High Efficiency Trail Assessment Process for Rural Trails

Currently, the benefits of objective trail information are limited in rural areas because the team of people required to complete the UTAP is difficult and costly to assemble. The USDA Forest Service is responsible for the management of 133,000 miles of trails and public lands with trails held by other Federal government agencies also extensive. With 84% of Americans reporting that they walk for recreation and many others using trails for a variety of activities, the ability to use trails is critically important to virtually all Americans. Since most trails are located in rural areas, the social and economic benefits of trails and the impacts of limited trail access are very significant factors that affect the well being of rural Americans. The UTAP was developed to meet the objective needs of both users and land managers. To date, the personnel and time required to implement the UTAP have limited its widespread application particularly in rural areas. The dispersed nature of the population adds significantly to the costs and logistics of gathering the required personnel. The high-efficiency trail assessment instrument (HETAP) will significantly increase the availability of accurate, objective trail information for land managers and communities in rural areas since most of the recreation trails, are located in rural areas. An alternative means for efficiently and effectively completing trail assessments is required so that rural Americans have access to the significant social and economic benefits that are provided by the availability of objective trail information.