“How much land do I need to develop a decent trail system?”

One of the joys of cross country skiing is that every trail is different. Some well known trail systems encompass hundreds or even thousands of acres.

However, in an effort to attract television coverage and generate more spectator interest, newer Nordic venues favor shorter loops with frequent trips through the stadium, even in the longer races.

Much depends upon the topography, but it’s safe to say that an enjoyable trail can be developed on whatever land is available. And don’t forget to check with your neighbors and adjacent landowners, often they will be as enthusiastic about a new trail as you are.

“How wide does the trail have to be?”

Your trail can be any width you want. Commercial Nordic ski centers build their trails wide enough to accommodate their customers, many of whom skate. They also groom with big machinery, and don’t want to be scraping the trees. International guidelines for race courses suggest 6 meters, (just under 20 feet ), where possible.

A more appropriate width for most private landowners is 12-14 feet. Remember, considering the unpredictable snow falls of recent years, the trail should be wide enough to create an opening in the tree canopy, allowing the snow to reach the ground.

“How much will it cost?”

It’s difficult to predict the total cost of a recreational trail system. Some excellent trails have been created almost entirely with volunteer labor. Community members, experienced with chain saws have cut trees while students and Scouts have stacked brush. Heavy equipment operators have donated their machinery and their expertise.

At the other end of the spectrum, millions have been spent on trails created for major international events, like the Olympic Games.

For a typical landowner, however, who does not have aspirations to host the Olympics, and is willing to hire professionals to create a trail roughly 5 kilometers long on 100 acres of suitable terrain, a reasonable, ballpark figure is probably between $10,000 and $20,000. Another perspective on the cost of year round, shared use trail is that it will be less expensive that a swimming pool or a tennis court.

“How long does it take to design and construct a typical trail?”

If each step of the project fell neatly into place, a typical 5 kilometer loop could be created in two to three months. The design phase is relatively quick, perhaps a week or so. Once the design is approved by the client, the cutting and clearing begins. This phase can take time because professional loggers are often booked months in advance, and it takes time to get volunteers organized. The cutting also varies significantly in proportion to the density of the forest. Many loggers prefer to work in the winter when the ground is frozen.

Actually building the trail with an excavator could take a week or two, but scheduling the work is often dependent upon weather and other variables.

“Are Nordic ski trails suitable for other forms of outdoor recreation?”

Absolutely! In fact, if a trail is well designed for cross country skiing, it will also be ideal for cross country running, snowshoeing, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Advanced mountain biking enthusiasts crave “single track” riding, and often those narrow paths can be added to a core cross country ski loop, providing something for everyone.

“What kind of maintenance does a Nordic trail require?”

If properly designed and built, a Nordic trail is relatively trouble free. Since most trails are through forest land, there are occasionally broken branches and rarely, fallen trees. Culverts under the trail should be cleaned out seasonally, and the trail should be mowed a couple of times each summer.

“Won’t my new trail become an attraction for snowmobiles and all terrain vehicles?”

Happily, the days of hostile confrontations between Nordic skiers and snowmobile enthusiasts are over, almost everywhere. With the advent of the skating technique a couple of decades ago, endless miles of groomed snowmobile trails beckoned to Nordic skiers, many of whom joined snowmobile clubs in support of those trails. At the same time, a growing number of snowmobile enthusiasts recognized that the integrity of their trail systems depended upon the good will of private landowners.

As a result, the vast majority of snowmobile and ATV operators are responsible and will respect signs indicating that a trail is open to non-motorized recreation only.

“Are there special requirements for trails intended as a venue for competition?”

The international governing bodies for sports like cross country skiing, biathlon, mountain biking, cross country running, and equestrian events all have guidelines for the creation of competitive venues. For Nordic skiing, the key issues are the width of the trail, (6 meters where possible, so that competitors using the skating technique can safely pass), and the amount of climb on the course. Provided there is adequate natural terrain at a proposed site, it is not difficult to design a trail which conforms to international guidelines.