California Recreational Trail Plan Highights

This is a small, cut-and-paste collection of highlights from the plan. It probably won't cover all of the information you're looking for. If this is the case, download the entire plan (PDF file 1.1 MB, off-site link) and search for keywords or browse the table of contents. Happy trails!

Trails Philosophy

Central to the California Recreational Trails Plan is the recognition that our world is one of finite resources and, since demand increases steadily for these resources, insightful management is of utmost concern. The state's trail system must be designed to utilize resources in ways that benefit all users and their appropriate uses. This entails providing adequate accommodation and accessibility, rather than focusing on individual user groups. The increased sharing of resources sometimes creates friction between the diverse user groups vying for more trail space. This Trail Plan acknowledges that a certain amount of friction is inevitable, and therefore focuses on planning and communication to minimize the differences and optimize the benefits derived from these precious resources. California's citizens generally take a great interest in environmental issues, including support for clean air, clean water, parks, resource preservation, acquisition, and recreation opportunities. This has been demonstrated in recent surveys on environmental issues and in the passage of both Proposition 12, the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000 and the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002.

There also is a direct correlation between health of the California economy and the ability of state and local governments to raise additional revenues. A strong and healthy economy translates to increased tax revenues providing government agencies more opportunities for enhancing trails within their jurisdictions. In the late 1990s California's economy was booming and many local jurisdictions proclaimed a "surplus" for the first time in many years; however, parks and trails didn't always see increased funding as local governments used their additional revenues for long neglected police and fire protection, roadway repairs and schools.

The passage of Propositions 13 and 218, which limit local governments' abilities to raise revenue through tax on property assessments and other special taxes, has also impacted the amounts of funding available for trails. Local governments in the poorest areas of the state are particularly hard hit because property taxes on assessed values are usually quite low. Taxpayers in those areas, as well as those in many of the more affluent areas of the state, historically have been opposed to general tax increases and are equally reluctant to pass any special taxes that could be used to support parks, greenways and trails. Additionally, land that was developed in earlier years without the benefit of long-term trail planning, now has little opportunity to incorporate desired open space in built-out city blocks or suburban neighborhoods. Plans for optimal use of trail resources must be in concert with the objective of natural and cultural resource protection. Any decisions on resource use affect not only California residents and visitors, but our natural and cultural habitat as well. If we make responsible decisions concerning preservation of our resources, we will succeed in our custodial duties to the environment while at the same time providing enjoyment for current and future generations. Through well designed, constructed, and maintained trails, we will accomplish optimal public access while accommodating resource conservation.

Providing the public with increased access to trails and greenways is not enough; we must also strive to promote the abundant benefits derived from them. While recreation and transportation are the most obvious trail benefits, others include energy conservation, environmental and habitat protection, and improved physical and mental health. Informing the community of these significant benefits expands public awareness of the advantages that trails and greenways offer to the individual and to society as a whole. Gaining public support thereby encourages policy-makers to support trails and greenways and to increase funding to better manage all of California's diverse resources. Improving relationships and interaction between government entities and the private sector will be necessary for the effective development of a well-planned and managed trail and greenway system. Open communication between all levels of government and interested parties enhances the finding of common objectives by making individuals and organized groups part of the solution. Linking communities and trail advocates in trail planning minimizes land use conflicts and allows for optimal resource use. Joint planning emphasizes the development of interconnected trails in natural settings, and a united effort creates a stronger voice for advancing trail proposals. The 2001 California Recreational Trails Plan is intended to set direction for today and for the future. It should serve as a guide for creating a trail system for

California's ever-growing and diverse population - a trail system that meets the needs of the state's disparate recreational users and our growing overall transportation needs, while protecting our state's vital natural and cultural resources.

Goals

The Statewide Trails Plan (Phase One) must remain relatively general in scope, identifying only today's ideal goals for specific aspects of the statewide trails plan. The dynamics of our society and its constantly evolving recreational needs, coupled with annual funding unpredictability and changing political priorities, preclude including specific and nonflexible actions that are designed as the only avenues for reaching each of the general goals listed. This plan's goals and the associated action guidelines provide the directional flexibility that will allow for meeting unforeseen changes that could impact trail programs. Yet within the action guidelines, solid direction is given that will ensure partial or complete accomplishment of the goals for creating and maintaining a well designed, well used, and well maintained statewide system of trails and greenways.

The overall goal is to establish a true "system" of trails throughout California.

Reaching the goal will require an awareness of what resources and connective links are currently available and what links may be planned. It is critical that all trails planners have available accurate, comprehensive, regularly updated, and easily accessible databases of completed trails and planned trail projects. Such information can guide future trail-related land acquisitions and funding priorities and focus trails' advocacy efforts in a more efficient and effective manner.

A strong and dynamic trails advocacy program is essential for maintaining and expanding trail systems in California. As with any program or project that requires public and government support, collaboration of advocacy groups, including pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian, is critical in order to effect political and societal changes that are reflective of the identified trail program goals. Open and frequent communication can often help organizations that are initially in opposition find common ground and success in meeting their individual and shared goals.

Goal:
Develop and encourage expanded cooperation and collaboration among trail advocates, wildlife advocates, and cultural resource advocates to maximize resource protection, education, and trail use opportunities.

Action Guidelines

• Convene and support statewide and regional trails' conferences and workshops that share current information, promote diversity, plan future actions, and recognize significant achievements. The California Trails and Greenways Conference, hosted by the California Dept. of Parks & Recreation since1983, will continue to be the most prominent trails conference held in California.
• Develop multi-jurisdictional plans for habitat linkages. Since most wildlife corridors cover multi-jurisdictional areas, it is essential that planning discussions and activities include the land managers for the corridor region, as well as stakeholders and affected regulators.
• Encourage trail-supplying agencies to place an emphasis on providing more day-use trail opportunities close to urban areas. Divert use away from overused trails by promoting the use of trails that are typically underutilized, especially during peak days and times.
• Continue to provide trail design and construction training programs that include multi-agency participation in order to foster planning cooperation and widely accepted trail design standards

Trail Design

Trail stewardship differs greatly throughout California and even among trails maintained by specific landowners such as State Parks. Funding, operational priorities, original trail design, and knowledge and skills of trails maintenance personnel can affect the levels of stewardship available for trails. Ensuring that the highest levels of trail stewardship are maintained requires commitment from trail managers and the ability to incorporate state-of-the-art trail design, construction, and maintenance techniques.

Good design, construction, and maintenance improve trails by:

• Accommodating higher numbers and multiple types of users
• Minimizing environmental impacts, especially erosion
• Increasing a trail's appeal to users, which increases use
• Reducing the chance of trail failure
• Reducing maintenance needs
• Making trails more fun and safer to use, and
• Providing a greater variety of experiences.

Shared Use Trails

California's increasing population has created, and continues to create, a demand for differing types of trail uses. What originally were designed as narrow, single track, equestrian and hiking trails, often fail to meet the present day multi-use needs of mountain bikers, road bike users, in-line skaters, runners and new user groups that may develop in the future. In some instances, the retention of current single-track trails can best meet the needs of trail users, or they may be the only way of allowing public access while ensuring adequate protection of natural or cultural resources.

While there has been some integrating or combining of different recreational user needs on individual trails, the efforts have not been universally successful. In many areas relatively parallel trails designed for different users, such as a paved bike trail and an equestrian trail nearby, have been constructed. While this approach effectively separates two or more relatively incompatible trail uses, it also is more expensive, both in initial construction costs and in ongoing maintenance costs. This parallel single-use multi-trail system may also increase impacts on natural resources.

Goal:
Provide the maximum opportunities for the public use of trails by encouraging the appropriate expansion of multi-use trails.

Action Guidelines

• Establish a public process, coupled with scientific data and documentation, for determining use groups appropriate for trails within State Parks.
• Assist park managers in identifying and resolving conflicts between trail users.
• Prepare instructional materials aimed at informing the public on proper etiquette for multi-use trails. This should include, where appropriate, signs at trail heads or critical trail junctions that inform or remind users of proper trail etiquette.
• Involve user groups to help land managers make informed decisions regarding trail designation and design. Such issues as overall user safety, levels of pubic use, resource impacts, and needed and available monitoring, patrol and enforcement should be considered when determining trail designations.

These are only a few snippets from the California plan. The entire document is an inspiring collection of shared-use trails information.