Forest Trails and Landings

Forest Trails and Landings provide access to forest stands for management, removal and collection of forest products, recreation, and wildlife. These areas, whether planned or existing, include developed trails, skid roads, and log landing sites. Properly constructed or maintained Forest Trails and Landings minimize onsite and offsite damage to resources (including water quality) during periods of access.

• When placing trails, keep grades as low as possible. Avoid long, steep grades that exceed 20%.
• Minimize the use of stream crossings and remove any temporary bridges and culverts when logging activities are completed.
• On trails with existing erosion problems, install water bars, rolling dips, and other drainage measures to route runoff away from the road. Stabilize diversion outlets with stone riprap or brush debris. Crowning the trails can help with drainage. See Table 1 for spacing guidelines.
• Adjust spacing of water bars to decrease the intervals between them on steep ground. Longer intervals are acceptable on relatively flat portions. Position water bars on about a 30 degree angle down slope.
• The installation of appropriate drainage structures, along with the addition of the autumn leaf fall, will often sufficiently protect roads from erosion if vehicular traffic is controlled. Where these measures are not sufficient, seed areas that are still susceptible to erosion.
• Completely close, rehabilitate, and re-vegetate problem areas.
• Locate landings areas on well drained ridge tops, areas close to an all-weather road, or sites close to the stand being harvested.
• Landings should have a slight slope to facilitate drainage. Do not located landings within 200 feet of streams, ponds, lakes, sinkholes, springs, caves, or wetlands.
• Clear log yard debris from landing areas and seed those areas down to a green browse food plot mixture.

Maintenance