles of multi-use trails.
Town of Waitsfield, VT (2013-2014)
Scrag Forest Trail Maintenance Plan and Design of 4 miles of hiking trails on town owned land.
Mad River Path Association: Fayston, VT (2014)
Multi-use Trail Plan and Design on the Tenney property, owned by the Vermont Land Trust.
City of Burlington, VT (2013)
Arms Park Trail Maintenance Management Plan for 4 miles of multi-use trails on public and private land.
Vermont Mountain Bike Association: Waterbury, VT (2013-2014)
Trail Assessment and Maintenance Plan for 6 miles of multi-use trails at Perry Hill on State land.
Norwich University: Northfield, VT (2010-2011)
Trail Design and Planning for 6 miles of multi-use trails on the former Norwich University ski area.
