Recreation Corridor and Trails Classification System
The Alberta trail classification system will be an important component of the proposed Alberta Recreation Trail Program. It will provide a basic framework to assist in assessing trails, help trail groups with their planning, design and construction decisions, and be an aid to land managers making operating decisions.
The proposed system is designed with a basic classification framework and additional layers containing an increasing level of detail. Within the primary classification, a trail may be designated for a single type of use or multiple types of uses. Five primary trail classifications form the basis of the system:
- Motorized Use Trails – trail users use a motorized vehicle to provide power for locomotion
- Non-motorized Use Trails – trail users do not use an external source of power for locomotion
- Mixed-Use Trails – a combination of non-motorized and motorized trail users on the same trail
- Extreme Use Trails – specific trail uses that involve competition or an element of danger
- Water Trails – a water route that can accommodate passage by a watercraft
The experience delivered by the trail and its surroundings falls into three classifications:
- Primitive Trails
- Semi-developed Trails
- Developed Trails
The classification system described in this document is intended as a guideline only. The majority of existing and planned trails in Alberta should fit within this system, but it also allows for flexibility in circumstances where environmental sensitivity, physical, cultural or social site attributes influence trail design.
Source: Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation
