According to the recent DIRTT European Trail Building Sector Survey, 80% of European trail builders have worked on flow trails within the past two years. While the high demand for these trails is attracting more people to mountain biking, relying on just one type of trail won’t satisfy all riders or keep newcomers engaged as they progress in their mountain biking journey. In the world of mountain biking, one size definitely doesn’t fit all.
Sustainability is central to DIRTT’s mission, and promoting the “right trail in the right place” is crucial. Sustainable trail building goes beyond minimising environmental impact; it involves creating trails that are socially beneficial and economically viable over the long term. By choosing trail types and construction methods suited to specific environments and community needs, we can foster positive relationships between riders and nature.
To address the varied needs of the trail community across Europe, DIRTT has developed resources around four different build levels: Rake-and-Ride, Hand Built, Machine Built, and Engineered. These levels represent a spectrum of trail-building techniques, each varying in intensity and complexity. By establishing these build levels, we aim to create a shared language, broaden understanding, and enhance legitimacy around the diverse methods used in trail construction. This approach contributes to more nuanced decision-making and planning processes regarding the “right trail in the right place.”
As a general rule, more intensive build levels suit developed areas where they can support higher user volumes and economic benefits without significant environmental impact. In contrast, less developed or protected areas require minimal impact, making manual techniques more suitable. Below are the key characteristics of each technique. While presented as different methods here, in real-life trail building situations, several techniques will often overlap and be used side by side.
