Crusher Fines Surface Trails

 Installation of stone steps

The stones in stone steps are held in place by gravity. To have enough weight to be effective, each stone should have
more than enough height to create a step of the needed height, should be at least twice as deep as the height of the
step, and should be firmly anchored in undisturbed soil (or highly compacted fill). The best stones for steps have a fairly
flat top and a reasonably flat face, and are heavy enough that two or more people are needed to lift or move them.
When more than one stone is needed to make one step, the stones should abut each other firmly so that crusher fines
cannot wash out through cracks between the stones.

3-41 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

 Installation of timber steps

Use pressure-treated landscape timbers, which have a rough-sawn finish – for aesthetics, avoid pressure
treatments that perforate the wood with hundreds of small slits. Typically, the timber used for each step
should be at least 2’ wider than the trail so that the timber can fully retain the crusher fines above the step.

Since timber is not heavy enough to hold itself in place, they are held in place by 2’ long sections of rebar
driven straight into the ground, one at each end. Driving the rebar can be difficult or impossible in rocky soil.
If the rebar bends after it is significantly in the ground, saw off the undriven part rather than bend it over.

Crusher Fines Path Construction Methods

Initial Grade Preparation

See Crusher Fines Trail Cross-Sections, p. 3-23.

The Contractor is responsible for disposing of excavated materials that are considered unsuitable and of any
surplus excavated material not required for embankments or backfill.

Selecting a Trail Construction Method

The construction method to use depends on the soil type, site drainage characteristics, and the amount of
vehicular traffic (both maintenance vehicles and, in the case of driveways or shared rights-of-way,
private/public vehicles). Crusher fines may need to be separated from the subgrade with geotextile, a base
course of pit run (river cobbles), or both. In some cases the separation is to improve drainage, but usually it
is to keep the crusher fines from being absorbed into the subgrade over time. In extreme cases of poor
drainage, concrete, boardwalk, or other surface must be used instead of crusher fines in that particular part
of the trail. Crusher fines can also be used as a foundation for a future hard surface (concrete or asphalt), by
matching subgrade and site drainage conditions to the type and number of motor vehicular users. The
construction methods - numbered 1 through 6 in the table - are given on the following pages.

Flooding
None of the crusher fines specifications are designed to withstand a flood of moving water (although they can
withstand temporary standing water). A crusher fines trail impacted by a concentrated flow of moving water
will have to be extensively repaired or rebuilt.

3-42 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

Selecting a crusher fines trail construction method

Key: The numbers 1 through 6 refer to construction methods. If the site or subgrade conditions fit into more
than one category, use the higher-numbered specification.

If subgrade and site conditions are: Use construction method:

Very rocky or gravelly subgrade with little or no loose sand or soil; or an 1

extremely firm and rocky mineral soil which will not absorb crusher fines
particles; or a previously improved and well-compacted rocky surface
(well-consolidated gravel or road base); well-drained site
Sandy soil, sand-gravel, or firm mineral soil; well drained and above the 2 if no motor vehicles,
water table (except possibly during spring snowmelt) 2 if path used by maint. vehicles
3 if shared with motor vehicles
Loam, silt sands, or fine silts; above the water table (except possibly 2 if no motor vehicles,
during spring snowmelt) 3 if path used by maint. vehicles,
3 if shared with motor vehicles
Expansive or plastic soils and clays (including materials such as 2 if no motor vehicles,
bentonite and gilsonite); above the water table (except possibly during 3 if path if used by maint. vehicles,
spring snowmelt) 4 if shared with motor vehicles
Trail surface within a seasonally high water table which lasts longer than 4 if low-moderate user traffic,
spring snowmelt (longer-term saturation of crusher fines likely); 5 if high user traffic
seasonally wet or very damp subgrade but without standing surface
water
Trail surface within a permanently high water table; or trail surface
subject to frequent or constant surface water or seepage; or trail surface
subject to concentrated water flows from average storm runoff; or site is 5
a bog or wetland which is almost constantly wet
Crusher fines trail to be used as an interim surface until a hard (concrete
or asphalt) surface is built later; any subgrade or site drainage condition 6

Installation of the Crusher Fines Surface

• Except where otherwise noted, the compacted depth of fines should be 4” on foot trails, and 5” on
trails for bikes and/or maintenance vehicles.
• Except where noted in Crusher Fines Trail Cross Sections, the edge of the finished surface should
be flush with ground level or less than 1/2 inch above it.
• To help prevent undesired low and high spots in the finished trail surface, the subgrade should be
smooth and formed to a uniform depth below the planned finished surface.
• Fines should be spread and compacted within a week after delivery. The fines are sprayed with
water in the crushing process to give them 4 to 5 percent water content - this amount is optimum for
compaction. The longer the fines sit in piles on the site, the more they dry out and make compaction
difficult. Dry crusher fines cannot be adequately compacted (nor can wet fines).
• The path surface will need to be shaped with drainage features (pitch, superelevation, crowning, and
drainage dips) as specified in Crusher Fines Trail Drainage, p. 3-28. These should be shaped into
the fines before compaction and adjusted as needed after compaction.
• Compaction should be done with a roller, vibratory compactor, or (ideally) a vibratory roller. The
surface should be adjusted and recompacted until no unplanned high or low spots remain.
• In adjusting the surface, avoid excessive raking. Raking tends to separate the course particles from
the fines and produces an uneven distribution of coarse and fine particles on the trail surface.
(Coarse particles alone on the surface do not bind together. Fine particles alone on the surface are
unstable when wet and dusty when dry).
• If the trail surface is below ground level after compaction, more fines must be added to bring it up to
or above ground level.
• If backfill is needed against the edge of the crusher fines, it should be done after compaction of the
fines.
• The trail will not obtain its final hardness until the fines have absorbed one heavy rain and dried out
completely. The rain activates the binders, and, like concrete, drying sets them. User traffic will
compact the trail still further.
• Excess crusher fines should be stockpiled (on site or elsewhere) for future maintenance.

3-42 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

3-42 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

• After several heavy rains and several months of user traffic, the County is responsible for adjusting
the path surface (with a Bobcat and/or hand labor) to eliminate unplanned high and low spots.
Adjustments and recompaction will be easier if the top several inches of the crusher fines are damp
from a recent rain. Fines may need to be added where compaction was inadequate. Any washouts
should be filled at this time and the sources of the washouts corrected.

3-44 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

Method 5 – Alternatives to Crusher Fines in Wet Areas

Crusher fines cannot be used on sites which are often or permanently wet, or which are subjected to
concentrated water flows. Other materials and methods can be used instead, some of which are listed here.

Side swales
If altering the water table on the site is acceptable, swales on both sides of the trail may be able to lower the
water table just enough for crusher fines to be used (see “Side Swales and Culverts” in Crusher Fines Trail
Drainage, p. 3-28).

Boardwalk
A short section of boardwalk can cross a wet area and create a feature along the trail (see Boardwalk, p. 2-
88).

3-44 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

Stepping stones
On a low-traffic pedestrian-only trail, stepping stones can be used to cross an area that is sometimes wet or
damp (see “Stepping Stones” in Crusher Fines Trail Drainage).

Concrete swale or path section

Concrete swales or short sections of concrete path can cross areas subjected to concentrated water flows
(see “Swale Crossings” in Crusher Fines Trail Drainage).

Bridge
A low bridge can be considered across a wet or boggy area. The bridge can be a desirable feature along the
trail (see Bridges, p. 2-56).

Stone pavement
On a pedestrian-only trail, a short pavement of fitted stones can cross an intermittent channel or an
occasionally wet area (see “Swale Crossings” in Crusher Fines Trail Drainage).

Wood decking
A ground-level boardwalk can rest on the ground and provide a dry crossing of a damp area without piers or
railings (see Boardwalk, p. 2-88).

Causeway
In some conditions, a causeway can elevate the crusher fines trail above ground level (see “Causeway and
Channelization” in Crusher Fines Trail Drainage).

Channelization
On a pedestrian-only trail, a causeway with a short section of stone paving at ground level can channel
occasional surface water across the stone pavement (see “Causeway and Channelization” in Crusher Fines
Trail Drainage).

Method 6 – Crusher fines as a Precursor to a Hard Surface

By building to the highest specification for the combination of subgrade and site conditions for crusher fines
and for the selected hard surface, a crusher surface can become the foundation for a hard surface to be
constructed later.
Several steps must be taken to prepare the crusher fines surface, foundations, subgrade, and excavation for
a future (potential) hard surface. These are listed below and partially illustrated on the next page.

1. Select the hard surface type

Before constructing the crusher fines path, determine whether the hard surface will be concrete or asphalt
(see Hard Surface Materials: Concrete and Asphalt, p. 2-17).

2. Determine the width and height of the finished hard surface

Both concrete and asphalt can be laid directly on top of crusher fines, but this raises the trail surface by the
thickness of the concrete or asphalt and can alter site drainage, trail drainage, and the users’ perception of
the trail. Raising the surface is most appropriate on steeper cross slopes and on cuts and fills where there is
no natural ground level adjacent to the trail surface.
The preferred method for minimal cross slopes is to lay the hard surface at ground level by excavating
crusher fines to the appropriate depth. The excavated fines can be reused if they do not become mixed with
soils during excavation.

3. Determine the width and drainage of the crusher fines trail

Depending on whether the hard surface will be laid on top or within the crusher fines, the width of the crusher
fines trail and the drainage features must be designed to eventually accommodate the hard surface.

4. Determine the necessary foundation for the both trail types

3-46 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

The sub grade preparation and base courses must meet or exceed the specifications in this Handbook for
both the crusher fines trail and the eventual hard surface. Choose the appropriate foundation method for
crusher fines from Methods 1-5 given above, choose the appropriate foundation method for the hard surface,
then combine the features of both to produce a foundation which meets or exceeds the specifications in this
Handbook for both trail types.

5. Consider the location of an adjacent soft surface trail for the hard surface
During the planning phase for the crusher fines trail, determine the likely location for an adjacent soft surface
trail once the hard surface is installed. A corridor should be planned and reserved for the adjacent soft
surface trail in initial planning and construction. If crusher fines are excavated and replaced with the hard
surface, some of these fines may be usable in the new soft surface trail.

3-46 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

3-48 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

Crusher Fines Trails for the Physically Challenged

The following concentrates on crusher fines adaptations for wheelchair users only. For general guidelines on
features for the physically challenged (including wheelchair users) also see Features for the Physically
Challenged, p. 2-107.

Accessibility and Application

Crusher fines surfaces are not smooth enough to be considered fully accessible, but crusher fines trails can
be barrier-free and usable by wheelchair users. Some modifications to the trail surface can increase the
safety, enjoyment, and mobility of wheelchair users over the standard techniques given elsewhere in this
Handbook.

Which trails should be adapted for the physically challenged?

Given 1) the steep grades which may unavoidably occur on many trails and 2) the modifications in trail
design, drainage, and maintenance necessary to help make crusher fines suitable for wheelchair users, the
County of Simcoe will not seek to make every part of every crusher fines trail barrier-free. Rather, the County
will identify sites that are most conducive to a quality outdoor experience for physically challenged persons
and attempt to make those sites barrier-free. If an entire trail can be reasonably adapted for wheelchair use
or uses by other physically challenged persons, then the County should do so. Otherwise, only the sections
of trails directly accessible from trailheads need be adapted for wheelchair users. The identification of which
sites to adapt is left to the County to decide on a site-by-site basis.

Trail Design and Layout Considerations

The following are specific for crusher fines. For additional general guidelines, see Features for the Physically
Challenged, p. 2-107.

1. Try to avoid trail grades over 5%

Pushing or manually moving a wheelchair on crusher fines on a grade over 5% is difficult.

2. Add extra lime to the crusher fines

When the crusher fines are made, have the mill add 2-3 times more lime to the mix. The lime will help
harden the trail surface, increasing mobility and ease-of-use for wheelchair users.

3. Consider using a concrete surface on steep sections. Where a trail has to be steep for a short time
but it is desirable to minimize barriers, consider surfacing the steep sections with concrete. This provides
a smooth maintenance-free surface for wheelchair users both during climbing and braking. (Concrete is
considered more accessible than asphalt.)

4. Design for slow-moving users at a pedestrian scale. Crusher fines trails have the potential to be
much more intimate with their site than hard surface trails. If at all possible, design the trail to be rich in
trailside detail. By the concept of intermediate path goals (see Section 1 Part E), interesting features on
or visible from the trail should occur as often as possible - this makes a short trail rich in experience.

5. Vary the width of the trail. While the trail should be at least 5’ wide to allow two wheelchairs to
comfortably pass, the width of the trail should vary with the site and site features. Pullouts can be
constructed to encourage stopping, but widening the trail in logical locations serves the same purpose in
a more naturalistic and less obvious way.

6. Consider using cuts and fills, bridges, and/or boardwalk sections to cross uneven terrain.
Even on a crusher fines trail, boardwalk sections and bridges can be used as needed to span terrain that
might ordinarily be crossed on the ground in a series of grades.

3-49 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

7. Minimize grades at drainage crossings

Instead of possibly sharply dipping down and back up at drainage crossings, establish a trail grade which
dips only slightly, or which uses a bridge, culvert, or fill to span the drainage with minimal grades on the
approaches.

8. Pay very close attention to trail drainage

As described on the following pages, trail drainage is somewhat compromised by minimizing drainage
structures. The ability to adequately drain a trail is a prime criterion in deciding whether or not to try to
adapt it for wheelchair use.

Trail Drainage Modifications

1. Minimize or eliminate outslope, crowning, and superelevation

These basic drainage mechanisms tend to cause wheelchair users to roll toward the sides of the trail.
For wheelchair users, the surface pitch for drainage should not exceed 2%, and less or no pitch is
preferred as practical. At locations where a surface pitch could divert a wheelchair into a dangerous
place, such as off a steep cross slope or into a retaining wall or railing, the pitch should be as close to
0% as practical.
Overlooks, pullouts, and other stopping points should be as level as practical, not exceeding 2% pitch or
grade in any direction.

2. Keep excessive site runoff off the trail surface

Minimizing or eliminating surface pitch makes it more difficult to drain the trail surface. This requires
more effort to keeping site runoff from reaching the trail in the first place. If trail grades are 4% or above
and the site has significant runoff, consider using side swales to keep site runoff from reaching the trail.
Another technique is to raise the crusher fines surface at least 5/8” to 1” above the adjacent ground level.
(Consistently raising the trail surface more than I” tends to make trail users feel detached from the site
and is hence not advised.) The raised surface has to be maintained in order to be effective.

3. Replace drainage dips with frequent small grade breaks

While grade breaks are OK for wheelchairs, the standard drainage dip is a wheelchair trap. Use the
guidelines below to create small grade breaks to replace drainage dips and to also double as a rest stop
along the trail. In the absence of outslope and crowning, these small grade breaks need to be used at
frequent intervals in order to drain the trail. Small grade breaks should be used at 2-3 times the specified
frequency of drainage dips. Because their shape is subtle, they also need simple but more frequent
maintenance to maintain their shape and drainage characteristics.

3-50 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

3-50 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

Crusher Fines Trail Maintenance

Inspection, Maintenance, and Preventive Maintenance Checklist

The trail maintenance program is designed to find and fix all problems while they are still small. This calls for
frequent inspections and maintenance that should be relatively easy and inexpensive. Since most repairs are
minor when corrected early, most of the regular maintenance should be possible to perform with 1-2 people.

An example of typical trail maintenance equipment. Bush-hog used for trimming maint. Swath as well as
cutting grassed trails. Capable of cutting small shrubs as well.

3-52 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

The Aquacide Unit offers an alternative method of killing weeds embedded in soft surface trails by using
steam to boil weed root systems. Excellent for areas near playgrounds and pet trails where pesticides should
not be used.

3-52 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

Example of trail grader used to grade soft surface trails to perfection.

1. Inspect the trail surface for water damage:

Check the entire trail surface for any signs of washouts or water damage - no matter how small. Look for
signs of concentrated water having flowed down the trail or across the trail. If any problem is found,
identify the source of the excess water and add appropriate drainage features. For instance, it may be
necessary to adjust the outslope or crown, add another drainage dip uphill, or install an inside swale.
(Although difficult, the best way to thoroughly understand the problem is to watch the trail while water is
actively flowing).

Regrade any parts of the trail surface with incorrect outslope, crown, or superelevation. The stockpile of
extra fines ordered when each trail was built can be used to add fines to a trail as needed.

3-52 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

Example of trail maintenance chart complied by trail volunteers in Collingwood.

If the water source cannot be diverted or kept off the trail surface, it may be necessary to rebuild that part
of the trail with a hard surface.

3-52 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

2. Inspect drainage dips and grade breaks for water damage:

Except for exceptional downpours (such as an inch per hour), drainage dips and grade breaks should
show no signs of erosion. If the bottoms of drainage dips or grade breaks show any signs of scouring or
erosion, too much water is being concentrated at those points:

• If an alluvial fan of crusher fines is deposited in the outlet of a dip, the problem is potentially serious.
Monitor the dip after each subsequent heavy rain to see if the erosion was a one-time occurrence. If fines
continue to be washed out, install additional drainage dips uphill of the eroded dip or grade break, install an
inside swale to keep water off the trail, or otherwise catch and divert some of the water at a higher point. If
the concentration of water cannot be diverted, consider adding a hard surface in this part of the trail.

• If a dip begins to fill with crusher fines sediments, the problem is already serious - a few rains will fill the dip
and render it ineffective, possibly causing a large washout further down the trail in a domino effect of failed
dips. Immediately fix the problem as described in the previous paragraph.

3. Inspect side swales and culverts

Inspect for the effects of too much water, too much sediment, or poor drainage:

If the bottoms of side swales show erosion (other than erosion of bare soil before the vegetation cover is
restored), an intermediate culvert or other means of draining the swale at more intervals should be
installed. In extreme cases, riprap can also be added to the bottom of the swale to harden the swale
channel against erosion.
Inspect culvert headwalls and tailwalls for settling and water damage. If settling, erosion, or water
damage is occurring to these structures, identify the source of the problem and repair it.
If the outlet below a culvert is eroding, add riprap beneath the outlet. Use all sizes of rocks in the riprap
to try to create a more naturalistic appearance.
If a swale or culvert is beginning to fill with leaves or sediment, clean it out long before it fills. If sediment
is the cause, find the source of the sediment and, if possible, reduce the amount of sediment flowing into
the swale or culvert. If the sediment is crusher fines from the trail, the source of the trail washout should
be corrected.
4. Inspect and repair all trail structures:

Carefully inspect all trail and trailside structures (including retaining walls, bridges, drainage crossings,
railings, signs, fences, etc.) for any damage caused by humans or the elements. Any damage that
compromises the functionality or aesthetics of these structures should be repaired, as should any minor
damage that will become worse in time if not repaired now.

5. Inspect and repair revegetation efforts:

Carefully inspect all revegetation efforts. All plantings should be at the appropriate stage of growth
depending on the season and when they were planted. Any areas that are stunted or behind schedule
should be monitored.
Any erosion in revegetated areas should be stopped through the use of erosion control blankets, bales of
hay or straw, diverting site drainage, or other appropriate means. The eroded areas should be reseeded
or replanted (if the time of year is appropriate), then protected by mulch or erosion control blankets as
necessary. See Site Preservation, Restoration, and Revegetation, p.2-103, for details.
In maintenance during the spring, replace plantings that did not survive the winter unless site or growing
conditions indicates otherwise.
For future reference, keep records of which plants do best and worst under their site conditions.

6. Perform general cleanup and repairs:

The high-quality public image of the trails and county property must be maintained. All litter, no matter
how small, should be picked up and hauled off the site. Any vandalism or graffiti should be fixed or
removed.

3-52 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

Any fallen branches or trees on trails should be removed, as should any live or dead trees that are likely
to fall on the trail. In ecologically sensitive or pristine areas, removed wood can be scattered close to
where it fell in order to preserve the local chain of growth and decay. In less sensitive or developed
areas, removed woody material should either be hauled off, mulched in a chipper and reused onsite, or
broken into smaller pieces and left to decay in widely scattered spots on the site - do not form piles or
obvious dumping places.

7. Examine any social trails:

“Social” trails are unplanned, unofficial trails created by users, usually by shortcutting. Any social trails,
which have begun to emerge, should be noted and monitored. Find the reason why people are creating
the social trail, and if there is good reason for a trail to be there, consider making the trail official now or
in the future. Making the trail official means that the trail will need to be designed, constructed,
maintained, and managed according to the standards in this Handbook.

If the social trail is damaging the site, could damage it in the future; or if a trail is inappropriate in that
location, close the trail and post the closure (see Signs, p. 2-68). The closure will have to be enforced,
and that enforcement will need to become part of the management plan for the main trail and/or the
County property.

Crusher Fines Trail Inspection and Maintenance Schedule

Most serious potential maintenance problems with the trail surface can be identified and corrected in the first
year. Correcting problems early saves a great deal of damage, time, expense, and inconvenience later.

First Year

Inspection and maintenance are more frequent during the first year in order to find and correct problems
early. Some of the following inspections can be combined (i.e., performed at the same time) if they would be
scheduled separately within the same 6-week period. In scheduling first year maintenance, adhere more to
the purpose of frequent and timely inspections than to strict dates.

After the first hard rain

The beginnings of severe problems will be apparent after the first rain that produces significant runoff on hard
surfaces. Bear in mind that crusher fines do not reach full potential hardness until after the entire mass of
fines has been thoroughly soaked and subsequently dried. If the first rain is hard or exceptionally hard, it can
cause somewhat more erosion to the loosely consolidated fines than subsequent rains of equal intensity
might cause to firmly consolidated fines. Any erosion that occurs even when the fines are soft, however,
shows potential problems.

As soon as possible after the first good rain falls on a new trail, perform the entire maintenance checklist,
paying special attention to water damage on the trail surface, in drainage dips and grade breaks, and in
swale crossings, side swales, and culverts. If any damage occurs after only one rain, the problem will be
major very soon. Some reconstruction may be necessary, including the substantial modification or addition of
new drainage features. One qualified person can perform the inspection and note the problems, and a crew
of 1-4 should be able to repair them.

After two months or several moderate rains

After several good rains, two months, or September 1 - whichever comes first - perform all
inspection/maintenance items to find and repair problems before winter. The inspection should be done no
later than September 1 to allow time for repairs.

This inspection should again concentrate on repair of all drainage features. Trail structures and revegetation
should also receive special attention. Any social trails, which have begun to appear, should be evaluated and
handled as described in the maintenance checklist.

3-52 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

Every 6-8 weeks during the usage season

Complete inspection and maintenance should be performed every 6-8 weeks throughout the usage season.
Any damage found should be repaired while it is minor, and minor damage that could lead to more extensive
damage later should be fixed now. Do not wait to repair any problems with trail drainage or trail structures.

About September 1 each year

Perform complete inspection and maintenance to make the trail and site improvements ready for winter. Pay
special attention to trail drainage features in order to prepare the trail for its first highly erosive spring
snowmelt.

This maintenance can be combined with another scheduled maintenance if both would be scheduled within
the same 6-week period.

Each Subsequent Year

During spring snowmelt

Spring snowmelt creates the most adverse conditions for crusher fines. The soil and fines can be saturated,
loosening the binders in the fines and making it easy for washouts to occur. Heavy runoff can create
drainage patterns and concentrations of water not anticipated in snow-free months, leading to unanticipated
erosion. If the fines lack large angular particles, bicycle users may create ruts in the fines that can divert
water down the trail, and foot traffic can create deep footprints that collect water and lengthen the time the
trail stays saturated.
During the spring snowmelt (preferably at the height of the snowmelt), every crusher fines trail should be
inspected on foot. This maintenance should cover all the checklist items as much as feasible. Look for
adverse drainage patterns, blocked swales or culverts, puddles on the trail, ruts from erosion or bicycles,
holes in the crusher fines surface made by footprints, trail surface erosion, or damage to cuts and fills. Any
damage found should be repaired as much as practical. Puddles should be drained, blockages removed, and
all practical efforts made to prevent as much damage as possible. The inspector should carry a shovel to cut
through snow and ice and to rearrange crusher fines in spot fixes as needed.

In the spring
Once the snow has largely melted but before vegetation emerges, perform the maintenance checklist again.
A small maintenance crew of 1-4 workers should be able to fix most of whatever problems may have
occurred. Special attention should be given to preventive maintenance and to all aspects of trail drainage.
Swales and culverts should be checked to make sure they are not clogged or are becoming clogged with
leaves or sediments. The source of any erosion of crusher fines or soil should be diverted and the erosion
repaired. Regrade any parts of the trail surface with incorrect outslope, crown, or superelevation.

Every 6-8 weeks during the usage season

Complete inspection and maintenance should be performed every 6-8 weeks throughout the usage season.
Any damage found should be repaired while it is minor, and minor damage that could lead to more extensive
damage later should be fixed now. Do not wait to repair any problems with trail drainage or trail structures.

About September 1 each year

Perform complete inspection and maintenance to make the trail and site improvements ready for winter and
the spring snowmelt.

Notes on Maintenance Beyond the Second Year

In the third year and after, routine maintenance should become easier and less extensive. The troublesome
spots along the trail will be known (and hopefully already corrected). Most problems with the trail surface
should have been corrected by now. Maintenance of side swales and culverts will always be ongoing. Plants
introduced through revegetation should be firmly established.

3-52 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

Over a period of years, the surfaces of trails tend to level with use - outslope and crowning level out, dips fill
in, and high spots are worn down. Continual minor readjustments of the trail surface will help keep the trail
surface in its original condition. More crusher fines may need to be added to the trail surface in spots. Barring
washouts, however, only minor adjustments should need to be made to the trail surface for decades once the
drainage is under control.

Trail structures may begin to need more extensive maintenance as they age and settle, particularly fences,
retaining walls, culvert headwalls, railings, signs, and bridges. This maintenance should be done as needed
to maintain the high-quality public image of the trail system. The goal of this maintenance, however, is not to
keep everything shiny and new without signs of age. The natural aging of materials is highly valued as long
as that aging does not become an eyesore or compromise the physical integrity of the structure. As
structures age gracefully, repairs should attempt to preserve and enhance the positive aspects of age.

The creation of new social trails will diminish if consistent efforts were made earlier to close or make social
trails official. If usage of the main trail greatly increases, however, user pressure will likely create new social
trails.

In general, if trail usage increases over time or exceeds the usage level for which the trail was built,
maintenance will increase. Some reconstruction or widening of the trail may be necessary.

A competent inspector as needed should inspect major structures, which affect user safety such as bridges,
large retaining walls, and railings. Generally, this will not be necessary for the first 15 years, and possibly
every 5-10 years after that depending on the structure. Unless a bridge or retaining wall was not designed or
constructed correctly, there should be no need for replacement for 50 years.

If a structure is extensively damaged (flood, landslide, foundation failure, overload, structural failure), it
should be inspected and repaired or rebuilt as necessary.

3-52 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

Example of ATV trail maintenance grader.

Close up of ATV trail grader

Specialized Trail grader is perfect for most straight trails but does not grade well on winding pathways and in tight
spaces.

3-52 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook

 Crusher Fines Surface Trails

Signs
Signs may need to be replaced every 10 years depending on their condition. Signs should be replaced if they
become dilapidated to the point that their aging is seen as an eyesore instead of as an interesting character.

3-52 Trails Design and Management Planning Handbook