Recreation Trails
Source: PEI Ecosystem-Based Forest Management Standards Manual (October 2025), pp. 35–36
What it is
A recreation trail is a defined route that improves access within or through an area for non-motorized uses.
Standards and assessment
Start with a trail plan
A forester, forest technician or other qualified person prepares a trail plan. The plan designs the layout and standards needed for the intended access and uses, while keeping environmental impact low — erosion in particular.
Features to design around
Consider mitigation where the trail meets:
- slope and topography,
- soil types,
- wetlands,
- rare vascular plants (see Rare Plant and Animal Species),
- risk-management concerns,
- other features of the property.
Keep long-term costs down
- Think ahead. Consider future maintenance costs at the design stage.
- Avoid expensive infrastructure. Design to minimize watercourse crossings and cut-and-fill work.
- When it’s unavoidable. If the plan’s objectives require that infrastructure, adapt the minimum crossing or grubbing standards to the maximum weight of the intended use (see Watercourse Crossing).
- Avoid rather than build. Choose shaded routes that need little tree removal, seedling propagation or pruning, and stay off wet areas and steep slopes.
Design details
| Element | Standard |
|---|---|
| Width and height | Sized for the intended use, including seasonal use — snowshoeing needs more overhead clearance than walking |
| Stumps on the trail | Normally at or below the soil surface |
| Curves | Used for both experience and safety: short sight lines suit wildlife viewing, while cross-country skiing needs safe visibility |
| Pruning | Proper technique, to avoid stem damage that lets disease into trees and shrubs or spreads it (see Crop Tree Pruning) |
Safety. Assess trails periodically to minimize risks to public safety.
Based on the PEI Ecosystem-Based Forest Management Standards Manual (October 2025), pp. 35–36. Where this guide and the manual differ, the manual governs.