NWTA’s Trail Sustainability Institute hosted its second Trail School: Fundamentals of the season on Saturday, December 15 at Newell Creek Canyon. The park, managed by Metro, is one of NWTA’s newest stewardship areas, having joined the organization’s trail portfolio just two months ago.
What Trail School Teaches: Fundamentals of Sustainable Trail Maintenance
Trail School is designed as a hands-on introduction to sustainable trail maintenance, and students quickly moved from classroom concepts to real-world application. Participants learned foundational safety practices, how to identify and properly use common trail tools, and how understanding the anatomy of a trail informs how maintenance work is approached.
Hands-On Trail Work: Drainage, Tread, and Corridor Improvements
With these principles in mind, students worked together to clean existing drainage features and construct new ones, an essential step in protecting trails from erosion and long-term damage. Crews also focused on improving the tread surface and reestablishing a clear trail corridor by removing encroaching vegetation.
Berm Building Basics Introduced During Trail School
As a bonus addition to the day’s curriculum, students received an impromptu Berm Building 101 lesson. By constructing two new berms, the group explored how shaping trail features can enhance both trail flow and rider safety while maintaining sustainability.
Why Trail Education Matters for Long-Term Stewardship
At the end of the day, several students shared that while they had previous trail work experience, the deeper dive into the how and why behind maintenance decisions was especially valuable. Connecting technique with purpose helped participants leave more confident and better equipped for future volunteer work.
Continue Your Trail Training with Advanced Trail School
For those interested in continuing their trail education, the Trail Sustainability Institute will host an Advanced Trail School: Rock Work and Armoring on January 10 at the CLIMB trails in Cascade Locks. This advanced session will build on Trail School fundamentals and introduce more specialized trail building skills.