Trail Planning and Construction
Downstream Strategies is a Professional TrailBuilders Association member company and offers technical assistance to clients interested in building trails for a range of uses. Our sustainable trail specialists work with local, state, and federal entities to create and extend public facilities, including multi-use trails and campsites.
- Site evaluation
- Heavy equipment operation and permit compliance
- Hiking, biking, fitness, historical interpretation, and environmental interpretation
- Community coordination and leadership
- Road decommissioning
Trail Planning and Construction Contact
Projects
Williams River Road Decommissioning and Reforestation
Working with the Monongahela National Forest and Canaan Valley Institute, Downstream Strategies staff completed a road decommissioning and reforestation project in an area along Scenic Highway 150 in the Gauley Ranger District in Pocahontas County. This 6,800-foot logging road was built in an area of highly erodible soils, and the resulting erosion contributed sediment to the nearby Williams River. Removing the road improved overall ecosystem health by restoring the natural hydrology of the area and reducing runoff, erosion, and sediment pollution.
Little Canaan Trail System
Tucker County is a prime destination for hiking and mountain biking enthusiasts. To help increase tourism and provide a welcomed local resource, Downstream Strategies personnel planned, designed, and constructed a 20-mile multi-use trail system on 3,200 acres of what is now the Little Canaan Wildlife Management Area. These extremely popular trails have become a favorite of locals and tourists. Additionally, we planned, designed, and built a 3.1-mile multi-use trail that connects the Little Canaan Trails to the Heart of the Highlands Trail System.