National Trail Surfaces Study

Selection of Trail Surface Materials

A review of trail surfacing products conducted for this project identified approximately 80 different trail surface materials that promoted providing an accessible trail surface (PEL Consulting, 2004). Those trail surface materials that were similar products were listed together within each of five major categories:

• Constructed soil/aggregate surfaces (e.g. crushed aggregate or brick, pre‐stabilized granite, aggregate fines, organic or natural by-product soil stabilizers);

• Geosynthetics (e.g. geotextile, geocell, geoweb, geogrid);

• Plastic and rubber solid surfaces (e.g. rubber mats, composite decking, plastic lumber, snow fence);

• Wood surfaces (e.g. wood plank, chipped woods, engineered wood fiber); and

• Brick and concrete surfaces (e.g. interlocking brick, concrete, asphalt).

The surfaces included in the study were chosen for inclusion as a result of three factors: donated product, ability to verify the stabilizer applications were a match for the native soils at Bradford Woods, and providing verification of the product being 100 percent natural, environmentally friendly product.

In order to ensure the validity of the study, exclusion criteria were then created based on limiting the scope of research to ensure the identified research questions could be answered. Based on the criteria for identifying firm and stable, organic or natural by-product surface materials, the following category of surface materials were identified for participation in the study:

• Constructed soil/aggregate surfaces (e.g. crushed aggregate, pre-stabilized granite, aggregate fines, organic or natural by-product soil stabilizers).

A total of 11 surface materials (eight organic or natural by-product soil stabilizers, and three aggregate surfaces) were chosen based on their compatibility with existing soil and/or aggregate composition, and the manufacturer’s ability to provide lab results to verify the authenticity of the statement that their product is either an organic or a natural by-product. The following are the 11 surface materials evaluated in the study:

• ¼ inch minus crushed limestone and dust

• ¾ inch minus crushed limestone and dust

• ¾ inch minus crushed limestone and dust base and ¼ inch minus crushed limestone and dust top dress

• Klingstone 400

• Stabilizer

• StaLok

• Soiltac Liquid Mix-in

• Soiltac Liquid Topical

• Soiltac Powder Mix-in

• Soiltac Powder Topical

• Polypavement