Professional Trail Builders
Hiring or Becoming a Trail Builder
Finding a professional trail builder who fits your budget and meets your skill requirements can be challenging. Look for a builder experienced in stakeholder engagement, planning, and permitting, and who has constructed the type of trail you need. They should also be knowledgeable about best practices for trail use, soils, and ecology, and capable of building resilient trails that can withstand severe weather events. Below are resources on essential questions to ask your builder, tips for finding a builder, and guidance for those interested in becoming a trail builder.
Key Questions to Ask a Builder:
- How many miles of trails have you built?
- Where have you built trails? What kind of terrain?
- What user types did you build for (hikers, bikers, adaptive sports, etc.)?
- Have you worked with ecologists or permitting specialists?
- How do you include approaches to adaptive or accessible trail features?
- What is your approach to building trails that are able to withstand our increasingly long mud seasons and high-rain events?
- What kind of certifications do you have?
How to Find a Builder
Contract Template
Before reaching out to a builder, reviewing a template to understand what your contract should include is helpful. The Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA) provides a useful example with their sample builder contract.
Finding Professional Trail Builders
Professional Trail Builders Association
The Professional Trail Builders Association maintains a growing list of experienced trail builders.
Other Groups to Consider:
- Student Conservation Association (SCA)
- Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (Statewide)
- Northwoods Stewardship Center (Regional)
- Montpelier Youth Conservation Corps (Local)
- Upper Valley Trails Alliance (Regional)
Future Resources
In the future, VTGC plans to develop a curated list of recommended trail builders.
Become a Builder
Are you interested in becoming a professional trail builder? Vermont State University offers training boot camps and a year-long sustainable trail-building certification program. You can also inquire about joining a trail crew through a professional builder, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, or through trail organizations with their crews, such as the Green Mountain Club and Kingdom Trails.
To learn more about the profession, and for ongoing training and support, attend our annual Trails Symposium. The Professional Trail Builders Association and American Trails also have annual conferences and ongoing training opportunities, both online and in person.
