As a part of Tony’s ongoing commitment to help communities get everyone to “Come Alive Outside” we are especially passionate of our future trail endeavors. As our population grows, so does the demand for trails, parks and open space areas. In Governor Hickenlooper’s recent 2015 State of the State address, he stated “Colorado’s recreational trails are amongst the best in the world”. We whole-heartedly agree!
Ninety percent of Coloradans participate in outdoor recreation to bike and hike endless trails, and fish in local lakes. Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP 2014). For those of us choosing to live here – seeking out and exploring high quality, sustainable trail experiences are an integral component of our quality of life.
From the prairies of eastern Colorado to the high peaks along the Continental Divide, Colorado provides a diverse landscape with abundant outdoor recreational opportunities. Miles of trails, national parks, family attractions and conserved landscapes span across Colorado’s nearly 67 million acres. Colorado consists of nearly 30 million acres of public lands, or approximately 45 percent of the total state land area, providing vast amounts of recreation opportunities. SCORP 2014. There are an estimated 15,000 miles of trails in Colorado.
Spurred by these numerous blessing and challenges, Timberline Landscaping is teaming up with Tony Boone Trails of Salida, Colorado to lead the most complete, full-service trail company in Colorado and North America. Our team offers a full spectrum of professional trail services ranging from master planning to routine maintenance and from concrete trails to purpose-built, flow trails for mountain bikers.
We have professional trail designers, landscape architects, certified trail dozer instructors, teachers, expert witness, CAD/Sketch Up artists, cartographers, carpenters, concrete experts, irrigation specialists, certified arborists, graphic designers, horticulturists, welders and access to scores of skilled laborers. No matter how small or how complex your project is we would love to hear about it.
Trail Planning & Design
Tony Boone Trails offer a wide spectrum of professional, trail planning and design services including: trail master plans, management plans, trail audits, feasibility assessments, construction plans, project budgets, site assessments, signage plans, maintenance plans, and risk management plans. We have a very detailed list of professional planning documents we have completed in the past. We also offer a variety of professional, trail design services including: trail design and layout, conceptual design, trail design evaluation, CAD design, competitive event design, as well as classes and workshops on sustainable trail design. For a complete list of our past trail design & layout projects please see Tony Boone’s planning & design portfolio.
Portfolio
Trail Plans and Park Management Plans:
Collinsville Lake Trail Master Plan – Collinsville, OK
Hickory Knob State Park MtB Trail Plan - McCormick, SC
The Breaks at Bar H Mt. Bike Ranch Trail Plan – Saint Jo, TX
Tano Norte Ranch Trail Master Plan - Santa Fe, NM
Beavers Bend State Park Mtb Trails – Broken Bow, OK
Trek China Trail Master Plan - Chengdu, China
Old Man’s Valley Trail Plan - Horsby, Australia
Timberline Heights Trail Plan - Rizal, Philipines
Cam Sur Watersports Complex Trail Plan - Pili, Philippines
Mt. Isarog National Park Trail Plan - Ocampo, Philippines
Colorado Planning Related Projects
Maroon Ranch Trail Master Plan - Aspen
Dome Rock Climbing Access Plan - Boulder
Walker Ranch Management Plan - Boulder
Betasso Preserve Management Plan – Boulder
Beech Open Space Management Plan – Boulder
Trevarton Ranch Management Plan - Lyons
Storm Meadows Greenbelt Trail Plan – Steamboat Springs
US Air Force Academy Trail Master Plan - Colorado Springs
BCPOS Trails Management Plan – Boulder County
Colorado State Parks, with Arrowhead Trails
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Trail Plan - Salida
Cheyenne Mountain State Park Trail Master Plan - Colorado Springs
Colorado River State Park Trail Master Plan – Loma
Crawford State Park Trail Master Plan - Crawford
Eleven Mile State Park Trail Master Plan - Lake George
Highline State Park Trail Master Plan - Fruita
Jackson Lake State Park Trail Master Plan - Jackson
Lake Pueblo State Park Trail Master Plan - Pueblo
Mancos State Park Trail Master Plan - Mancos
Ridgeway State Park Trail Master Plan – Ridgeway
Rifle Falls State Park Trail Master Plan - Rifle
Sweitzer Lake State Park Trail Master Plan - Delta
Sylvan Lake/Brush Creek State Park Trail Master Plan - Eagle
Vega State Park Trail Master Plan - Colbran
“Tony Boone has an extraordinary talent to locate trails to maximize the experience for the trail users while minimizing impact on the land, earning him the nickname of the Michael Angelo of trails.”
Cheryl Matthews, Director, Douglas County Open Space & Natural Resources
Solid planning and design is the most effective way to ensure long-term sustainability in trail systems. Frequently the time and money spent on planning and design efforts will pay for themselves in a matter of years. Poor planning and design often leads to projects requiring more maintenance, less visitor enjoyment, more visitor conflicts and inevitably more negative impacts to indigenous flora, fauna & soils.
What is Trail Sustainability?
“Sustainability of backcountry trail corridors is defined as the ability of the travel surface to support current and anticipated appropriate uses with minimal impact to the adjoining natural systems and cultural resources. Sustainable trails have negligible soil loss or movement and allow the naturally occurring plant systems to inhabit the area, while allowing for the occasional pruning and removal of plants necessary to build and maintain the trail. If well-designed, built, and maintained, a sustainable trail minimizes braiding, seasonal muddiness and erosion. It should not normally affect natural fauna adversely nor require re-routing and major maintenance over long periods of time.”
Hugh Duffy, National Park Service, Denver Service Center in Guide to Sustainable Mountain Trails: Trail Assessment, Planning & Design Sketchbook, 2007; originally published in the Colorado State Trails Newsletter in 1991 as Developing Sustainable Mountain Trail Corridors: An Overview.
For more information and a link to our American Trails, archived webinar on The Art of Sustainable Trail Management. This webinar discusses the primary goals of sustainable trail design which are to “keep users and soil on the trail, while keeping water off the trail”, and leaving a net positive environmental impact when creating new trails.
Learn the details of Tony’s 10 Guidelines for Sustainable Trail Planning Design, Construction & Maintenance
- Average Trail Grades
- Maximum Tread Grades
- Relationship of the Trail to Sideslope
- Managing Water through Rolling Contour Design
- Understanding Soils and Climate
- Getting into the Head of Users
- Understanding Control Points
- Balancing Nature & Human Impacts
- Creating Synergistic Partnerships
- Understanding weak links and the big picture!
http://www.americantrails.org/resources/trailbuilding/webinar-sustainable-trails-boone.html
Consulting
Tony Boone Trails offer an incredible diversity of professional, trail-related consulting services involving: risk management, environmental sustainability, public meeting facilitation, trail difficulty classification, project scoping, project planning, bidding assistance, soils surveys, staff training & supervision, volunteer management, waivers & assumption of risk formulation, expert witness/testimony services, as well as balancing productivity with the inherent impacts of different types of trail construction (hand built, dozer built, excavator built, etc.).
Tony Boone has consulted on over 300 successful trail projects around the globe ranging from non-consumptive, economic development in developing nations to a 300-mile trail feasibility study in New Mexico.
http://www.americantrails.org/resources/opinion/Philippines-trails-Tony-Boone.html
http://www.americantrails.org/resources/trailbuilding/Rio-Grande-Trail-Surfacing.html
Construction
Tony Boone Trails offer an amazing scope of sustainable trail construction services for a wide variety of trail types, widths and surfacing options including: shared-use trails, purpose-built trails (optimized for a specific user group), natural surface trails, concrete trails, asphalt trails, ADA compliant surfaced trails, Technisoil G5 surfaced trails, trailside landscaping, bike parks, labyrinths, climber access trails, 14ers trails, fitness trails, and wilderness trails.
Our experiences and projects are as technically challenging as the Manitou Incline or as simple as the narrow, dirt singletrack out your backyard. Combined, Tim’s & Tony’s trail crews have built over 600 miles of amazing trails in 12 states and 7 countries. We have completed successful trail projects in over 50 cities/towns in Colorado alone.
Colorado Project Areas in (alphabetically):
Aspen, Basalt, Boulder, Breckenridge, Buena Vista, Canon City, Castle Rock, Clark, Colorado Springs, Conifer, Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, Denver, Dillon, Divide Eagle, Eldorado Springs, Erie, Evergreen, Florrisant, Franktown, Fraser, Golden, Glenwood Springs, Gunnison, Highlands Ranch, Ken Caryl Ranch, Kremmling, Larkspur, Leadville, Littleton, Louisville, Loveland, Lyons, Mancos, Manitou Springs, Monument, Morrison, Nathrop, Nederland, Niwot Pine, Rifle, Salida, Sedalia, Snowmass Village, Steamboat Springs, Wellington, Winter Park, Woodland Park, Vail.
“Professional trailbuilders Kurt Loheit and Tony Boone started to create innovative trail solutions with mountain bikers in mind even before IMBA was born. They have inspired us and supported trailbuilders around the globe for almost 20 years.”
IMBA’s Guide to Building Sweet Singletrack, 2004
Our ability to seamlessly mesh with governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, and professional trailbuilders is one of the main reasons behind our continuing success. Whether you are planning your first ADA accessible trail for visually/mobility challenged visitors or your considering the challenges of developing a bike park, we can help streamline the process and assisting you in avoiding the pitfalls that you may encounter along the way.
Tony Boone has contributed numerous articles, trainings, and educational programs dedicated to the construction of sustainable trails for almost three decades. He was also a key contributor to all three International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) books: Trail Solutions: IMBA’s Guide to Building Sweet Singletrack, Managing Mountain Bikes: IMBA’s Guide to Providing Great Riding, and Bike Parks: IMBA’s Guide to New School Trails.
http://www.americantrails.org/resources/trailbuilding/ArtCrushedStone.html
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/events/stam_2007/maxbudget.cfm
https://www.imba.com/catalog/book-bike-parks-imbas-guide-new-school-trails
https://www.imba.com/catalog/book-trail-solutions
https://www.imba.com/catalog/book-mmb
Engineered Structures & Trailside Features
Timberline Landscaping and Tony Boone Trails offer a variety of professional services for engineered and non-engineered, trail-related structures.
Including: wood & fiberglass bridges, boardwalks, handrails, stone & timber retaining walls, timber chases, erosion control, plastic & metal culverts, stone armoring, stone pitching, tables, benches, fencing, as well as technical trail features for mountain bikers (rollers, berms, jumps, drops, step-ups, skinnies, log rides, etc.)
With Timberline’s recent success restoring the historic Manitou Incline and their Grand Award selection from the National Association of Landscape Professionals, we have the capacity and expertise to handle projects of most scopes and sizes, including bonding projects up to $3 million USD.
“With the Manitou Incline, Timberline Landscaping was faced with an overwhelming obstacle. Like all projects Timberline takes on, they thought of creative solutions to overcome the challenges that were thrown at them. Completing the work on time and on budget, the public was amazed at how the trail was able to retain its unique character throughout construction and still provide the heart pounding experience it had before. I could count on Timberline Landscaping to go the extra mile to make sure the product they delivered was a high quality and top-notch. I know when Timberline Landscaping has the opportunity to work on our projects, the finished project will exceed all expectations.”
Sarah Bryarly, City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department
Maintenance
Tony Boone Trails offer a variety of professional, trail maintenance services including: routine trail maintenance, FEMA funded projects, flood damage, erosion control, trail reconstruction, drainage enhancements, soil hardening, rotary brooming, and routine snow removal.
“Protecting our trail resources is also one of the best ways to protect our natural and cultural resources. Remember, nature’s enemy is not outdoor recreation but poor recreation management.”
Tony Boone, 1997
http://www.americantrails.org/resources/ManageMaintain/Maint21stCent.html
Reclamation
Tony Boone Trails offer a variety of professional, trail reclamation services including: trail closure/obliteration, reclamation, revegetation, native seeding, erosion control, and establishing proper hydrology.
Reclamation and closure of abandoned trails requires a significant amount of planning, time and money and should not be taken lightly. Frequently these trails are not sustainable (or even maintainable) and often run steeply up and down the fall-line. They are most frequently created by non-directed, visitor use accessing desirable spots that the existing trail does not access.
These user-created “social trails” are common on public lands today and frequently create significant impacts to native flora and fauna and vital soil resources. In Colorado, we have been involved in numerous projects, where disgruntled users have attempted or even been successful in reopening these abandoned, obliterated old routes. One of the biggest keys to success is designing and constructing the reroute to be significantly more enjoyable to the visitors.
The function of trail reclamation is to reduce the impact trails have on natural and cultural resources over the long run. Successful restoration may be as simple as blocking shortcuts with trees, brush and organics. However, it is often significantly more complicated and may require signage, fencing, re-establishing proper hydrologic function, re-contouring, adding drainage features, planting native grasses and plants, and even installing surveillance cameras in some situations.
http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/htmlpubs/htm07232806/page14.htm
Educational Efforts
Tony Boone Trails offer a variety of trail-related educational services for governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, trail clubs, professional trailbuilders, volunteer trailbuilders, youth corps, and land trusts. In the past three decades, Tony Boone has trained well over 2000 students on the art of sustainable trail design and construction. Students have included: hikers, mountain bikers, runners, equestrians, Filipino & Chinese farmers, government employees, and numerous volunteer & professional trail crews.
Our partners have included Canada Parks, Camarines Sur Provincial Government, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Professional Trailbuilders Association, American Trails, US Forest Service, Colorado Youth Corps Association, Bureau of Land Management, Crested Butte Land Trust, and numerous professional trailbuilders.
If you need a training not listed, we can easily customize one specifically for your needs and staff.
Dozer Certification & Instruction
Tony Boone Trails currently offers North America’s only Trail Dozer Certification Program accredited by the Professional Trail Builders Association (PTBA). We also provide mechanized, on-the-job training opportunities and college courses for aspiring and skilled trail dozer operators and mechanized trail builders. Please check the training opportunities calendar on www.americantrails.org. and the National Trails Training Partnership.
Bulldozers have been in existence since the early part of the 20th century, serving as workhorses for grading and sculpting raw earth. They have been available in a wide range of sizes, but until somewhat recently, small dozers (4’ wide or less) were virtually nonexistent. This changed in 1986, when a new dozer was designed, engineered, and built specifically for trail construction; the Pacific Crawler. In 1991 the SWECO 450 Trail Dozer was rolled out, but was soon replaced five years later by the SWECO 480.
Currently SWECO still offers the 480 Trail Dozer and Sutter Equipment Company manufactures the Sutter 500 Trail Dozer and the Sutter 300 Mini-Dozer. Both companies offer a variety of attachments, sales, parts & service. There have been approximately 500 of dozers built and sold in North America; many still in use toda
y.
These handy machines are often referred to as mini-dozers, trail dozers, or SWECO’s. These compact, steel-tracked dozers have provided builders increased productivity, enhanced trail sustainability, and have become an incredible asset to the industry. Tens of thousands of miles have been built with these dozers, over the past three decades.
Recognizing the place of these units in the industry, and the wide range of user skills and experience amongst operators, the Professional Trail Builders Association (PTBA) has committed to improve the quality of dozer operators and, ultimately the efficiency and quality of trail projects. A single skilled operator on the right machine can do the work of a hundred hand laborers in a fraction of the time. In a dollars and cents world, dozers can save you significant time and money on many of todays’ trail projects.
An un-trained machine operator can do a significant amount of damage in a matter of minutes and this usually requires significant time to “clean up the mess.” These situations have often tarnished the image of machine built trails over the past decades.
- Dozer Training Opportunities
- Dozer Training Curriculum
- SWECO Trail Dozer Sales
http://enews.coloradomtn.edu/2016/08/29/cmc-sculpts-new-paths-colorados-trail-building-industry/
https://coloradomtn.edu/wp-content/uploads/filebase/CMC-Trail-Dozer-Course-Info.pdf
GIS/Mapping Services
Tony Boone Trails offer a variety of professional mapping services for a diverse variety of trail projects including: GPS, GIS, CAD, enhanced visualization (Sketch Up), trail profiles, maps (kiosk, pocket, wall, & planning), map apps, on-line interactive maps, geo-spatial analysis, slope analysis, property ownership, etc.
Our Trails Team
- Tony Boone
- Andrew Masesan
- Cat Gruener